Proposal eight has been the trendy hot button controversy of the moment with people declaring their support or disgust through email chain letters, blog posts and of course, numerous Facebook status reports. Additionally, celebrities from every area and genre have spoken on the issue as well. Recently, during an interview with MTV News, Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt added their two (or .35) cents:

Heidi's hair and makeup people are some of my favorite homosexuals on the planet, and if they want to marry each other, I'm not about to be like, 'Don't,' ' Pratt says."I'm very for equal rights," Montag added.

I'm sure Prop 8 supporters everywhere feel so vindicated to have 2008's "power couple "(cough, cough) support their cause.

The couple made news earlier this year after reporting that they planned to support John McCain. Frankly, I am baffled that he lost the election with the support of such intelligent and eloquent individuals.

I'm not surprised by how many people seem to oppose Obama, but what does surprise me is the wide array of rather contradictory arguments. Some anti-Obamaites insist that a vote for Obama is a vote for terrorism. As one my manager expressed, "He's a Muslim who's going to have his terrorist friends attack us!" I know that this a fear of many Americans. Although I find it absurd people still use statements like "They support Muslims" or "he's Muslim" as a criticism for why democrats shouldn't be in office. Do we forget history that quickly? Christians were the original terrorists..."killing in the name of god" (sound familiar anyone?) Lest we not forget that the Ku KluX Klan is a Protestant group.
Speaking of the KKK, did anyone see Obama's speech today? During his discussion on what needs to be done to our economy, he was interrupted by a group of protesters. The protesters called themselves "Blacks against Obama." They denounced his pro gay marriage and pro-choice as a reason to be against him. But others signs carried a more interesting message "Jesse Jackson hates Obama" and "The KKK endorses Obama." The KKK endorsing Obama is one which has been floating around on the Internet for months, a rumor which both the candidate and the KKK have denounced. On the other hand, others see Obama is a Pro-Black, Anti-white presidential candidate connected with the pastor who made racist comments about white people. So is He Christian or Muslim? Black Panther or KKK? Can his opponents please get together and make up their minds?

This morning, while downing my morning java and channel surfing, I passed a political talk show. Like all the other media, the Republican Campaign and specifically, Sarah Palin, were the topic of discussion.
Yesterday, Palin announced that her 17 year old daughter was five months pregnant, and was planning on keeping the baby. There are several interesting factors about this. First, is the fact that Palin, like many republicans is pro-life and anti-sex education, opting instead for "Abstinence only" education. Supporters of that program have cited teen pregnancies as proof that sex-education doesn't work, so what does this prove?
I wonder how this will effect the campaign?Undeniably, the democrats will use that against Palin while I imagine many republicans and die-hard McCain Supporters will look the other way at this mishap. If so, how many would be so forgiving if it was one of Barack Obama's daughters?

Obama Gives Up Underwear; Parties all Night in Club

Politics as usual. The newest anti-obama video from the McCain Camp, features images of Paris Hilton and Brittany Spears, with an announcer declaring Obama "the biggest celebrity of all." The backhanded compliment is followed by a declaration of Obama's inexperience and poor policies. Some have argued that the new advertisements are racist, I'd argue that they are just ridiculous.
Granted, Obama has received support from many of the young "hipsters" of Hollywood and the recording industry. This ad makes an attempt to take shots at Obama for having such young trendy following, by lumping him in with the frequent club hopping train-wrecks ala Brit and Paris.
McCain was endorsed earlier this tear by Heidi Montag, the former best friend turned frienenemy of Lauren Conrad and CoStar of the psydo-realityshow The Hills. Should we assume then that McCain spends his days at the beach, shopping, and starting every sentence with "Like, ya know"?

Youth Appeal-The Backhand Compliment

Obama's appeal among the youth has been a double edge sword of sorts for him. While his appeal may encourage those from the under-30 set to head to the polls, it has been used against him.
His demand for change and "new politics" (and let's face it, his race) has made him a populer contender amongst the hip-hop community. During his set for "Heart of the City Tour" with Mary J. Blige, rapper Jay-Z took a moment to endorse Obama (and denounce Bush, of course). Hova ensured the crowd that Obama was not sponsoring the concert, rather that he was just using his free speech to endorse him. Rapper Nas also endorsed the presidential hopefully on the track "Black President" of his newly released untitled album. However, with the support comes backfiring. With some of his endorsers saying things that's he rather distance himself from.
As reported by MTV News, rapper Ludacris expressed his support for Obama in a new track released via mixtape. In the new track Luda takes shots at McCain and Bush, saying he wanted he didn't want to see McCain in a chair unless he's paralyzed and calling Bush was mentally handicapped.
Predictably, the Obama camp was quick to denounce the comments and declare that Luda should be ashamed for making them. I know he kind of had to denounce the lyrics, not doing so would be A PR nightmare. But admit it Barack, before you got mad, you did laugh, just a little of course.

When does someone become "grown-up"?

I celebrated my 23rd birthday a few weeks ago. Like prior birthdays of the past five or so years, the day caused me to reflect back on my life and the prior year. In all honesty, the time between age 22 and 23 was rather uneventful and unproductive, and will most likely become known as the "forgotten year."
I guess I didn't know what to expect from my early twenties. As a teenager/high school student, people in their twenties seemed so grown. At 16, I would have confidently assured that a woman of 23 was an adult, but now I'm not sure. What defines an adult?
Along the way, there are many so-called markers of adult hood. I didn't feel like an adult after turning 18, I was still in high school for a month and living in my mother's house. Nor did I feel like an adult at 21, still residing in college dorms. Even now, living on my own, with college degree, I still don't feel like an adult and I'm not sure when I will.
As I look a round at other people in my age bracket, I wonder when they became so adult. Every time I go on facebook, I read another status message about someone my age getting engaged, getting married or pregnant, buying a house. I wonder if they feel like adults.
I know that getting engaged isn't the turning point of adulthood, or else the country would be full of children pushing forty. Is being an adult a state of mind--like happiness? Do you recognize adulthood when you reach it, or is it something you recognize only on nostalgic reflection. Any twenty-somethings reading this-feel free to respond with your thoughts on if you feel grown and so when

Why are the Ignorant the loudest?

During an attempt to catch up on the goings on in the world, I headed to Nydailynews.com. After reading the comments left by the readers, I must ask, why do ignorant people always voice their opinion the loudest? Most of the comments on the stories I read were ignorant. They were grammatically inaccurate to the point of not being readable, racist/sexist/classist and often lacking any common sense.

In response to the story about the baby who was abandoned in a taxi cab in Queens,one jerk responded that instead of trying to help the baby, they should have thrown it in a dumpster with the rats. Regardless of whether the comment was serious or said in jest, it makes me sick. Other bloggers used the story as a way to go on a rant about those "damn illegal immigrants" (as the taxi driver spoke little English and was an immigrant from Ecuador). It seems many of the discussers turned every issue into an attack on white people/minorities/poor people/rich people etc. Or making unfounded parallels to unrelated issues. Often the only intelligent comments are responses to the ignorant comments. THE ignorance hurt my head. How can you rant about people "not speaking English," when your post is written in all caps, in very incorrect English and peppered with explatives and exclaimation points that only complicate the message further?
America needs a literacy test. 99% of humans are morons.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2008/03/01/2008-03-01_babys_mom_found_livery_cab_driver_arrest.html

I can't believe February is almost over-where has the time been going? Better yet, where is my life going? March will be starting soon-which will commerate nine monthes of a college-free existance.
March will also mark my ninth month at The 'Dip. Like every deadend job before it, the position as a serendipity cashier/sales associate was supposed to be shortlived. It was only intended to be a summer gig, a temp position to pay the rent until I got my big break. Some big break-here I am in the same position. It's nerve racking for me because here I am, living in NYC, the land of oppertunity and dreams and I just feel stuck.
I'm still trying-checking out all the usual suspects: ed2010, mediabistro, journalismjobs, hot jobs, careerbuilder etc. So far, no luck. I know I need to consider other options....I just don't know which ones. What am I even qualified to do?
I need a life coach.

Selling Crack is Whack Iness You Tax

While perusing Queens Crap, I came across an article about a recent proposol by by New York Governer Elliot Spitzer. As reported by The New York Daily News, And the New York Post, the proposed law would require drug dealers to pay $3.50 dollars a gram for marijuana and $200 a gram for all other controlled substances.

The proposal contains a passage which speaks of secrecacy. Any dealer or drug user buying said stamps is allowed to do it annonymously and the without fear of the information being used to implement them in non-tax related crimes.

As such, dealers and users are expected to affix the appropriate stamps on their drug packaging verifing that the proper tax has been paid.

Spitzer acknowledge the unlikelihood of a drug dealer coming forward to buy said stamp. "[The] proposal requires 'prompt notification'" of the tax commissioner by law-enforcement agencies and DAs 'who obtain any information that indicates that a dealer has failed to pay the tax due," Spitzer's aids told The New York Post.

In essence, a drug dealer caught with three grams of cocain would be charged for drug possesion and related charges and additional charges for avoiding the drug tax.

Critics of the proposal have labeled it "The Crack Tax." Opponents of the legislation argue that taxing it assumes that it is legal. Many fear that the tax may be the first step towards legalizing drugs.

As absurd as the proposal may sound, it is not unique. Infact, Spitzer's proposal was based off a similar one in North Carolina; similar legislation is Tennessee and other states. As the Post reported the only people buying the stamps aren't drug dealers-but stamp collectors!

The proposed legislation further reiterates what I've said all along-that the government's war on drugs is simply a need to get a slice of the pie. Even if passed, I severly doubt that all illegal drugs will be legalized-doing so is not ecomical. The legislation would allow the government to have their crack and smoke it too; they gain a piece of the illict income while "keeping America Working" by keeping police officers, prosecuters, lawyers, drug rehabilaters employed.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-na-menabort7jan07,1,2766675.story?coll=la-headlines-frontpage&ctrack=5&cset=true

Above, is a link to an article in the LA Times about abortion and how a woman's decision to have one is choice that effects her partner as well as herself. The article hits an emotional artery by opening with an anecdotal lead of a father who always thinks about his son Jaime and talks to often-even though this young son was never born but aborted. The antiabortion movement is currently attempting to challenge the notion the "her body, her choice " mantra of the pro choice.

Now, at the risk of sounding like a bush supporter, I must come out and say that the thought of an abortion makes me sick and sad.

Despite my personal feelings toward abortion, I am still pro-choice. While I don't think that abortion is a choice I could ever make, I am lucky-I'm not pregnant and therefor don't have to worry about making it. Choosing to get an abortion is not like choosing which blazer to wear or what pair of shoes to buy, it's much bigger. It's a life-changing decision that the woman will have to live with forever-no matter what choice she makes.

It is for this reason that I became enraged with men who are so passionately pro-life. It angers me that they should have such strong conviction about a matter that doesn't effect them. Now, the article above does raise a fair argument-men are cheated when their sex partner (wife, random hook-up, girlfriend or whatever) makes the decision without their knowledge or consent. And while I sympathize with these men to an extent, I still believe that the woman has the right to choose-because ultimately she is the one who HAS to make a choice.

If a woman gets pregnant-the man has a choice to 1) accept responsibility and discuss What choice works best for them (or her) or 2) walk away and deny any responsibility.
The woman doesn't have this option. THE woman has no choice but to make a decision-raise the child, put the child up for adoption, abortion. In deciding to have the child, it is the mother who must bear the brunt of the work for nine-months. It's not as if moms-to-be could just hand the fetus over and say "Fine, you want the kid so bad, you carry it around for nine months." Maybe if this were an option there would be less abortions or just men would be having it. So until there is some type of medical breakthrough which would allow a man to bear the brunt of responsibility during pregnancy-men need to keep there mouths shut on the subject-or keep their pants on.