My New Roots April 19, 2007

A wise woman said “You are like a Tree. Your friends are Branches, leaves, and roots that hold you together. Those that are leaves come and go during the season. Around for the good, but gone for the bad. Some friends are branches; they will stand by you during most of the good and some of the bad. The roots, they are the ones you want to hang on too. They are the ones who truly stand by you. Which is why there are so few?” The question becomes who are your roots? In the past few weeks my roots have become loose. Lately, I have been feeling that those who are friends aren’t really friends. At first I’m glad to see some of it, but now, I wish I would have realized it a while ago. I just feel that my support that I thought I had is not there anymore or never really existed. I don’t know maybe I am going crazy or maybe the world is just an evil place it’s a very thin line.           

Alaa Bazzi

Myspace is for losers! April 19, 2007

About 1 year ago I only knew about 3 or 4 people who had a “My Space”. I couldn’t help but laugh at these people who took so much time and effort to make this miraculous web page. But lately everyday someone unleashes their new My Space. Every single person with a mouse and keyboard has one, its sickening. Since when was the country full of web designers? Most people don’t even know where the start menu is but yet you managed to make a mini website complete with video sound and pictures. Who knew you had so much potential! One of the most hilarious things I encountered on these my space sites is how good it can make the nastiest person look. You people sit there and take 4,000 pictures and pick 3 of them that make you look bombing! This site can make Sloth from the goonies look like Brad Pitt. The funny thing is when the people in the pictures have the same outfits on in every picture. By doing that you’re basically telling us “Hey I took these pictures specifically for my space so that I can have more “friends”". Then there’s those pictures where the girl lowers her shirt to reveal her cleavage and gives that chest pose. You girls are making B cups look like D cups! But nothing is better then all the “My Space Thugs” throwing up their PEACE signs and wearing their G-Unit hats with their fake chains. You’re not hood and you’re never going to be hood because you grew up in a place that has every freedom possible.            Then there’s these hilarious surveys that are so unbelievably retarded and straight up pointless. I don’t care if you like Lipton, I don’t care that your wearing slippers right now and I don’t care how much you love Oreos! HAHA and when it asks what’s your best physical feature and then the person leaves it blank, LMAO. Honestly why would you embarrass yourself like that? Go eat a box of Oreos with your Lipton Ice Tea. Then there’s these people who continuously lie on their surveys, like what is the point in that? Or when it asks you if you smoke/drink you got people with drinks in their hands in their pictures saying “No that stuff is wrong. Hey guys I’m cocaine what drug are you??? Or I’m KRISTIN from
Laguna Beach who are you? I don’t know about you but I would rather not call my self a coked up
Laguna Beach character. Seriously people need to grow up and act your their own age. All those hot super models that claim are your “friends” are not real people!

Alaa Bazzi

for granted April 12, 2007

            Many of us take life for granted always thinking that there will be a tomorrow. It’s not the things that we do, it’s the little things that we don’t do. Like for those who have parents, when was the last time you actually hugged your parent(s) and told them how much they meant to you and that you love them? Or even your sister, or brother you never know what could happen.When was the last time you called your grandparents or that special aunt, or uncle just to say hi and tell them that they were on your mind? Or even a friend or cousin who you have not talk to or seen in years. Think about it. We have the idea that they will always be there and that nothing will happen to them. The calls tend to get shorter, the visits start to slack and become time consumeing, and next thing you know you have lost contact. I know how it is, I know the saying i’m going to call, or i’m going to come over, and it keeps getting put off. All I am saying is enjoy one another while you have each other. Don’t wait till your loved ones funeral till you give them flowers do it while their living because those are the ones that count, that they will remember. And enjoy your life as well no one should live life unhappy. The only way that your life becomes unhappy is if you let it. Yeah we all are not rich, or have a peachy family, but at times you have to make the best out of a bad situation. Like it’s ok to plan for your future, but live for the present as well. Because we all have a time to go and every second that has passed is another second not promised. It truely hurts when you have things on your mind that you could’ve, should’ve, or would’ve said when someone is out of your life for good so take it from me charish and show your appreciation to the ones in your life don’t let petty stuff prevent you from doing that. I lost my grandfather not to long ago and everything i’m telling you is what i knew all along I just took his life for granted and kept on saying “tomorrow I will call,”  or “he’s not going anywhere.” I took it for granted until reality slapped me in the face.                              

*RaSondra*   

speaker: bilal malek April 9, 2007

i walked in just in time to catch probably the half part of the speaker’s piece.

first thing i gathered, was he was speaking about oil industry. and how the fight for oil, has been a major issue in the middle east/africa (sudan).

there have been human rights abuses, and monetary gain, from corrupt governments.

he was speaking about multi-national organiations. ,

and how globalization can be both a good thing and a bad thing.

with globalization comes greed, to make money. and causes corruption.

aid money coming into countries economies that are in ‘need’, are almost used as a ‘look at me’ i’m helping these other countries. when in reality, there just taking care of there own countries reputation .. rather than sincerely giving to ‘help’

greed has caused a situation in sudan, where big corporations have a role in corrupting the government ..

and child labor, human rights abuses.

it’s HIGH TIME FORE CHANGE.

the genocide in sudan needs to stop.

posted by;

richard lannen

March 28, 2007

Race March 27, 2007

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            All of us have heard the expression that you should never judge a book by its cover. Well the same goes for people in saying that you should never judge a person by the color of their skin, the way they look or the way that they dress and all of the above, but racism and stereotyping is out there anyway. The definition of racism is a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement; usually involving the idea that one’s own race is superior and has the right to rule others. The only thing I don’t understand is why people have to feel superior to others especially when it comes to race. There is not one true race that was created or has come to be superior to others in the world today. Every single race or ethnicity has a unique characteristic but yet have faults and also share certain qualities that both you and I have. To me race is a made up word to give people in this world just another reason to find the bad in each and every person and to bring the hatred and all the evil out of each individual.

            Racism occurs each and every day no matter where you go. People are hurting and even killing people just because they aren’t you. For the most part people become annoyed and bored when everything around them is the same, but yet they kill difference, they strive to make everything evolve around them because people are something that your not. To me I feel that I am colorblind in this world. I don’t see black, white, yellow, green or blue. I see the people that are in this world for who they are, who they want to be and for the potential they have to become that person. People strive for brilliance and perfection, but yet there are those people that bring them down become of their race, because of what they are instead of who they are and what is great about them.

            Again I say that to me racism is a made of word that people use to section themselves off from the world that is surrounding them. They only want to know what they have been raised into, instead of using the power they are given to explore this wonderful land. Personally, I have a friend that is Mexican and a friend that is Indian but yet the key word in that sentence was friend. The people that are close to you because of what you have in common, not for what your exterior looks like.

Matt H.

race cars and apartheid March 27, 2007

http://www-cs-students.stanford.edu/~cale/cs201/pictures/table.jpg

thats a table i found while looking into one of the most disturbing acts of racism, discrimination. the south african apartheid, was basicly a time when.. white’s took over africa, and monopolized a government that discriminated against any non-white peoples. a quote says it better,

” With the enactment of apartheid laws in 1948, racial discrimination was institutionalized. Race laws touched every aspect of social life, including a prohibition of marriage between non-whites and whites, and the sanctioning of “white-only” jobs. In 1950, the Population Registration Act required that all South Africans be racially classified into one of three categories: white, black (African), or colored (of mixed decent). The coloured category included major subgroups of Indians and Asians. Classification into these categories was based on appearance, social acceptance, and descent. For example, a white person was defined as “in appearance obviously a white person or generally accepted as a white person.” A person could not be considered white if one of his or her parents were non-white. The determination that a person was “obviously white” would take into account “his habits, education, and speech and deportment and demeanor.” A black person would be of or accepted as a member of an African tribe or race, and a colored person is one that is not black or white. The Department of Home Affairs (a government bureau) was responsible for the classification of the citizenry. Non-compliance with the race laws were dealt with harshly. All blacks were required to carry “pass books” containing fingerprints, photo and information on access to non-black areas.”

http://www-cs-students.stanford.edu/~cale/cs201/apartheid.hist.html

there’s a film i saw in which i first actually learned of this occuring, and it included a story about nelson mandela, who was put to death for standing up for his people. and it’s not over, i’m sure someone may have caught an opera special in which she explored the living conditions for children in parts of africa. children that would migrate every night to avoid getting hurt by the ‘rebels’ and/or kidnapped. THERE has to be something we can do, as a planet, to stop things like this..

My next point, begginning with a race.. when i hear of ’sterotypes’ that truly honestly ‘discriminate’ .. and i’m comfartable adressing it, is the way that the nascar race scene is made out to look like a bunch of rednecks racing there cars. when i’m almost entirely sure, most of these racing guys.. are far from your ideal ‘redneck’ right? so why the making fun??.. why the southern accenting when ya talk about ‘nascar’? .. a good example being a movie by will ferrill recently made. was truly an act of comedy based on a stereotypical image, blown up.

signed. richard lannen

As you prepare to do your research papers…. February 19, 2007

Just in case you forgot how… 

~jg

Are you missin the other half. February 13, 2007

When God formed me, He put me to sleep, took a part of my rib and hid it in you. When I woke, he told me to take time to heal and gave me a word of wisdom. He said, “A man that finds a wife, finds a good thing.” Ever since that time, I’ve been searching for you, my rib. You’ve been in my dreams, but I can’t see you. You’ve been in my thoughts, but I don’t know you.

Years have gone by, I never felt the pain. I’m beginning to feel the pain. It hurts to be without you. It hurts to know what you’re like, but not know who you are. You are out there somewhere. Now I realize that it wasn’t the surgery that hurt, it’s the healing.

I have spent so much time, money and energy searching for this healing in possibilities that were not compatibilities. While some came close, they couldn’t heal me, and others only worsened my condition. You see, no one can love me the way you do, no one can make me smile the way you do, they can’t heal me completely the way you can. Can’t you see, I need you to survive!

I find myself on this operating table, desperately needing a transplant. I’m told that I will never find compatability. But, I heard God say that the best is yet to come. He’s given me more time to find you, but He told me to slow down and let myself heal so that when you (that compatible rib) come, I’ll be ready to receive you.

All I know is that I love you already. I pray for you every night and I wait in anticipation for you. I’m still lying here waiting to find you, fearing that I might never find you. There are many out there, but there are none like you. You have everything that I need. You share my hopes, my dreams, my goals, and my vision. You are my rib, the woman God designed just for me. God knew and He is the only one who knows what I need. I am waiting patiently for you and continually searching for you. I love you.

Forever Yours,

Robert Lee.

Trouble Commenting and 2 Updated Posts February 3, 2007

OK, some people are still having problems commenting. If you’ve tried everything and are still having issues, you can send them to me in an email and I’ll post them when the problems get cleared up.

Also, Broc and Stephanie have posts up now that weren’t there before. They had “saved” a draft, but never published it, so the posts were chilling in “your drafts” without being seen. Don’t let that happen to you because I might not notice it!

~jenna g.