Day: November 15, 2011

Occupy America

therightliberalLeave a comment

If this video makes you sick, good.

The video was taken at the University of California, Berkeley. And where on campus was this brutal beating in? Free Speech Square.

Now as the title says, this was one of many of the “Occupy Wall Street” protests going on around the country. It was made up of students from the university who were not being violent or trespassing. The college did not ask for the protest to be broken up.

So here is a video taken from the same spot, but from 1964. This was from a protest regarding the lack of free speech for the students.

The irony is clear that students were being attacked by police for speaking their mind in the FREE SPEECH SQUARE.

What is wrong with our country, people?

We have people who have been peacefully protesting, upset with the current state of our economy and our society. And yet, police feel the need to go through and violently break up many peaceful protests.

Now with that last video, look at the people running. Look at the woman running and the people taking pictures. Now do those people look like violent and dangerous people to you?

Before, I was very questioning of the 99% protests and the “Occupy Wall Street” movement. I thought it didn’t have a real object and that it seemed unorganized.

But that has changed. If I didn’t live in a small town, I would be right out there with them. These people are fighting for what the majority of our people want. They are fighting for a change that this country needs. To be honest, and I hesitate to say this, this could be one of the first steps to a full revolution.

But I don’t want to make it seem that they are working towards anarchy. They are working to find more equality in this country. It may seem that everyone here is equal but look at the separation between the uber-wealthy and the rest of America.

And now there is a movement towards change. So if you can do anything to help this movement, go do it. Bring a positive change to our country and support these brave people who are out in the cold fighting for a better country.

Controversy over… Soup?

rangerthecat1 Comment

Today in our senior class meeting, something unexpected and very surprising happened. And to be honest, even though it does not have a direct effect on me, it still bothers me. A lot.

Student council has proposed the idea of a soup lunch. Once a week we would serve only soup, salad, and bread, and the money saved would be donated to a charity of our choice to help people in need.

The unbelievable part is that this simple, easy, and helpful plan has basically been denied. Why? Because a small number of students feel like it is not a good idea for some strange reason.

I would like to say that I am sympathetic and that I also see it from their point of view, but unfortunately I don’t. The students who objected brought concerns about where the money is going, how much we will raise, and how they don’t want to skip a meal. But really, soup, bread, and salad is a very substantial meal that many less fortunate people out there would be ecstatic to have each day.

There are 20 meals served each week. And out of all of those, we can’t find the selflessness to give up one single meal to help others.

What’s happened to all the generosity in this world?

Butterflies, Again

yrreskrap1 Comment


Fingertips feel numb. Palms feel cold. Stomach feels light. Head feels warm.

I welcome this unease.

Two become one from 2,000 to none in perhaps less than seven.

Which makes me worry. I don’t get hungry anymore.

I welcome this unease.

I won’t be unfaithful, but I might stray. I might stray. No, only for a minute. But it is always you. Something always brings me back to you…unwillingly, powerfully, endearingly, courageously, always.

I welcome this unease.

Let the butterflies consume my heart when I see you again. Let them take over. Let them feast. Feast until they have had their fill, and more. So it will last me until our next unspoken encounter.

Honesty

rangerthecat1 Comment

Honestly, (ha), I don’t understand some people’s logic/morals anymore.

It’s as if honesty is not even a common thing anymore.

There are lies as simple as “that was my last piece of gum”, and then there are much, much more complicated lies.

I know that sometimes, a little white lie is necessary and harmless. But, where is that line between little lies and big lies?

I believe that people have forgotten that honesty is EASY. I mean, it really is.

And, being honest more often seems to lead to less mishaps in the first place that may seem to require lies later on.

I know everyone who has ever walked this earth has most likely been hurt by a lie that didn’t need to be told.

Honesty is the most important quality in a person, in my opinion. So, as of today, I am making a promise with myself to be honest about anything to anyone.

People need to realize this, and do the same… They really do.

Worst Person #5-Andy Reid

backinphillyLeave a comment

Yup, gunna take a quick shot at my own team in this blog. So, get ready for a barrage of negativity.

I love the Philadelphia Eagles. I will never stop loving this team. But right now, there is nothing in the world that I hate more than their head coach, Andy Reid. Ya, he’s not the only one to blame for the team’s continued woes of poor play. But seriously, you are given players like Jason Babin, Nnamdi Asomugha, Cullen Jenkins and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie…AND YOU GO 3-6?!?!?!?! YOU HAVE GOT TO BE FLIPPIN’ KIDDING ME!!!! HOW CAN SOMEONE WITH SUCH A GREAT TRACK RECORD OF LEADING TEAMS TO THE PLAYOFFS COACH A TEAM WITH THE BEST PLAYERS MONEY CAN BUY AND LOSE CONSTANTLY?!?!?!

I’m not alone on this. Even Philly wants Reid gone after this atrocious start. I have developed a supreme HATRED of this entire coaching staff this season with the exception of offensive line coach Howard Mudd and defensive line coach Jim Washburn. Mudd simply because he is a living NFL legend and Washburn because his unit is actually WORKING rather than completely failing like the rest of the roster.

The Eagles travel to New York next weekend to face the Giants on the big stage of Sunday Night Football. I will watch it with my parents, brother, sister and Giants fan girlfriend (Should be interesting) who is flying out for the weekend. Without a victory against the Giants, the already minuscule chance of the Eagles making the playoffs will completely evaporate and the season will be over after 10 games. There’s supposed to be 16 games, not 10.

There’s always next year right? Of course there is, but not with Andy Reid. Leave Philadelphia because none of the brothers here have any more love for you.

Shaken

yrreskrap2 Comments


Silence.

Only the buzz of a the car rolling on the freeway.

Above her head, black expanse broken by the single, flickering light of a plane.

That was the first time she ever truly wished she could run, escape. Get out of this stuffy car. Away from all of the stress and pressure. To find Some reprieve, Some momentary peace, Somewhere far away.

If only she could be on that plane that was slowly crossing the night sky. If only she could switch lives with the driver that drove parallel to the car she was in. If she could leave…if. If.

Oh, and how she wanted to SCREAM. It seemed sometimes that was the only way to keep her sanity. To scream. But she could not.

She couldn’t bear telling her father, who was sitting behind the wheel. No, that would break his heart. He didn’t need to know. Nobody needs to know.

So, muffled, in her thoughts, she was screaming. Her eyes silently staring ahead.

Miles to go until she got to her destination.

And miles to go until she could start living her life like she wants to.

Chocolate

thehungryrunnergirl2 Comments

Mmm… Chocolate is one of my favorite sweets. Once I start eating it, I can’t help myself! I often hear that you can’t get mad having chocolate in your mouth!

In the U.S, Hershey’s, M&Ms, and Mars occupy 2/3 of the chocolate market and U.S consumes more chocolate than any other country and as you know, chocolate is popular all around the world, but not only in the U.S.

The world 5 biggest chocolate factories are…

1. Mars (U.S)
2. Cadbury(U.K)
3. Nestle(Switzerland)
4. Ferrero (Nutella) (Italy)
5. Hershey’s (U.S)

As you can see, major chocolate factories are located in Europe. I had a bite of Finnish chocolate today, “Karl Fazer” that I got from my Finnish friend Anni, it melted in my mouth and I thought that was the best chocolate I’ve ever had!

When you hear the word “chocolate”, you may instantly think that it makes you fat. However, the fact is that chocolate is very beneficial for your health. It lowers your blood pressure and is rich in antioxidants. 40g of chocolate contains about 400mg of it. Antioxidants are very good for you because they prevent protein, fat and DNA from oxidizing. If you lack antioxidants in your body, cells and DNA will be damaged by active oxygen, which makes higher the risk of getting cancer and cardiac disease.

So don’t feel guilty for having chocolate indulge yourself!

My first triathlon

thehungryrunnergirlLeave a comment

At 6:45 AM on Sunday, 4 of the members of Tri Ojai and I were at the poolside area of the Ojai Valley School getting ready for a practice triathlon. It was very cold outside; everyone was wearing warm jackets and pants. I couldn’t believe that I had to swim in the outside pool… The athletic director was laughing at me shivering with cold and being afraid of swimming in the pool. MEANIE.

Brief course description: 500 yard swim (outdoor OVS pool), 11 mile bike (into the town of Ojai and back up to campus), and 3 mile run (on Pi, which is our home cross country course, BACKWARDS).

The practice race started at 7 AM. I jumped into the pool. My body was freezing and when I started swimming I couldn’t breathe and was just desperately trying to get some air. But after I swam 50 yards, my body got used to the temperature of the water, and I felt warm again.

I got out of the pool and rushed to the transition area to start biking. My body was shivering and wobbling. I got on the bike and it was all down hill for the first 3 or 4 miles. It was a bumpy road; my hands were hurting the whole time, because I had to squeeze the break in order not to crash. The hill on the way back up was a killer, but I liked it anyways. My 11-mile bike ride was quite a journey, but I had a lot of fun.

I set my bike on the rack and started to run. I couldn’t feel my feet at all, my legs felt all weird. I ran down the hill and the worst part started when I hit the bear gate. I ran uphill for 2 miles until I hit the boy’s dorm. But it wasn’t as bad as I’d expected and I liked the feeling of running down hill afterward.


I completed triathlon in 1 hour 19 minutes and 50 seconds. I loved it so much. I think I will get myself into triathlon! I asked my dad if I could get a road bike for Christmas! I would love to bike all winter just to take a break from running and not to burn myself out.

Anyways, I had fun and it was the best way to start my Sunday!

I would like to thank my triathlon coach for letting me have this opportunity.

Sickness Creates Problems

r3t5nomLeave a comment

sick

I was majorly sick last week. I had a horrible cold and I could barely breathe. But from that point on Monday morning I knew things were going to escalate to a whole new level of problems. But this time they would involve schoolwork and the act of falling behind in school.

ddddd

I have spent this past weekend trying to catch up on all the assignments due and I am to the point where I am completely overwhelmed with work.

The feeling of not being able to finish every assignment that is due is one thing, but the feeling of not being able to finish every assignment that is due and every assignment that was due the past few days that you weren’t in school is horrible.

I bet that most people already know that missing school causes you to get behind in your classes, but for those who don’t know this yet, please take it from me that its better to go to school and do the work you need to do day by day than to miss school because your sick and end up having to make everything up at once.

ddd

Has this happened to you?

Isn’t it horrible?!

Talk about “Peaceful” demonstrations

frog3Leave a comment
Riot police using tear gas on 21 April 2001 ag...
Image via Wikipedia

OWS is suppose to be a nonviolent protest against corporate greed. The protestors should be protected by the constitution yet the violence still persist. Police around the country have been brutally beating protestors and tear-gasing them in an effort to disperse crowds.

An incident occurred last week, in Burlington, Vermont, when a 35-year-old veteran committed suicide do to a lack of a job and job security. Another incident occurred when police with tear gas severely injured a marine veteran

The government however turns a blind eye to such treatment, allowing thousands of citizens a day to be arrested and beat for protests. Although politicians may be distracted by the upcoming elections; does that give them an excuse to ignore the people’s rights?(the correct answer is no)

I believe that it is ok for police forces to break up protestors in public areas, what is not okay is to beat and tear gas them, using violent measures against nonviolent protestors.

If the government wants to retain the respect of the people it must allow people to voice their grievances without interference from law enforcement.