Being Sick Sucks

First, there is that little sniffle, then a few sneezes, and finally a light little cough. DAMN! I'm sick. I held out as long as possible, but I guess going to school with over 24,000 people and working in retail where every little snot-nosed, oops, I mean, little darling angel, is running around sneezing and coughing without covering their noses and mouths. And their parents are worse. They don't cover their own mouth or nose when they cough or sneeze either. It was just a matter of time before I caught something from someone. And boy is it ever kicking my ass. I don't get sick often, but when I do, it's a doosy.
I had to miss Tuesday's English class, Math class and Psychology class, because I could barely muster up enough strength to write this blog (which i fell asleep 3 times doing), let alone walk to each of my classes. I want to apologize to my instructors for my absence from their classes today. I hope that if they get a chance to see my blog, then they will send me an email with information about what was covered in class today so that i will not fall behind.
I have taken my medicine, am drinking copious amounts of orange juice, and am wrapped in my favorite blanket with a box of Kleenex on my couch sneezing and cough my damn head off.
I should be well enough to return to class on Thursday, so unless this crud turns into the Venezuelan Morphing Pneumonia, I will be fine. See you all later.

To Blog or Not To Blog

Recently, I attended a small scheduled event held by the Journalism department. The University of Memphis invited Thaddeus Matthews, a local radio personality and a blogger, to the campus to speak on the topic: "Is Blogging Journalism?"
I found this interesting because I originally thought blogging to be just the web version of a diary. Even with all that I have to blog for my English class, I didn't take much stock in it because it is not something I do on a daily basis (even though I am supposed to for a grade). Don't get me wrong, I love to write. I just don't have the internet or a computer attached to my hip like most people do. I know I need the computer and internet; I just wish we didn't need them so badly. Anyway, I'm getting away from the topic at hand.
Matthews recently posted official police documents in the murder case of soon-to-retire officer Vidulich on his blogsite. This angered Memphis City Police Chief Larry Godwin and Dist. Atty. Gen. Bill Gibbons, who sent two investigators ("Goons" as Matthews puts it) to the studio where Matthews puts on his radio talk show. Matthews refuses to reveal his sources from the police department that "leaked" the documents to him and claims that he is protected by Tennessee Shield Laws for journalism. If a case is brought against Matthews and he is found to not be covered by the journalist protection measure, he is prepared to go to jail to protect his sources.
So, the question(s) on the table: Does Matthews have the right to publish those documents on his blogsite? Are Bloggers Journalists? Should they have the same rights afforded to reporters for newspapers, magazines and TV news programs? Would you go to jail to protect your sources if you were a journalist?

Sunday's Headline: Tigers Declawed!

I must admit that I am not a fan of basketball at all. And I am much less a fan of college hoops. However, you must be 100% emotionally deficient not to have felt the excitement around the campus, in the general area, and across the country for that matter. Tigers vs. Vols, kinda old news. But when you throw in the fact that we went into this game in the #1 position ahead of the Vols, it makes the loss even that much harder for the true fans to stomach. I've talked to quite a few fans in the last two days and they are all kind of depressed. So, I have the answer if classrooms are empty for the next few days.
Still, the game was hyped, the tickets were insanely expensive, and the Tigers were denied. Last night, coming home from work, I am sitting a red light and some jackoff from UT pulls up next to me and other cars and screams out the window, "Rocky Top, Rocky Top Tennessee, baby!!" I brush that off and then i am going to a bar where a friend of mine works to say hi when I pass Gill's on Highland. I was taken aback for a moment. Outside, this guy, this big, burly he-man of a dude, was sitting alone at a table and he was weeping. Not a tear, TEARS, lots of them. I asked him if he was ok and all he could muster was "Memphis lost man." WOW! Either he had a LOT of money riding on that game, or he is the biggest fan of the Tigers. For those who missed the game, the final score:

#2
TENN (25-2)
66

#1
MEM (26-1)
62

To be perfectly honest, when I heard that we lost by two lousy baskets, I was just a little disappointed. Not as much as weeping willow boy, but still disappointed.

A Not-So-Funny Thing Happened On Aisle Three @ Kroger.

I am usually a very happy go lucky and carefree person. Sure some of my blogs of a political or religious nature tend to be a little cynical and jaded, but for the most part, I am an even-tempered, mellow kind of guy. And I don't usually ever go around screaming that I'm not a racist. My opinion is that if you have to say it every 5 minutes, then you probably are a racist. But in this case, I will make an exception. I AM NOT A RACIST!! Now, why, may you ask, would I feel that I have to strongly declare this?
Answer: I went to Kroger this evening and was doing a little shopping for the weekend (once I am in on the weekend, I don't like to go out unless I absolutely have to). I bumped shopping carts with this young woman who is black and as I am prone to do, I said, "Excuse me." She gave me the 'evil eye' and said rather loudly for grocery store volume level, "Uh Huh!" It really wasn't what she said, so much as how she said it. I picked up on a trace of an attitude and excused myself from the aisle. Fast forward to frozen foods. I was on the aisle and was intently looking at a few items in the case and didn't see this young lady coming down the aisle. I made a u-turn with my basket and accidentally bumped her shopping cart again, purely be accident I assure you.
This time the 'evil eye' got more intense if that's possible and instead of her initial "uh huh," I received obscenities and racial slurs. I believe her exact words were, "Watch where the fuck you're going you cracker-ass son-of-a-bitch! You are intentionally fuckin with me because I'm black!" All I could say was that i was sorry and moved my cart out of her way. I wasn't really offended at first until I was over by the dairy products and it hit me. Don't get me wrong. I heard what she said and understood the words that were coming out of her mouth. It didn't affect me until I had a minute to think about it. I became angry and then emotionally upset a little bit. This woman didn't know me! And she certainly had no right to say what she said. It was rude, it was mean, and the words she said were WAY off base. One of my ex-boyfriends is black and another is hispanic. I just believe that the racial tension is still alive in this city. And in some people it is boiling over.

Aaron's Story (Part 5)

Ok, so as a couple we did a lot of the cute little couple things. We practically went everywhere together, did everything together. It was a while after we dated that we decided to consolidate two house into one. He sublet his apartment for the remaining 6 months that he had on his lease and signed a letter vouching for the people who rented from him so that they could get on the lease and not have to move out when the lease expired. He was a nice guy like that. And that raw compassion for others was one of the things that I loved about him the most. That and he was an excellent kisser. (Muy caliente).
I want to skip ahead a bit because I don't think I am going to be in college long enough to blog every single detail of this relationship. Plus I figure some of you would appreciate my not delving that deep. Anyway, I fast forward to the holiday season 5 years ago. It was Thanksgiving, 2002 and we had made plans to go to Aaron's parents home for Thanksgiving. Very last minute, my job called me and begged me to stay and bribed me with a week's worth of paid vacation if I would stay and work. I didn't want to, but Aaron was the one that convinced me to stay. So, I did. We changed our plans and Aaron went to see his parents without me. We decided that we would use the week's paid vacation that I was bribed with and go up to Pennsylvania then. Still, he wanted to go see his folks on Turkey Day and would come back home to me the very next day . To Be Continued...(it's about to get sad)

Just What I Needed

So, I'm on the internet, just a lookin for articles and cites that will help me with the history of health care in this city. I was having no luck when i remembered Wendy told us that we had resources right under our noses. I logged into the class blogsite and navigated just below the class blogs and what should i find but some tasty tidbits of intellectual goodness.
I was saddened by the infant death epidemic article. And the Memphis's Medical Graceland article didn't make me feel much better. I will examine these more closely over the weekend so that i may write and submit my contribution to the Big Paper, part 2. I hope you enjoy my book review.
I have just one question...What is the cutoff year for what you consider "historical?" It is tough finding anymore Memphis-specific historical info online. I suppose that I could look up old old Commercial Appeal articles if they are archived anywhere on campus. Just out of curiosity, if i needed an extension on the second part of the paper, would you grant me one? I have every intention of getting the paper turned in on time and I have never asked for a deadline extension before, ever. But should some unforeseen circumstances crop up, would you consider giving me an extension ? Anyway, 2 more blogs to go for this week.

Quote from Dead Poet's Society

The cat sat on the hat.

Writing Writing Writing Arrrrrrrrgh!!!!!

The only class that i don't have to write an essay or paper in this semester is College Algebra. I am becoming very initmate with my computer (get your minds outta the gutter). Hell, that's $5.99 a minute and i don't have that kind of cash. Anyway, I have to write blogs for english (I'm blogging about the blogs I have to blog...I feel like a Smurf), as well as my other assignments. In psychology, I have to write an essay daily about a topic from the chapter just read. And in my media writing class...hello? The name says it all and I get to write news stories, even though I am not going to work for a newspaper or magazine.
I love to write, but I am feeling just a touch overwhelmed at times. It's ok though, I just rant for a bit and then go back to writing. Dammit! LOL, well, here I go again.
The blogs are cool though. I get a chance to express myself and it is a way that I can keep track of my research and take notes from my readings. Occasionally, I will sneak in a silly or insane blog because that would be so like me. But for the most part, I will adhere to the sage advice administered by my English professor. How many more of these do I have to do? Aww, Hell. See you in class Wendy.

Universal Health Care: Not All It's Cracked Up To Be Or Is It??

I had no idea where to begin when I first started my research project. I guess I was still stunned by the fact that i had to write a 12-14 page paper. WOW! Anyway, when the initial shock wore off and I came around, I thought, I'll do healthcare as my topic. I have always been passionate about it. That's the topic for me. Did some research. Found some things in favor of my topic, also found some things opposed to my topic. Never really found anything fair and unbiased.
I am the type of person that doesn't jump the gun and take one side without hearing both sides of the argument. I might still be wrong at the end of the process, but at least I formed an opinion after hearing both sides.
I was looking at book after book on the topic of health care for my book review. Had no luck. Went to lunch and came back. Looked around for another ten minutes and this book just kinda jumped out at me. I quickly scanned it and took in a little of the info and decided this was the book for me. Got home and started reading it more and came to the realization that I needed to switch gears. Same topic, new direction. It would be great if this country had some form of universal health care, but as my book I chose says, somebody has to pay for it.

Violence In Schools

No cute or clever titles for this one folks. This is a topic that boggles my mind. When the shootings first happened at Columbine High School, I was incredibly shocked and saddened. When the other shootings have happened at other high schools and colleges around the country, I made me outraged. I've often thought "How the Hell can this continue to happen?"
When the latest school shooting happened here in Memphis, I said "enough is enough damn it!" Some of the city schools in this country are breeding grounds for violence and something has to be done to stop it. Some of those schools are right here in this city. I just don't understand how or why nothing is being done to end the violence.
Perhaps my train of thought will be perceived as too extreme by some. But I really think we need to ship these violent offenders off to another country if they can't stop shooting and killing. Yes, I know that most of them are kids, but these violent kids are growing up to be violent adults. School administrators give them chance after chance, shuffle them around to other schools, and have created "alternative schools" for the truely troubled children. Guidance counselors can only do so much when the parents of these kids do nothing. It is very much the parents who are mostly to blame here. Most of the parents either don't care or are just not there for their kids and the kids turn to the only thing that seems to make them feel good about themselves...violence.
Well, this has to stop. This vicious cycle must come to an end and if it means that the kids have to be exiled as a result, then so be it. Oh, and send their parents with them.

Ding Dong "W"'s Almost Gone

I would never even begin to speak for anyone else, but I am tickled F****n' pink. This is Bush's last year in office so it's bound to be an entertaining one. I just don't see "W" going quietly into the night. He's a Texan and they just don't do that sort of thing. The media is on a perpetual state of Red Alert just in case Bush does something monumentally stupid.
The question is: will Bush do something monumentally stupid before he leaves office next year? If I were a betting man, I would put all of my money on YES. With the country in the financial trouble that it is in, thanks to Bush, and with most of our troops still over in Iraq, thanks to Bush, is there anything left that his "reverse" Midas touch can destroy?
As I said in one of my earlier blogs, it doesn't really matter who goes into office next, a blind monkey with an addiction to crack and a penchant for snorting cocaine off a hooker's ass would do a better job, so anyone that get's elected now would be much better. I do hope, on a personal note, that he is successful in getting the tax cut for Americans pushed through. The way I figure it, he owes us AT LEAST that much, if not definitely more. Lift your glasses high into the air and let's toast ol' "W." Here's to the worst President in our nation's history (Nixon gives a sigh of relief from the great beyond).

Get Out The Vote

Michael Parker
ENGL 1020 (046)
“Get Out The Vote”


“Get Out The Vote” was a very interesting article in that the author at first seemed to be pressuring people to go vote no matter what. Upon reading more into the story, I realized the writer was justifying people’s reasons for not voting as well as for voting. At first, I felt that I should feel guilty if I do not want to vote or cannot make it to a polling place on time. The phrase that most made me feel this way was, “Three years ago anyone who failed to vote had to face the combined scorn of both political parties, the schoolteachers, boy scouts, war veterans, chambers of commerce, and leagues of women voters. Last year bar associations, girl scouts, tavern keepers, President Eisenhower, radio and TV stations, and junior chambers of commerce joined the crusade.” I pondered, for a moment, who was telling this story and then I realized the speaker of these words to be the political machines that were mentioned in the article. Political machines are best described as the wealthier candidates who spend a great deal of money on campaigning and who wish to clog up the polling places with voters who don’t want to be there as well as voters who are not well-informed and do not know all that much about the candidates. “The notion that "getting out the vote" makes for better election results is neither non-partisan, patriotic, nor logical. It is a device to favor the machines of both parties.”
As a matter of fact, those apathetic and uninformed voters are the intended targets for the machines, as well as the primary audience for this article. According to this article, it seems like the candidates would almost prefer the majority of voters be the misinformed kind. The candidate would get the votes from the informed voters and the uninformed ones might vote for them not realizing any better. And pressure placed on the non-voter would most likely make them cast a vote that would cancel out an informed voter’s casting.
I was not surprised to learn this article was written in 1955. Near the very beginning of the article, I read , “There is every prospect that in future elections, nonvoters will face jail sentences or fines, or be called to testify before investigating committees.” Upon seeing these words, I was reasonably sure that this was a dated piece. Authorities today would not even consider arresting or jailing someone who didn’t vote. Though this was written in 1955, another slogan has sort of captivated the youth of America recently. MTV’s “Rock The Vote” has encouraged young people to go vote during an important local or national election by telling the youth that their voice deserves to be heard. Entire “Rock The Vote” parties and televised events have been held and they often immolate the political conventions held by both the Democratic and Republican parties. What MTV has failed to do with this slogan and with these events is place a sense of urgency on the youth learning all they can about the candidates that are running for a particular office or position.
The central argument of this article, I believe, is that voting is important. As stated in the article, it should be a privilege, and not a duty. A main point of this argument is that we should all attempt to learn as much as we can about the candidates so that we can make an informed decision.
Another point raised states that if you have learned all you can and you do not like or cannot support any of the candidates, then do not cast a vote just for the sake of voting. I believe this point completely undermines the cultural idea set forth by our politicians that we should all get out and vote and make our voice heard. “The silliest idea of all is the notion that it is un-American or unpatriotic not to vote,” is the phrase that I most agree with because I did not vote in the last Presidential election that we had. I didn’t like Bush and didn’t know Kerry. None of the other candidates appealed to me either. So, on election day, I sat at home and watched the news to see just who did win.
This article was extremely fun to read because I can identify with the author. I think it is great that the politicians want you to get out and vote, but I believe that they should encourage all Americans to learn as much as possible about the candidates. They should also let Americans know that if they cannot find a candidate that they like or agree with, then it is acceptable not to vote.

Confession Is Good For The Soul...Round Two

Even though I didn't post a comment about his "Trouble Up Ahead In '08" blog, Confessions of a West TN Liberal must have felt that the 8 people who did throw their two cents in thought along the same lines I did. His latest blog, "I Retract My Statement!", has the blogger backtracking and apologizing for his earlier comments.
And it wasn't so much which comments he made as it was that he trashed everybody, Democrat and Republican alike. If you don't like ANY of the candidates, write in your choice if possible and let that be enough. If you claim to be a Democrat, find a candidate you can support and throw your support behind that person. Likewise if you ,for some ungodly reason, wish to be a, **gulp** Republican.
There are things I don't like about Hilary Clinton and things I don't like about Barack Obama. But this much is true, I support both and if I could vote for both, I would. And regardless of who gets the Democratic nod for this Presidential race, be it Hilary or Obama, if the other ends up running as the winner's running mate, I will be tickled pink. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but Confessions of a West TN Liberal was just being nasty to all running for the big chair in the White House. Like I said in my first blog about this guy, pick a candidate and support them, and if you don't like the choices, add a new one if you can. Otherwise, sit down and let the next person talk. Thanks

Only In An Election Year

It amazes me that when a major election year rolls around, that incumbent politicians as well as those seeking to unseat the incumbents begin the heavy discussions of issues that matter to the people of this country. Maybe I am a huge cynic when it comes to this, but I think it sucks that the incumbents and political hopefuls only seem to care about matters of healthcare, social security, employment, and education when they are trying to get (or keep) their jobs.
I propose that we revise the election system in this country. Make it a "get it done or get the hell out" system. If you promise (make a campaign promise) to solve the healthcare problem, and do it, you keep your job this round. If you fail to do anything significant, you're out. No impeachment process necessary. Donald Trump gets to walk up to you and say "You're Fired." This kind of conditional election system will either cut down on the number of campaign promises made or it will strongly motivate an elected official to actually do what they promised to get elected. Of the remaining people jockeying for the big chair in the White House, they all have and will continue to tell us what we want to hear from now until election day. But what will they actually do when they get there??
My hope is that they will actually do something significant to help the people of this country, but my cynical money is riding on believing that they will do little to nothing. God, I hope I'm wrong, but I fear I'm right.

Aaron's Story (Part 4)

The next few months, Aaron was all that I was able to talk about. He talked to Andrea at work and all they talked about was me. I had fallen so very hard for this boy and I didn't care who knew. Hell, I told everybody. Everything was falling into place for me. Work was on track at the time, my love life had gotten a much needed upgrade from no "husband" to the "husband" of my dreams. He was so incredibly attentive and devoted to me as I was to him. He continued to be my every waking thought and focus. After about 6 months of dating, we decided that we could live together. He moved his stuff into my apartment and shortly thereafter, my roommate moved out. For my sake with my family, since they didn't know about my sexuality, we kept the two bedrooms and made one look like it had been used the whole time he was there.
My mother and sisters, who came over every once in a while, always made it a point to comment on how clean that room was and never looked slept in. I would always tell them that was Aaron's room and that he was a complete neat freak. I always thought they bought it hook, line and sinker, but mom always looked at me with this look that can only be described as "who the hell do you think you are trying to kid?" But she always verbally accepted the explanation. I think she always knew deep down, just didn't want to confirm her suspicions. Yep mom, your baby boy is a big ol' "MO" (short for Homo).