My Video Podcast Project

Here's my Video Podcast project.

My Audio Podcast Project

Here is my Political Audio Podcast project.

Political Audio Podcast

My Print Design Project

Here is my Political Print Design project.

Political Magazine Project

My Group Website Project

Here is the fake website John Hornberg and myself created for a bar in fictional Downtown San Jose.

O'Henry's Watering Hole

My Image Editing Project

So I wasn't very good with Photoshop, so this project is subpar for me. But here is my Halloween Image Editing Project.

Before and After

Finished Project

Stock Market Sensitivity

Is it just me, or is the Stock Market in this country the most sensitive barometer ever? I mean, when Black Friday shoppers came out, like they always do, the market went through the roof. And yet, whenever some little piece of bad news comes out, the market takes a massive nose dive. It's really frustrating and ridiculous. We've desperately got to fix the way we do business in this country, for the old way that we fixed things (by raising or lowering the federal interest rates) no longer works. Obama certainly has his work cut out for him, and I'll be rooting for him. Failure is not an option.

Our Country's Future is in Their Hands

Barack Obama has released the names of most of his top picks for his cabinet and his so-called "economic team." It's interesting to see who some of them are: Hilary Rodham Clinton and Bill Richardson, both former rivals; Robert Gates, Bush's Defense Secretary, who will keep his position; and many former members of Bill Clinton's administration. 

A bit of a big deal has been made by the fact that most of his picks have been in Washington for many years; not exactly the change that Obama had been promising. But I believe that he has chosen those people, Washington insiders or not, because of their experience and, with hope, dedication to Obama's policies and ideals. I believe that by hand-picking former rivals, Obama has unified any fractures left in the Democratic base, while pulling in individuals who have decades of experience that will only help Obama and his causes as president. By carrying Gates over from the Bush administration, Obama is keeping an experienced member of his cabinet in the job that they are already familiar with, which cuts down on time spent learning the ins and outs of the position and speeds up getting policy taken care of. 

Obama has already made waves by picking 13 of the 24 important positions of his team with haste. Most presidents, including Clinton and Reagan, had only filled one or two positions. It just emphasizes the importance that this presidency carries with it. Obama realizes the importance of getting individuals who are ready to lead on day one, to borrow a phrase from the McCain campaign. I believe that they will be. Obama's ideals combined with their experience and his ability to lead will re-make Washington into the beacon of hope that it should have been the last eight years. Or, at least, I certainly hope so.

Things I'm Thankful For

There isn't really that much going on that's political right now, so in keeping with the season, here are the things I'm thankful for.

1. Obama being elected president.

2. That in this volatile economy, I still have a job.

3. I have a wonderful girlfriend, friends, and family who care about me.

4. My first semester at SJSU has gone fairly well.

5. I got into all the classes I wanted to next semester.

6. My debts are progressively getting smaller.

7. I get to play Papa to my girlfriend's kittens, the cutests things ever.

8. Filling my gas tank doesn't inspire panic attacks.

There are a bunch of things that I'm not thankful for (Prop. 8 passing, for example), but I don't want to think about those things. I hope that the wave of good tidings that comes with this season continues into 2009 with Obama's inauguration, and onward. I look forward to this semester ending, seeing who Obama appoints to all the various posts, and having a joyous Christmas and New Year. We'll see if anything else inspires me to get political on this here blog again. 

JFK and Obama

So I've been thinking lately about how Barack Obama could very well end up being the next John F. Kennedy.

Like the video shows, and as I think we all know now, Obama inspires hope. He also can speak as eloquently and impassioned as JFK could. He did also have about as much experience in politics as JFK did before running for president. Both men faced a more experienced candidate and beat them (though Kennedy beat Nixon by a very small margin, unlike Obama's landslide victory). I believe that, much as Kennedy came in and faced tough challenges during his presidency (Cuban Missile Crisis, Bay of Pigs, Nikita Khrushchev and the Soviet Union in general, etc.), Obama will obviously face tough challenges as president. Hell, he faces tough challenges from day one, unlike Kennedy (mostly). Both men fought their way to get to where they got to, and I believe that Obama will go down in history as a great president, much like JFK. 

I just hope that what happened to JFK won't happen to Obama. In an age of terrorism, the last thing we need to be worrying about is white supremacist groups getting up-in-arms because we have a black president, and then proceed to try and kill him. We need to focus on what is ahead of us, not focus on the racist past that we are still trying to put behind us. We should all completely embrace Dr. Martin Luther King's vision of a wonderful future. After all, one of those dreams has been reached by Barack Obama. And now, the future being full of possibilities finally seems true for one and all.

Elective Bliss; A Reminder

So things finally seemed to go the way that I wanted them to last Tuesday night (except for the Prop. 8 vote, that is). After eight years of ineptitude and political callousness, America finally seems to be heading down the right track to world diplomacy and re-establishing our global reputation. I'm truly happy about that. Barack Obama should definitely be able to take this country into a new direction, one that we should have been on a long time ago. I am very hopeful for his administration, and the chance to finally wipe the slate clean and start fresh, albeit with a heavy course load of work already lying in wait for the president-elect (economy, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, etc.). 

But we cannot let our jubilance blind us to the cause that we have been fighting for this whole time. Obama is not the end-all, be-all of our problems. I was reminded this Friday night as I partook in a political gathering of sorts: the Rise Against show at the San Jose State Event Center. Rise Against is a political punk band. This, of course, means they are liberal, and that can be an understatement. Their music videos have featured things you might expect in P.E.T.A. videos. But they have always had a great message: stand up for what you believe in. Singer Tim McIlrath, at one point during the show, addressed the crowd about the election. He said that we finally did something right. But he told us we can't let that feeling stop us from fighting and relax. He urged us to unite as a community and fight for just causes. 

It is this spirit that is truly American. Our origins come from fighting for freedom(s), and we can't forget that. I felt McIlrath's comments were very inspired and honest. I hope that you all continue to fight for what you believe in. I know I will.

If you want to check out Rise Against, here's a link to their Myspace. They are definitely one of the best punk bands ever. Give 'em a listen.

My Thoughts on the Youth Vote/My Voting History

This blog was originally an email I sent to one of my classmates. She was asking for help with a class assignment based on the youth vote and our own personal voting choice for the upcoming election. Here are my thoughts that I shared with her:

I think that it's about time the youth woke up to the world. 2004 was a wake up call to everyone. The youth was supposed to come out in huge numbers to rally behind John Kerry, and they didn't. The exact same percentage as in 2000 voted in 2004. After eight years of war and a bad economy, I think the youth finally realize how important this election cycle is.

I was so disheartened by the 2000 election. I was 16 when that whole Florida fiasco went on, and it broke my heart when Bush was given the presidency. I was so upset by it that I registered to vote the date I turned 18, so that I could have my say in politics (at least, as much as voting gives you). In 2004, I was even more heart-broken. I voted for Kerry and wanted so bad to see him win. I was in such shock and disbelief when the country re-elected Bush. I couldn't believe that we actually signed up for another four years with this back-water, country bumpkin. The 2006 election, where the Democrats took back Congress, finally gave me something to be happy about.

As the primary process started out in 2007, I first said that I would vote for John McCain; that is, I would vote for him if the sam McCain that ran in 2000 ran this time around. He isn't. So, I had to make a choice. I initially supported John Edwards. I thought he was a smart man, and I liked what he had to say. He was fairly charismatic, and he had already been through an election cycle as Kerry's running mate. I thought it was his time. But as I started to see that his influence wasn't strong enough, I again had to choose between Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama. Truth be told, I think Hillary Clinton is a smart lady, who knows how to get things accomplished. That being said, I thought that she was incredibly too negative for me to get behind. I finally began to notice Barack Obama, and I'm so happy that I did. The man is brilliant, an incredibly eloquent speaker, so charismatic that he could charm the pants off of nearly anyone, and actually stand a chance of winning this. I will admit that I'm trying to not get my hopes up, should they be dashed if this country makes another mistake and elects McCain. But I really think that it is finally time for America to elect a black man as our president. Obama is the right man for the job. I agree with all that I have heard him say, and I believe that he will take this country in a direction not seen in eight years. No more negativity, no more threats and "with us or against us" dialogue. It's time for actual leadership, diplomacy and democracy, not the fake shit the Bush administration has been pushing around. I have shown my support for him by purhasing a tee-shirt and a button. I sport the button on my backpack, and I have proudly worn my shirt around San Jose State's campus a few times. I plan to wear it right around election day to show my pride. I really hope that America wakes up and makes the right decision. I hope that the youth vote finally turns out as it has said it would in elections past.

Vote No on Ignorance

I think it seems a little silly that we are having to vote on an issue that forces us as voters to define marriage. Proposition 8 is the measure that I am speaking about, as I'm sure you all know. The recent flood of commercials and other forms of advertising for both sides of the bill has made it so that almost no one can ignore this polarizing issue. And I can't believe that we have to vote on this.

When we chose to break away from England 232 years ago, it was to enjoy greater freedom, among other things. We decided very early on to have church and state separated. And for the better part of the last decade, church has further weaved its presence into our government. Granted, most presidents are religious, and often make references to God ("God bless you all, and God bless the United States of America" has become a political speech ending staple), but George W. has tried, and succeeded in pulling in that Christian base of the Republican party. They were one of the key forces in turning the tide of the 2004 election to Bush. The reason for this being a large amount of states had gay marriage initiatives on their ballots. And so, the pro-Christian, anti-gay, ultra-conservative Republican party came out in force. They evoked all their Christian propaganda about "God made marriage between a man and a woman," and "the Bible says marriage is between a man and a woman," and "God hates fags," and other hateful and scathing phrases. And they won. Every state that had a gay marriage initiative up for vote had it defeated. And each state that had an initiative up went for Bush in the election.

I can't believe that a country founded on a principle of freedom from oppression, as well as freedom of religion, could then vote to deny these people rights. Our ignorance as a country has grown exponentially. What difference does it make if two men or two women in love want to marry each other? How does it affect you, you ignorant, closed-minded Christian, who isn't adhering to the basic Christian value of loving others as you love yourself? How do initiatives like these even come into being? I can't believe that we would deny human beings basic rights. Two people in love deserve the chance of getting married, no matter their sexual orientation. Love is love is love, and marriage is a failing institution. Some of these people have been together most of their adult lives. Why wouldn't we allow them to finally make their relationship official? Because we are too ignorant to allow people in love to make that ultimate commitment? These Christian idiots who throw vague Biblical references and God's name everywhere are nothing but mindless automatons, blindly following their hateful preachers and pastors and taking all their words as Gospel truth. These preachers and pastors are not practicing the word of God when they say these spiteful things about the gay community. Anyone who believes that homosexuality is a choice is completely wrong, and it's about time that we as a community, a state, and a country recognize these people, and their right to marry whomever they want.

A Message Brought to You by Radiohead

So here's some thoughts from one of my favorite bands, Radiohead, on politics. I think it's fairly relevant to what is going on right now.

Electioneering

I will stop, I will stop at nothing.

Say the right things when electioneering.

I trust I can rely on your vote

When I go forwards, you go backwards

And somewhere we will meet.

When I go forwards, you go backwards 

And somewhere we will meet.

Ha ha ha

Riot shields, voodoo economics,

It's just business, cattle prods and the I.M.F.

I trust I can rely on your vote.

When I go forwards, you go backwards

And somewhere we will meet.

When I go forwards, you go backwards

And somewhere we will meet.

What is going on?

So, I thought this whole bailout deal was supposed to fix our economy, not cause it to tank along with most of the other major economies around the world. Wall Street is in extreme panic, and so are all the other markets around the world. The R word (recession) is being thrown around again. What are we ever to do?

This has been an interesting, fun, and yet difficult year for me. I'm finally at SJSU, where I've been planning to go since I was 16 (I'll be 25 in February). I've got a wonderful girlfriend who I adore. But the difficult part of this year for me has been with jobs. I have quit a job, and been fired for no reason from another. My latest job is serving at a restaurant. Our sales are down about three to five percent from last year, and now the managers are talking about cutting those who are underperforming in their sales. Unfortunately, I fall under that category. I'm right near the bottom, but am trying to work my way up the ranks. It's frustrating when people are trying to hold on to their money by ordering water, no appetizers or salads, one of the cheapest items on the menu, and no dessert. My price per guest average is about the second worst in the restaurant. But with the economy slowing down, shouldn't we all be granted a bit of a reprieve? We should take into mind the economic situation in the country before we consider firing people for underperforming. I'd say that most of the restaurant is underneath the set performance goals. I do realize that I need to step things up, and am in the process of doing so. I just can't face being unemployed yet again. With the way the market is going, I don't know what I would do or find to survive. All I know is that the world is really starting to scare and overwhelm me, and it needs to stop. 

A Legacy Like No Other

It's hard to really pinpoint what people are going to refer to as President George W. Bush's legacy. Bill Clinton's legacy was the Monica Lewinsky impeachment fiasco and giving this country a huge budget surplus. Dubya's legacy looks like it's going to have multiple layers as well. 

First, September 11th will obviously be a part of it. Closely behind it, the War on Terrorism. A separate, and altogether dangerous and costly, sidestep was the War in Iraq. Most might argue that these three events will be his legacy. I have to argue that the incredible events of the last few weeks with our economy have to be included in that legacy. I would also have to say that the choices that his administration and he make in the next few weeks will impact the world just as much as the War on Terrorism has, if not more so. 

Globalization is something that we talk about like a future pipe dream. The unification of global business and economies is a reality. We should have all realized this in the way that the markets reacted following September 11th. Now, the whole world is in a panic and pumping money back into their respective markets. For better or worse, we are all connected to each other monetarily on a global scale. These events, if not handled right, could cripple the world economically. The choices that the Bush administration, as well as his global counterparts, make will echo for generations. School children will one day be talking about the beginning of the 21st Century the same way that we have talked about the 1930s. We live in a time rife with economic strife and turmoil. 

Undoubtedly, this economic crisis will be a large part of Bush's legacy, equally as powerful and long-lasting as Iraq, Sept. 11th, and the War on Terror. God help us if he makes one wrong decision.

The Blogger Responsibility and Politics

Blogging is fairly anonymous. A person can hide their identity (as best they can these days) and proceed to post whatever they want. They then can hide behind their words. Oddly, political bloggers tend to bypass this option. Perhaps that is because we want to stand out. Whatever the reason, I believe that political bloggers have a different sort of agenda when it comes to responsibility. 

We have the responsibility to report the truth as we see it. We must have an opinion, and not be afraid to share it. We must be well-informed. We should be comfortable with doing a little investigative digging from time to time. We don't necessarily need to be far-leaning and radical in our politics, but it certainly doesn't hurt (besides, most seem to be this way already). Political bloggers are similar to news writers these days. Since I want to be a journalist/news writer in the future, I am taking on these responsibilities in my blogs. I promise that my opinion on this already ridiculous election will be well-known. I promise that I will do my homework when I state a claim on someone/something. I will report the truth as best I see it. You may not agree with me, but I hope you will respect me. 

Just Say No To Hockey Moms

http://wonkette.com/402624/palin-bilked-alaskan-taxpayers-16941-per-diem-to-stay-home-at-her-house#more-402624

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-palinstyle8-2008sep08,0,855616.story

http://www.laprogressive.com/2008/09/05/alaskans-speak-in-a-frightened-whisper-palin-is-"racist-sexist-vindictive-and-mean"/htt

Here are just a few reasons why I dislike Sarah Palin. She seems ignorant, hands-off, lazy, bitchy, and a completely random choice aimed at sparking interest in a McCain presidency. It's working, but for all the wrong reasons. People fell for her, with her soccer-mom good looks and her now infamous speech. What else do you people know about her? What do you have to base your love of her on? Of course the liberal media is digging up dirt on her, because she isn't this perfect angel that the Republicans want us all to believe. I say, keep digging. Bring this lady down.