High Voltage

Minimum Wage Reform Needs To Happen

2006-07-29T21:47:00.000-04:00

I didn't think to much about this sort of stuff back when I was working in retail. I was making over minimum wage and I only needed the money to spend on going out to movies, concerts, and sometimes gas, not for mortgage, utility, and other bills. For the rest I had my parents to provide food, shelter, insurance, etc.

30 Days is a show where people, including the creator of the show Morgan Spurlock, live "new" lives, living in someone else's shoes, for 30 days. I saw clips of the episode where Spurlock and his girlfriend both work minimum wage [$5.15/hr] blue collar jobs with no health insurance and support a family of 4. The labor was backbreaking and neither one of them could miss a single day of work or it would mean one less paycheck which could result in . A day at the movies also seemed to set them back. When they both ran into health problems, the hospital bill put them in debt. By the end of the 30 days, Spurlock was around approx. $1200 in debt. [side note: this doesn't include gas or car payments or car insurance. public transportation was used]

If someone is working 40 hrs per week at $5.15/hr, then they only make a scant $10712 before taxes. Even if 2 people work, there is no way in hell that they can support a family. These people work hard and deserve better, especially as the cost of living seems to only be going up. I find it disturbing that Congress can veto a bill to increase minimum wage and yet pass a bill that gives their greedy asses a juicy raise [this has happened in the past few months]. They already make 6 figures, do they really need more? Hell no. Reform needs to be happen.

IDF Firsthand Info

2006-07-24T12:44:00.000-04:00

Catching up on some NY Post newsletters, I came across an article that offers some firsthand insight at what Israeli border soldiers have had to deal with for the past few years.

LIFE ON THE EDGE- UP CLOSE WITH HEZBOLLAH.

A Long Overdue Rant: Foreign Language and Education

2006-05-28T14:37:00.000-04:00

There have been changes in education that have been taking place in recent years. One change in particular is classes involving foreign language.

Where I live in NJ, in elementary school [1-6], although not implemented when I attended, my sisters had Spanish "class" twice a week or so starting in second or third grade. In middle school [7,8], us students were forced into taking either Spanish or French. In high school, the district enacted a new policy which states that one of the graduation requirements is to take two years of foreign language [this being done the year after I entered H.S.].

In case any reader doesn't already know this, I will let you in on what we the students think of these classes. NO ONE, and I mean NO ONE takes these classes seriously. People finish assignments a period or so before the assignment is due, not because of the workload for other classes, but because we just don't care. People also cut these classes. In addition, foreign language classes hurt GPA levels, instead of getting an A in an elective, people will get C's. This also hurts in the long run when applying to colleges. Something so trivial as Spanish can make or break your future.

Now in college, stands the real problem that I have. They are trying to implement foreign language as a MANDATORY class in some majors [not language majors] such as business. This is a crock of shit. I took my placement test a few weeks ago, and it involved two parts: a.) the english and math and b.) the foreign language. This one took about an hour and out of 80 questions, I was able to guess, with 90% accuracy, on 10. It was a good nap, but a waste of an hour. People should not be forced to take these classes at all, especially in college, where hard earned money is supposed to be spent on a real education. If they think that people will accept this, they are in for a rude awakening.

Our country is becoming to accepting when it comes to immigrants and language. My ancestors, as well as most people's ancestors, came into this country knowing nothing of the American culture. But they had to learn English in order to make it here. Nowadays, our country will make everything bilingual- just dial a credit card company to find your balance and you will hear "para espanol prima dos" or you will see a place advertise that they accomodate language needs.

There is also something else that is upsetting about district budgets. The first thing that schools look to cut is always art and music. They don't look at foreign language departments. Without music and art in schools, kids become uncultured.

To conclude, if people want to live and succeed in our country, they should learn English, not the other way around. Foreign language should be the first programs cut from schools, not art and music. It is wrong to force people to pay for foreign language courses in college, which many people have difficuties paying for school anyway [like myself]. I would like to point out that our country is starting to move in the right direction. I saw in the news a little while ago that Congress is drafting a bill that would make English the official language of the US. I don't know how much headway this is making, but all I have to say is it's about fucking time.

GOVERNOR TANCREDO RULES!!

It's About Time

2006-04-15T20:50:00.000-04:00

Today, is the day that the NJ smoking ban goes into effect. I think we're the 14th state to pass such a law. Now people can eat food, play pool, and go to concerts without catching emphazima [inside joke, no one will get it] and second hand smoke. The only place that is exempt from this is casinos. Having not gone to Vegas casinos, I was wondering if any/all casinos had a ban. At the WSOP, the players were not allowed to light up a smoke. Here's to going out.

It's That Time Of Year

2006-03-13T22:58:00.000-05:00

Everyone, MARCH MADNESS is back!!! go to http://cbs.sportsline.com to get a free bracket and make your selections. It looks like a decent year.

A Great Four Day Weekend

2006-02-06T17:30:00.000-05:00

What an amazing weekend. On Friday I saw an amazing concert. On Saturday my friend and I progressed a lot on a song we are working on. Yesterday was an amazing Super Bowl party. And today, I got an acceptance letter to Towson University. Could anything make this better?

The Results Are In

2006-01-31T18:26:00.000-05:00

Samuel Alito won "one of the narrowest Senate confirmation votes in a century" to take the reigns over for Justice O'Connor. The vote was 58-42, not even close considering Thomas's vote was 52-48. I'm curious to see if Alito stands by what he said during the series of question's he encountered. Only time will tell. I wonder why the Dems didn't filibuster, but that doesn't matter much now.

I think we owe Warren a golf clap. He picked the winning day- the 31st. Warren wins the pool and the prize is not going to Disney World. Congrats!

Another "Dewey Defeats Truman" Episode

2006-01-26T19:11:00.000-05:00

It's a good thing I didn't post the Palestinian election results last night as I would have to post a correction. I saw on the bottom line of MSNBC that the Fatah Party had won the Parlimentary election and that it was close, which is what other sources had said as well. I didn't find out until this morning that Hamas actually won the election.

Full Story by the AP:
http://news.yahoo.com/s
/ap/20060126/ap_on_re_mi_ea/palestinian_election_16

I find a lyric by Tool so fitting right now do describe this situation:

"Some say the end is near. Some say we'll see armageddon soon."

Tool

"Aenema"

Aenima

The Pool

2006-01-22T21:29:00.000-05:00

On Tuesday (aka my birthday), the Senate will vote on Samuel Alito to take over Sandra Day O'Connor's spot on the Supreme Court.

Warren, we never picked our days. Time is running out!!

Warren, You Requested It

2006-01-12T22:56:00.000-05:00

My life as a child (under 15) in 50 words or less:

I was born in Staten Island, and moved to NJ. My sisters were born when I was 4. My house was renovated a few years later. I was more social as a kid. I never did many stupid things.

Where were you a kid?

East Brunswick, NJ; it's not my hometown (it is close to here), but during renovations, I lived here for a few months.

Given the choice, were you barefoot or did you wear shoes?

Barefoot. My feet are tough as nails.

Were you a city kid or a country kid?

I live in suburbia, so a bit of both. I like having the open space to play sports. The green around me is always nice to have. Life here is more fast paced than true country though.

The stupidest thing you did before the age of 15:

I am with Warren, pyromania almost did a lot of damage to my friend's house. The two of us were curious. He took some gasoline and a lighter and we went to this little wooded area on the side of his house. He poured some gas on dried pine leaves then lit it. There was a slight wind and we luckily put it out before it spread too far.

Do you know how to play kick the can?

Yes.

What else did you play in groups?

Hockey, football (tackle and two hand touch), basketball, capture the flag, manhunt, bike riding to the convenience store, video games, music.

Worst injury?

I tore ligaments in my ankle when I was 13. I told my mom I couldn't walk and she threatened to take me to the hospital (this was at 11 PM on a Sunday). I stayed home from school and on that Tuesday she took me to the orthopedist. I was using my goalie stick as a crutch- it was the perfect height. She didn't believe it when they said I tore ligaments. I needed a month or two of physical therapy afterwards.

To me though, my broken ring fingers (yes both and multiple times) were really bad. I am a guitarist and it disrupts playing time. They also happened the same way everytime- rebound in basketball.

Do you agree with Bob Seger's line in Against the Wind, (I wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then)?

I honestly don't know.

***I WILL BREAK THE CHAIN, NO ONE ELSE IS TAGGED WITH THIS MEME*** I'm Thinking Outside The Box

P.S.- I have a question posted on Nicotine & Rock about theme songs. Go and answer!

Holiday Post

2005-12-24T15:50:00.000-05:00

I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Happy Kwanza, and any other holiday. Keep safe and in good health. Have a Happy New Year also- we're gonna have fun in 2006.

Operation: Consume The Bird

2005-11-23T23:18:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone has an awesome Thanksgiving. I am thankful that I have such a blessed life, good family and friends, and good health for everyone.

On a note, to people who are against G-d in government speeches and some other things- sometimes it's not about religion, it's about TRADITION. From Washington to Lincoln (less Jefferson and others) our forefathers gave Thanksgiving speeches saying we should bless G-d and all that He does for us. This tradition has been going on since Lincoln, although references to G-d have decreased greatly- 19 times from Lincoln in 1863 to 4 times in W's speech in 2005. Bush isn't the only ones who did this, Kennedy did this, Clinton did this, etc. So to people who are insanely uptight about political correctness- keep in mind it is tradition, not necessarily religious.

HAPPY TURKEY DAY BLOGGERS!!

Is This Right?

2005-10-26T23:24:00.000-04:00

For those of you who don't know, today the Port Authority lost a civil case in which a jury found them responsible for negligence of their parking garage at the WTC. Here's the article in full detail: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051027/ap_on_re_us/1993_wtc_bombing

The reason they were blamed was because in 1985 a report that was written by the Port Authority's security officials said that the garage was a likely attack site. This doesn't seem like a logical reason to find them guilty. Look at the year difference- 1985-1993 is 8 years. 8 years! This just doesn't seem right to me, because so much happens in a near decade.

Iraqi Constitution

2005-10-14T14:07:00.000-04:00

Today I happened to notice an article in the paper that laid out the basis of the new Iraqi Constitution. I was a little troubled.

One part said that Islam would be the official religion and basis for laws. This alone takes away from the whole ideal of democracy and freedom; it becomes more or less a theocratic nation. For instance, America has no nationwide religion nor does the US have a government sponsored religion. Just look- for mentioning the Lord like in the Pledge of Allegiance some minority becomes offended, the ACLU steps in, and it becomes a Supreme Court case. Sure, America is based on Judeo-Christian elements, yet we try to be so protective of the minority that one can't help laughing. If a Christian or Jew were to go live in Iraq (you'd have to be stupid, but who knows), you already have points against you as an outsider to the society. They might not like to admit it, but its true.

There was another part of the Iraqi Constitution, which I think is too idealistic but good nonetheless, said no one would be discriminated based on gender, origin, ethnicity, race, etc.- everyone is equal. We would all like to believe that everyone is equal, but in reality, it is not so. Women are supposed to be equal to men, yet on the average, women make about 78% of what men make for doing the same task. Another factor is obviously socio-economics- as long as this exists and we have a class system, no one will be equal (in capitalism, it will always exist). Racial quotas, although they "don't exist", play a role in who gets into certain college facilities. Unless women get to have rights in the new Iraq, they will be far from equal to men. I still think that if you aren't a Muslim, you will be frowned upon in the new Iraq as well. Even the different sides of Islam will be at odds.

Ding- We Have A Nominee!

2005-10-03T20:42:00.000-04:00

Today, when the Supreme Court began its next session, John Roberts was officially sworn into office as the next Chief Justice.

But that don't matter right now. On this very morning, President Bush gave us our next nominee. The person------- Harriet Miers.

Here's how the pool's working:

1.) We will pick 3 numbers between 1-20

From there we will proceed.

I Love Sundays

2005-09-26T23:17:00.000-04:00

for now...

The Greatest Team In NFL History, The Miami Dolphins beat Carolina 27-24 on Sunday afternoon on a field goal with 4 seconds left in the game. 2-1 record ties them in 1st place in the AFC East with the Patriots.

Let me ask one question---- does anybody watch the f****n tapes?! The Patriots have so many game winning field goals from under 2 minutes to go in the game. The winning drive consists of 10-15 yd passes on every play. And everytime, it seems that the opposing team plays loose coverage against the receivers, leaving them open to get the first down and run out of bounds. The only team that stopped them was the Dolphins last year, pulling out a huge upset to beat them thanks to good, tight coverage leading to an interception which essentially ended the game. A message to other teams: watch the f****n tapes!!!

Expectations

2005-09-21T20:49:00.000-04:00

I read on the bottom of CNBC tonight that the Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to confirm John Roberts tomorrow. Personally, I think Roberts meets all the crudentials needed and I have just slight differences on views. The Committee bashed him the entire time, and like in all aspects of politics, made him look bad. He maintained himself however and looks to reap the reward of becoming the next Chief Justice.

I am still open on the online pool for the next nomination.

A 9/11 In NYC

2005-09-12T17:00:00.000-04:00

This year was the first year that I voyaged the 1 hour train ride into Manhattan. Usually, my father and I take NJ Transit to Newark Penn Station and from there take the PATH to the WTC station. I have gone to Ground Zero every year, but this time was different. We did not go to the WTC. We went to 9th Street on the PATH.

Today is the time I reflect; the notorious "what if" questions come to mind. About a week or so before 9/11, I was at the top, the Windows Of The World, my father and sisters among the many who went to the sky. We gazed across the city on a perfect blue sun shined day, we were on top of the world. Alas, it was an experience, that I look back upon with admiration, because it was the only time I visited the Towers (BTW, I have a 100% fear of heights). When 9/11 came round and the soulless terrorists destroyed NY, I could only wonder, "what if this happened a week earlier?" apparently, it was not my time to go, I was fated to live.

My uncle (not Beak), worked at the building directly next to the Twin Towers and was there when the planes hit. Immediately after the first plane hit, he fled the scene, not really knowing what was going on until later. I didn't know that the building he worked in was so close to the Towers until we went back to Ground Zero. FYI, his building was one that remained intact, less the windows. Fortunately, everyone in my family and close family friends were safe.

From 9/11, we have learned the frailty of life, morality, humanity. We as a nation have learned grief in the hardest way, and we should never forget what happened. We learned unity to the truest extent- people in the Midwest, south, west, southwest, and any other spot, felt the pain that NY, NJ, PA, and even CT did and showed an outstretched arm of compassion.

I urge everyone to live everyday to the fullest, whether it bring you joy to see a movie, climb Everest, or write music. Because now we have proof that something unexpected can happen on any given day; 9/11 up until 2001, was just an ordinary day.

Here It Is

2005-09-04T10:30:00.000-04:00

Chief Justice William Rhenquist passed late Saturday night after battling thyroid cancer for some time now.

His death now opens another seat, something we all knew would happen either this year or the next. The battle will rage on, and behind the scenes, I think there is already a stirr among the Democrats & Republicans.

LETS GET IT ON!

Hurricane Katrina

2005-08-29T23:33:00.000-04:00

This is a very strong storm, one that is causing some serious damage. I have been watching news coverage on all the cable news networks and have heard that some people couldn't
leave for two reasons:

1.) They couldn't afford to leave.

2.) They didn't listen to the warning.

These are NOT VALID EXCUSES.

Solution to problem 1, is to have people carpool or set aside money to provide transportation for mandatory evacuations. The solution to problem 2 is that people should always listen to the warnings.

I am so sick and tired of people not listening to these warnings, any warnings. Do they think there is some conspiracy? Give me a break. The ones issuing the call are trying to prevent anything worse from happening. Casualties can be avoided. Why do you think they have tornado warning systems in the Midwest? They are doing it to prevent senseless casualties. There is one difference though- the Midwesterners actually listen to them and act upon them. Are they the only ones with common sense?

Today's Laughing Gas

2005-08-22T22:53:00.000-04:00

Last night/early this morning I saw one of the funniest TV commercials at about 1:35 AM EST.

The subject- POISON CONTROL HOTLINE!

It was about a minute long. The scene that caught my attention was the part when an Asian woman answered the phone and said in an Asian-American accent "It's OK, that much won't hurt you." I nearly choked on some water. If you don't think that that was funny, maybe you would if you saw it, especially after 3 long days of work.

Question Of The Day

2005-08-17T22:47:00.000-04:00

How many of you still feel safe on planes considering the past two weeks?

Judgment Day- Part I

2005-08-15T19:16:00.000-04:00

Today is the day one Brooklyn, NY Assemblyman Dov Hikind is calling 'the worst tragedy he has seen'. By now, everyone should know what I am talking about.

The road barrier was lowered, stating occupation was prohibited by law. Some skirmishes have already taken place in the early morning between protesters and soldiers.

Meanwhile, Mahmoud Abbas said on Israeli TV that "this is the right path and they have chosen the right path." He has also said, and I quote, "don't listen to the voices of the extremists who want a continuation of the occupation."

I have one thing to say about his first comment- whatever Abbas says, I will ALWAYS believe that the opposite is true. So, if he thinks that this is the right path, it is obviously the wrong path.

Now about the second comment- there's more to just black and white when dealing with issues like this. You have two extremes on the opposite ends of the spectrum, and then you have the in betweeners, and then the moderates. That leaves a lot of gray area. From what I take, Abbas must think that all the Israeli right are extremists. In reality, people like Natan-Zada are minimal, whereas the rest of the right are trying to protest peacefully (although there are some outbreaks). Abbas doesn't realize that an opinion doesn't classify someone under the 'extremist' label, it is the actions taken by the persons that helps in the labeling.

While all of this is going down, let's take a look to see what the Palestinians are doing shall we. As expected, they are celebrating. Some are even burning Israeli flags. What a class act don't you think? These guys are scum, plain and simple. To all those who support Ariel Sharon, what do you think now? These guys are very appreciative, right? Do you really think that these guys are going to back down attacking Israel? If you do, then you are full of BS, because now they are even closer. Please, just use logic and history to think this one through.

****************************************************************

Dov, however, was clearly not choosing his words very wisely. This is not the worst tragedy he has seen. Since I don't know his age I am going to ballbark he is in his fifties. Let me think of a few things that he might have seen:

1.) WWII and the Holocaust
2.) 9/11 (this especially hits it home, as he is across the water from Manhattan)

(If anyone would like to add to the list, note it in the comment section.)

(I Know It's Late) Britain's New Policy

2005-08-10T23:16:00.000-04:00

Britain has pushed into legislation its new counterterrorism plans. Here's some of the details:

1.) Anyone who speaks pro-terrorist messages can be kicked out of Britain
2.) Anyone can be held for three months without formal charges being put on them

A necessary step? Yes. Have they gone too far? No. As of right now, I don't doubt Britain's moves facing terrorism. They have been hitting the bullseye with everything. The U.S. has tried to do something with the Patriot Act, but super lefties cried foul. I am a liberal and I didn't care about the Pat Act. If you don't have anything to hide, why should you? Maybe now with the success of the Brits, we can finally crack down on terrorist groups and supporters inside America.

7 Days And Counting

2005-08-08T22:11:00.000-04:00

Some information on Netanyahu's resignation and what may happen.

1.) He did do this for future running for Prime Minister. This has been confirmed by the media.
2.) He will most likely challenge Sharon for heading the Likud Party.
3.) This decision could (and may most likely) sway even more people to become anti-pullout.
4.) Officials fear that within the next week, violence will escalate.

Today, he vote was counted for step one in the pullout. The vote was 17-5 in favor of. I am telling you, Sharon and his followers have gone insane. What ever happened to national security? Netanyahu said it best when resigning that he could not support a move which would only promote terroristic ways. Netanyahu also holds some serious power. The Israeli stock market dropped 5% because of his leaving office, although the man who replaced him (according to the paper) should turn that loss around.

A Message From A Tribute

2005-08-08T21:45:00.000-04:00

Peter Jennings, ABC news anchor passed away last night after battling with lung cancer. MSNBC has had some great tributes to him, one on the Abrams Report, and the other on Countdown With Keith Olbermann.

Keith's was especially good. One note I would like to pass on (which he said in the tribute) was to quit smoking or get someone else to quit. Nicotine is highly addictive and hazardous drug. But now with the patch and gum, there are ways to get rid of cravings and aid in the quitting process.

I do not approve of smoking, nor have I ever smoked. The name of my other blog 'Nicotine & Rock' came about with a random blurb that 'The Beak' said was good enough for a name, (I have to admit it is catchy.) The use of 'nicotine' was to signify the addiction to rock music, especially in my case.

My grandmother was a heavy smoker. When my parents had me, she decided to quit. She has never picked up another cigarette to this day. During her cold turkey days, there were no real patches or gum, so when she quit, she really quit. I am glad she did, yet I am not sure whether she knows that I know she used to be a smoker.

Do My Eyes (And Ears) Deceive Me!?

2005-08-07T23:29:00.000-04:00

I saw the end of a report on MSNBC which said that London had received warning of the 7/7 bombings by Saudi Arabia. WHAT!? Saudi Arabia warning London of a terrorist attack!? I was about to have a heart attack. Is today the day that pigs flew or did hell freeze over? Did anybody else hear this?

In another similar note, the U.S. is acting on warnings about a terror attack within the Saudi kingdom. Americans in the country have been told to look into leaving the nation or avoid hitting certain areas by taking caution. Officials said this information came from a credible source and was very specific. Finally, someone is acting on these warnings. It is about time. Like the saying says, "better be safe than sorry".

The Great 1-3

2005-08-07T23:14:00.000-04:00

Today, the greatest quarterback in NFL history was enshrined into the hall of fame today. No it's not Steve Young, it is Dan 'The Man' Marino. He was the reason I became a Miami Dolphins fan. No record of his (other than most TD passes in a season) will ever be touched, EVER. Now there is a new reason for me to go back to Canton, OH. It was only appropriate to save the best for last in the ceremony today. The way the fans reacted to his speech was great. Dan's close was brilliant, with the slightly high pass.

Anniversary Of A New Warfare

2005-08-06T19:42:00.000-04:00

On this day, 60 years ago, the U.S. in the midst of WWII, dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima which killed over 140,000. The Manhattan Project's effect had to this day impacted the way war was conducted and who had the most control over international affairs, as seen in the Cold War era. There was a ceremony in which many Japanese attended. A moment of silence was held at 8:15 AM.

Can anybody imagine what would have happened if we never released the atom bomb? It may slip under the radar for some and be overshadowed by other items, but this is one of the most impacting/life-changing things to have ever been created.

NOT The Way To Do It

2005-08-05T18:29:00.000-04:00

Today's front page of the Post put me in disgust. An Israeli army deserter, 19 years old, killed four Israeli-Arabs, before being killed himself.

Bus 165, going from Haifa to the Arab town of Shfaram was the scene of chaos and death. Natan-Zada was the identified gunman in yesterday's attack. On this bus, he took out a gun and shot the driver, two young women, and another man. When Natan tried to reload his weapon, an Israel Arab police officer and a second Arab security worker prevented him from executing his attempt. Shortly after, a gigantic mob formed around the bus, and the soldier was stoned and beaten to death by the mob. The two officers were also beaten by the mob because they thought the officers were protecting the Israeli soldier. Thirteen people, including the two officers, were injured.

Natan-Zada had done this in protest to the Israeli pullout in Gaza and parts of the West Bank.

Israeli officials have already denounced this attack, yet Hamas is claiming that they will counter.

More and more Jews are protesting this pullout. People are joining in the tens of thousands to express their feelings towards this movement. However, they are doing it peacefully, like Dr. King in the 1960s. One settlement protest group turned in their weapons yesterday because like one member said "Jews shouldn't kill Jews." The group, since they are protesting, put orange ribbon around their munitions, as well as wore orange shirts.

A terror attack is most certainly NOT the way to try and get anywhere, especially in this situation. This guy was definitely not thinking of the best interests for Israel. What if Hamas does retaliate because of this murderer, although in all likelihood, wouldn't they do so anyway? The difference is now they have a reason. Why did Natan stoop to their terroristic ways? He should have said "I am better than them", but he didn't. He royally screwed things up, plain and simple. In the end, violence can only lead to more violence.

A Follow Up To Last Post & A Comment Of Mine

2005-08-05T18:03:00.000-04:00

Ahmed Qureia, Palestinian PM, said,

"We are standing at the gates of Jerusalem. The retreat of the Israelis from Gaza and from Jennie (a West Bank settlement) is only the first step. We are approaching the gates of Jerusalem. We will not stop."

I said in a comment from the last post that this whole pullout didn't make sense because the Palestinians are land hungry and they won't be happy until they control Israel. They're like a homeless animal in the sense that if you feed it once, they'll be gnawing at you for more, much like the Palestinians hassling Israel for more and more land.

Question Of The Day?

2005-08-03T14:07:00.000-04:00

W.T.F. IS ISRAEL DOING!!? Why are they finally giving in to Palestinian demands for the Gaza Strip, and some of the West Bank? Has Ariel Sharon lost his mind!?

A Slight Note About This Blog (and N&R)

2005-08-02T21:01:00.000-04:00

Just yesterday I started work at a major retail corporation (we will leave it nameless because it doesn't matter). I will continue try to post up new articles ASAP because I like hearing dissenting and/or coinciding opinions. However, instead of a daily post as the routine I have started, it might become every other day or so. Also, most stuff will probably be posted between 9 PM-12 AM eastern standard time. I'm working on something right now and I would have posted it tonight, but it was rushed and not worthy of publication right now. Since I have tomorrow off, I will try and do a double tomorrow.

Underestimating Can Get You Killed

2005-08-01T10:11:00.000-04:00

The more I am reading news about Britain, the more I feel that they have underestimated their enemy. What they failed to do after 7/7 is something that very near cost innocent civilians their lives- they did not pull an all out raid on potential terrorists, something they did very publicly and successfully after 7/21. Although it is true the police didn't have to look for suspects after 7/7, authorities should have taken a heavy stance on combating the problem. Britain had detained much more than the four key suspects and believed terrorists between 7/22-7/29. They were also successful in locating extra bombs and equipment.

There's an old saying- "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me". I don't necessarily believe that Britain was fooled, but their lack of action puts them at fault, especially if the bombs DID go off properly.

All nations need to take these threats seriously and do everything in their power to prevent the situation, not just counterattack. Britain was warned about a possible attack just before 7/7 and failed to act. How many times must be see an onslaught before nations act on tips given to them by intelligence? Too much blood has been lost. As I stated before, prevention, is the best attack.

Suicide Bombers Increase

2005-08-01T10:10:00.000-04:00

In the Sunday NY Post, I came across a little blur article, which gave some disturbing information. Suicide bombings in Middle East and Europe in the last five years is the worst the world has seen. Since 9/11, these attacks have killed over 4,400 people.

"Suicide attacks have risen from an average of 3 per year in the 1980s to about 10 per year in the 1990s to nearly 50 in 2003," professor Robert Pape of the University of Chicago.

This trend shows a key issue-- more Muslims are turning toward extremism, or these Muslims, who already have extremist views, are starting to act out more through means of suicide attacks. If you sit and do the math, these trends show something highly disturbing and worrisome.

A Global Effort & An Eventful Month For Britain

2005-07-31T10:59:00.000-04:00

In lieu of the British bombings on July 21, police have conducted mass raids on suspected homes. They have made many arrests, capturing suspected terrorists and would be suicide bombers. In custody now are all four of the suspects in last weeks bombings. The huge effort by Scotland Yard helped put away these dirtbags.

However, Britain was aided in capturing one of the suspects. One of the bombers had managed to flee London and make it to Italy. Police are still investigating how he was able to do this, especially because his picture was everywhere. Anyway, through cell phone tracking, authorities picked him up in Italy and 40 armed police officers arrested him. They are currently talking to him to get some information before Britain does their interrogation.

It is good to see widespread cooperation in fighting the war on terror. Without the global effort, this sick bastard would have probably made to to a safe haven, considering he went through a few countries, and began plotting another attack. Nations need to continue this global effort for the crackdown on terror to be 100% successful.

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On a similar note, this has been one extremely eventful month in London. First comes the 7/7 bombings, killing over 50 and injuring more than 700. After these attacks, British leaders urge their nation to remain calm and help them in their fight. Next came the innocent tourist who was shot to death in a subway station after failing to submit to police orders; he was wearing a heavy coat and backpack which raised police suspicions. This put Britain under the microscope. Then the 7/21 failed bombings. British leaders continue to urge Muslims and others to report any information. Scotland Yard released the photos of the suspects a day later at a press conference. Scotland Yard's heavy raids lead to many arrests. One week later all four suspects from 7/21 are taken into custody, signifying a major victory.

If that news didn't make Britain happy enough, the IRA has promised to lower their arms and give up their terrorist ways. They have stated that they will turn to strictly peaceful means to accomplish political goals. In response to this promise by the IRA, Britain has pulled back some posts in Ireland.

Britain has faced low points this July, but through resilience and determination, has been able to turn their situation in the positive direction. However, they can't become laid back, they must still remain vigilant. I still dislike Livingstone, and am skeptical about Blair, but I feel I must commend Blair's composure and how he has handled things the past few weeks.

Cameras Are A Great Thing

2005-07-30T10:21:00.000-04:00

Last Friday, Britain released photos taken from British surveillance footage from their subway stations and on the bus in which the bombs failed to detonate properly. After only one week of heavy British raids and hard work, all four suspects from the 7/21 events have been taken into custody, as well as many other suspected terrorist plotters and supporters.

Britain's system of security has proven itself to one that works when trying to capture terrorists. So how come in places like NYC have no cameras been installed. In lieu of 7/7 and 7/21, NYC finally announced last Saturday plans to spending between $150-$250 mil on new security cameras for their stations. The MTA also has received a few bids already from companies looking for the large contract. Something that I am curious about is why it took so long for cameras to be installed in the first place. While London has over 6,000 of these, NY has less than 20. Did they think that terrorists were not going to bomb trains? They did in Spain in 2004.

These cameras are proven to work and still are the best way to monitor train stations, in addition to some police presence.

I Want Your Opinion

2005-07-28T23:14:00.000-04:00

Right now in the midst of summer, my local town is holding a local fair. This may seem normal, but beneath the surface there is something which will no doubt cause some .

My local paper printed a front-page article, which revealed that a sex offender, from many years ago, is working there as a caricaturist. I did not read the article in depth, but apparently he was deemed to have served his time and is entitled to make a living. I'm not sure if this was brought to court, but if it hasn't, I'm sure someone will. For those of you who do not know, in Brick Township, there is a new law that bans sex offenders from residence.

There are many cops there, and I'm sure that nothing will happen, but I want to hear your opinions.