Archive for October, 2008

The Tenth Month of 2008

Friday, October 31st, 2008

I know it’s probably awkward to have a fuel (gas, petrol) container beside a photo of a cat and crackers. However, I was wanting to play around with spot metering some more. I really love the effects you can get with it. I was out in the garage and I really loved how the light was shining on the container. I also loved that on the side it says “Essence.”

The cat is Rajah and the crackers are off brand cheese crackers in the shape of whales.

Essence of Life (fuel container) Rajah the Cat Whales in my hand

The colors of the leaves are slowly turning to their natural colors. Emphasis on slowly! We haven’t had much rain this year so they’re taking their precious time. I’m afraid that they’re all going to fall to the ground before they turn pretty colors.

Kitty jump Fall Closeup Yellow and Blue

Last Fall, Lex followed me around while I was taking photos of the leaves. This year it’s Rajah who is following me around. Lex came up the hill with me but then turned back around and went home. I don’t know if Rajah and Lex aren’t getting along or if Lex just didn’t feel up to it.

I really love the angle of the first photo of the leaves. I had intended on making it into a portrait when I took the photo but liked it a lot better in landscape.

With the second photo I had a tough decision to make. I had two photos. The first one wasn’t so close but you really couldn’t see all of the detail in the leaf, that’s why I chose the close up.

The final photo in the leaf set is of a tree at the corner of our property. It always has the most gorgeous leaves when against a blue sky.

NaPodPoMo 2008

Friday, October 31st, 2008

Last year I wanted to take part of NaPodPoMo but I never did. After NaPodPoMo was over last year I did try to record for thirty days on my own but I think I only managed to do it for fifteen days. This year is going to be different. I am doing NaPodPoMo and I have every intention of doing it for the full thirty days.

The reason I am doing NaPodPoMo is so I can get back into audio podcasting. I really love to do video podcasts but I haven’t been able to do one in a while because of my living situation. It will still be hard for me to record audio. I’ll have to work around everyone else’s schedule. However, it will be much easier to record audio since I don’t have to set up equipment and tear it back down quickly. Why am I so secretive of my podcasting? Well, my family doesn’t understand it and they think it’s strange that I’d want to create videos or audio for people on the Internet.

I am really excited about NaPodPoMo but I am nervous as well. The problem I’ve got is setting really high expectations for myself. I’m really planning on doing a whole lot with audio recording in the next thirty days. It’s really going to be a challenge for me. I have to do it though.

If you’d like to take part in the “NaPodPoMo Experience” (phrase taken from Jen) it’s not too late. Click over to the NaPodPoMo website and join.

Reaction to Debate of 10/07/2008

Tuesday, October 7th, 2008

My friends, tonight Barack Obama and John McCain had a town hall style debate. You know that of course. I’m just stalling because I’m looking for words to describe the debate tonight. Something other than “boring” and “anti-climatic.” But, those are the only words I can think of so I guess if they fit, we’ll use them. For the most part I think all the issues were old issues. With that said, there are still a few things I’d like to discuss.

First of all. John McCain and Barack Obama, both, are scared to death to even mention the poor class. Maybe the politically correct term is “working class.” Constantly, all you hear is “middle class.” I think it’s their way of making people feel better about themselves. I know they realize that there are people who are below the middle class. At least, I hope they realize it. In my opinion, though. I don’t think trickle down economics is working. I don’t think anything is working. I think there needs to be a focus on poor people, the poor class and I don’t hear that.

I’m sorry, you can disagree with me on this, but I do not think that the American workforce is the best. Look at the cars on the road. Where do the best cars come from? The best cars come from Germany (in my honest opinion). American jobs are being shipped overseas all the time. Right here in Tennessee there were a ton of plants that were closed and shipped to Honduras. Two plants right here in Morgan County are long gone because of the work being sent to Honduras. The Red Kap (VF Image Wear) and the Tenneford Weaving Company closed up and the workers of those plants were drastically effected and are still effected because of those plants closing. I know a lot of them. A lot of them are family. Most of the ones I know got a job out of the county. They have to drive an hour every single day, back and forth to work. Some of them drive an even longer distance. They have to drive long distances to work, they don’t get great health care benefits at work, they have to put up with companies that don’t follow regulations, they are paying even hire gas prices at the pump and they’re sick and tired of being sick and tired. The American workforce is not happy. I’m not saying that Americans aren’t hard working. What I am saying is that they are tired and the quality of their work is showing. That makes more companies want to send work to another country where people will work harder for a lot less money.

McCain wants to give families $5,000 to each family for health care insurance, per year. I’m sure he’s going to tax it somewhere. If you don’t tax it then where is that money going to come from? I digress. Anyways, where does McCain get the idea that $5,000 is even enough to cover health care costs of a family of just four? Sure, that might be enough for a couple of doctor’s visits and checkups. But you’re still going to have to deal with insurance companies who don’t want to pay for pre-existing conditions. I really think Obama’s plan for health care is just better.

I really think Obama did a great job tonight of defending himself. I think McCain kept making petty attacks that were stupid and retarded. I hate that there wasn’t enough time for Obama to defend every single one of his positions, though. I think everyone saw McCain trying to get on the voter’s good side, to make people laugh, to get a few jabs in. While Barack Obama really showed himself as a Presidential candidate. He used the facts and not jokes.

Most of what I heard from McCain tonight is what we’ve done in the past. What he’s done in the past. Not what he intends to do in the future. On the other hand Obama laid out plans for what needs to happen regarding Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, etc. While I don’t agree with all of Obama’s plans, at least he laid some out. He didn’t lay out plans for every question asked but he most certainly laid out more plans than John McCain did.

I keep going back to John McCain’s plan for the economy. If he had such a good plan for the economy, why didn’t he tell us in the debate two weeks ago? Why didn’t he tell us tonight? Oh he’s a Maverick alright, suspending his campaign and going to Washington to help make a plan. What was that plan? You going to tell us once you get into office? No thank you!

I think the idea of putting more money and efforts into the Peace Corps is a great idea. I think there are a lot of people who want to help out people in need but aren’t military material. They don’t want to put up with the crap that you have to put up with in the military. Of course, John McCain turns around and says that will raises taxes. I’ll write more about that in a moment. I really think that offering more services to other countries through the Peace Corps is a great idea. It helps other countries see us in a different light, not as terrorists. It would help restore our country’s image as to something others would want to aspire to be like.

I really love how the Republicans scare people with taxes. The Democrats do it, too. Not as bad in my opinion. Everyone wants more public services. Where do these people think the money comes from? I’d rather see taxes go up, have more public services and have more accountability of the government.

I really loved when John McCain said during the debate that there was no time for on the job training. I laughed really hard. I mean seriously, did he forget who his running mate is? I think he wants us to forget!

We went back to the topic of pre-conditions tonight and I’m really glad we did. I’m glad Obama gave his reasonings for having talks without pre-conditions. His reasons were basically the same reasons I gave in the previous debate response.

Like I said in my stalled introduction, I think tonight’s debate was a bit boring. I think most of the old issues were re-hashed. I said on Twitter the other day that both parties are preaching to their respective choirs. If at this point there is someone who is un-decided, then honey, there is absolutely no hope for you!

Reaction to Debate of 10/02/2008

Friday, October 3rd, 2008

I’ll be up front and honest with you. I was hoping for a train wreck tonight. Unfortunately, we didn’t get it.

First off, Biden did an amazing job tonight. After tonight I am much happier with Obama’s selection for Vice President. I think he was the forcefulness that we needed to see. I think whenever he spoke he showed why Palin was wrong and how wrong it would be to elect McCain and Palin. I really think he did a great job of that. My favorite example of the night was actually in the beginning when he first brought up the de-regulation of the banks.

Every time Palin answered a question she started to ramble. To be quite honest there were a lot of times I’d be listening to her and I would forgot the question because she was rambling so much. She in the beginning even said that she was not going to answer our questions. She didn’t. Every time she answered a question she went back to another issue.

Watching her tonight I felt as though all her responses were canned responses. I know, Biden’s probably were as well. However, when he responded I got the feeling that Biden could stand on his own two feet. Whenever Palin would answer a question all I would hear is a brochure for John McCain. We need someone who will be able to stand on their own feet if the need should arise. I don’t see that with Palin.

You know how when you’re with family you feel a lot more comfortable and can speak your mind? Then when you’re with strangers you feel a bit more reserved? Well, that’s me at least. I honestly think that Biden will be great for talking about domestic issues while Obama talks to foreign leaders, re-building the image of America. Biden can talk to us like we’re family and not in the usual political rhetoric that you hear.

I was really upset tonight when both of the Vice Presidential candidates came out so strongly against same-sex marriage. However, I do have to say that I honestly think Obama and Biden are a lot more progressive on the issue. I think that they had every intention of giving same-sex partners rights from the beginning. I think that the McCain/Palin campaign has adopted that philosophy in an effort to try and get more votes. With Obama, we’ll get a lot more. We won’t get everything. But at least we’ll get something.

I know that there are people out there after tonight’s debate who will not be voting for Obama based on this issue alone. To them, I really have to urge you to re-consider. Please, do not allow McCain to be elected! Sure, neither of the candidates support same sex marriage. But, they’re the only two candidates that have even the slightest potential of being elected to office. I WISH I could vote for a third party candidate but I cannot. I cannot because I know that a McCain/Palin presidency would make this country even worse than it already is.

The McCain/Palin campaign still refuses to even try and find out what is causing climate change. If you don’t find out what is causing the problems, the problems are only going to continue. I don’t understand why they can’t see that. Of course, most of us already know that it’s our use of fossil fuels and releasing toxic chemicals into the atmosphere.

I really loved when Palin said tonight that we can’t allow more greed and corruption to continue on Wall Street. It’s so hilarious! The federal government bailout of private corporations this week alone brings more greed and corruption to Wall Street (and Washington for that matter). Both candidates supported the bail out plan, unfortunately.

Monday, October 6, 2008 is the deadline to register to vote in Tennessee. If you have not registered to vote, do it today and please, I urge you, vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

Please visit the “Tennessee Department of State: Division of Elections” website to learn how to register to vote. Do it, now! You can also visit VoteForChange.com