Growing up voting
I have a confession to make. It's not the sort of thing I like to discuss publicly, but I feel that by revealing my secret, I can come to terms with a past that continues to plague me. You see, in 2008, I voted for these two.
What can I say? Some kids experiment with drugs. I experimented with voting Republican.
There were 58,934,814 people who voted for McCain and Palin right along with me, none of whom would see anything remarkable about my 2008 choice. But back then, I considered voting Republican to be a milestone in my life. After having always voted for Democrats, I believed that somehow, some way, voting Republican meant that I had grown up.
I was living abroad at the time, and all I saw from Barack Obama was a campaign that seemed full of catchy, Pepsi-Cola Generation NeXt-type slogans like "Change" and "Yes We Can." I was irritated with a population that seemed ready to hand Obama the presidency because the antithesis of George W. Bush.
And while I loathed W. as much as anyone else, I saw something in McCain and Palin that I liked. Their ideology seemed to be one of substance. It sounded a lot like the way things really should be in America. You should avoid poverty by getting a better job. You should pay for your own health insurance. You should not have to pay high taxes (as Europeans were doing, handing over nearly 50% of their monthly paychecks in taxes) for social programs you do not support. You should not depend on the government to help you.
As for some of the other Republican rheotic that I disagreed with? Well. I'd simply ignore it.
I decided that the Democratic ideology was quaint, but the Republicans were practical. I still remember the day that I shrugged, circled McCain/Palin on my absentee ballot, and gingerly dropped it into the bright red Italian mailbox. After ten years of voting strictly Democratic, I had just voted for a Republican for the first time. I had just voted for the responsible party that advocated self-reliance and hard work. And there it was again, that feeling of having grown up.
Fast-forward to November 6, 2012, where I was watching the returns on TV with my three-year-old son at my side. I attempted to distract him whenever Diane Sawyer got too rowdy, while patiently explaining that we wanted the blue states to win. He seemed to enjoy claiming that the the red states should win, collapsing in a fit of giggles as we shouted "Blue!" and "Red!" back and forth at each other.
The single mother that watched the returns last night is a far cry from the self-assured, McCain/Palin voting "grownup" of four years ago. When I returned to America in 2010 with nothing but a baby in tow, it was humiliating to need Medicaid and additional benefits so that I could support my son. I justified it to myself by remembering that my tax dollars had gone into these government programs. I was never more grateful for the government than in that moment.
As for Obama? Well. He did a few things over the last four years that earned my vote this time around. Things that went beyond ideology and slogans. Things like dealing with Bin Laden, defending women's reproductive rights, preventing student loan interest rates from increasing, allowing undocumented residents to stay in America without risking deportation, and saying the right things about gay marriage. Then there's the fact that he's the one politician that doesn't give me the feeling that he'd try to play grab-ass if I were left alone in a room with him. That's good, too.
When Obama said that "We are an American family . . . one nation, and . . . one people" didn't make me feel happy that my candidate won. Instead, it made me feel grateful for both parties. Thank you, Republicans, for giving us a vision of the way things should be and would be if the world were perfect. Thank you for giving us an outline of what we should aspire to be: self-reliant citizens in control of our own destinies. And thank you, Democrats, for remembering that life just happens sometimes, and that most of us fit in to the ideal vision of the other party. Thank you, Democrats, for keeping it real.
Coming to that kind of conclusion? Well. In some ways, it makes a girl feel grown up. But the jury's still out on that.
God wants to be left out of politics
If you want to see two Christian men get into a fist fight, then start talking about politics with them.
This election, I saw more hypocrisy in the name of God than I ever thought possible. How come people don't use their brains when "faith" is involved?
Religious tensions began four years ago when Obama was first elected into office. Suddenly, he was deemed the antichrist. Seriously, people? Didn't you even read the Bible? We are not supposed to know who the antichrist is...
Fast forward to the 2012 Election, and Obama's religious views are still on the table. Is he a Muslim? Does he believe in God? He is the Flying Spaghetti Monster?
Who cares?
As long as our leader does his job and leads the country in the right direction, what does it matter how much he tithes on Sundays, or if he even goes to church at all?
Then we have Mitt Romney on the conservative spectrum. Aw, Mr. Romney, our Mormon friend who wears his magical undergarments under his debate clothes. No one questions his faith, since he doesn't complete a sentence without somehow referring to God. In fact, he can't even release his tax records, since they would reveal how much he gives to the Mormon church (insert rolling eyes and gagging sounds).
Whenever God is brought into politics, voters are suddenly unable to think for themselves. People assume a prayer is all it takes to make the right decision, therefore, the politician that is more "religious" is surely the best choice. Republicans really played the God card this election. Abortion is against God's will. Same-sex marriage goes against the Bible. If you vote for Obama, you are worshipping a false prophet.
Screw making an educated choice at the voting booth. Why would anybody want to actually study the candidates or their agendas? Anyone who believes in God must be the right person for the job.
What Americans must remember is how our country was founded to escape religious persecution. This is NOT a Christian nation. We have freedom of religion. We are allowed to worship, or not worship, as we please. All faith beliefs should be accepted in our society. We shouldn't bring them into politics - they should remain in the church. If you want to hear a preacher, go to a house of worship, not a political debate.
Now that Obama is leading us for another four years, I don't care what he does in his free time. Whether he is Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, agnostic, or atheist, it doesn't matter. All I want is for our President to make positive changes for our country.
I'm tired of politicians pushing their religious views on this nation. Please take God out of the political equation.
I just wanted to slay Internet Dragons.
I will say this outright – I don’t enjoy political discourse. Not because it is not important (I think it is), or that it boring and unentertaining (OK, it can be those things but in general it is not), but that it brings out the worst in people. Especially people entrenched into believing that their side is the only correct side. And with the way it was shaping up between the two major parties, there was more infighting and disharmony between voters than between the incumbent and challenger. It left nothing but negativity and so just even engaging in it left me feeling drained and tired.
Lady Gaga comes through in a big way for Sandy victims
I've got to say, despite all of the horror and hardships associated with Superstorm Sandy, I'm heartened by the generosity of everyone, celebrities included. Last week, we had the big NBC Sandy telethon that raised something like $23 million, and now word comes today that none other than Lady Gaga has pledged big. How big?
Lady Gaga is making a $1 million donation to the American Red Cross, in an effort to help everyone affected so terribly by Sandy. That's fantastic news!At this point, the Red Cross has got to be overwhelmed. So many millions of Americans are still dealing with the destruction left in Hurricane Sandy's wake, and all of them will need some sort of assistance -- even if it's just a hot meal and some words of encouragement. Trust me, even that makes a major difference when you've lost everything. The Red Cross needs donations to keep the support coming, and that's where celebrities like Lady Gaga come in...
Lady Gaga has always been a proud New Yorker, and now she's putting her money where her mouth is, in the form of a cool $1 million pledge to the Red Cross. This will go a very, very long way. She says she's making the gift because she's so grateful to New York for "raising" her and her family members.
Other notable celebrities are no doubt opening up their (sizeable) pocketbooks to help, too. Some will make massive donations -- and we'll never hear about them. Thanks too, to the unsung heroes. Every bit helps, no matter how large or small.
If you'd like to donate to the American Red Cross and help victims of Sandy, you can find all the information you need on the agency's official website.
First time voting experience
I have to admit, I have never voted before. However, I decided this would be the election in which I would go to vote. I was kind of apprehensive at first because everyone was saying the waits were long and the time period was terrible.
To help calm me, my husband went with me and decided that he would help me as much as possible. Voting in my area went smoothly after I signed in and got my ballot I walked over to the polling booth. The ballot was the fill in the bubble kind and really did not take long to get the voting done.
After I voted, I turned around and was directed to where to put the ballot into the box. I have to admit that the overall voting experience was great and one that I will definitely enjoy doing time and time again.
Watching the elections on the Internet
Like many people on the 6th of November, after casting my ballot I returned home to relax, have dinner and watch the results of the election play out. Finding an election tracking site of some reliability, I left my computer ticking away while I did other things, glancing over every now and then to see which of the fifty graphical representations of states had changed to either red or blue. Every once in a while, however, I had to walk back over to my computer and close some annoying pop-up advertisement that had appeared to block out my view of the election map.
This got me to thinking about one of the strange side-effects of the instantaneous information era - that watching the election is almost like watching a ball game on television, complete with commercials. Each one of us routes for one team or the other (or in many cases neither) and pays close attention to the score. We look at predictions ahead of time and I personally know more than one person that put at least twenty bucks on the outcome this year.
I have to wonder how much this affects the way we view elections in the U.S.? If people see the numbers being tallied and the states changing colors in their direction (or against), do they simply stay home and not vote anymore? This is particularly relevant to me, living on the West Coast, where we get to see most of the results accumulate well before our own polls have closed. This year wasn’t so bad, considering our side of the map was pretty much a guaranteed Obama win, but it won’t always be like that.
With the coming of the technology, the voting process changes dramatically. Today we can see what happens in real-time, but perhaps tomorrow we will simply log into our computers to vote. Maybe even one day we will say goodbye to the Electoral College altogether and let computers determine everything via the popular vote. The world is definitely different than it was 200 years ago, and it’s probably about time we changed our election process as well.
But maybe we can leave out all the advertisements when we do, okay guys?
How to take good photos of your kids
Let’s face it: kids under the age of five can be very difficult to take pictures of. After two or three pictures, they’re already bored, hungry, or screaming, and you’re screaming your head off as well because all you want is one good picture.
I’m not a mom, but I do have a six-year-old brother (we’re 15 years apart!), so whenever I can’t find anyone to model for me, I just take pictures of him. He’s become quite a natural! As soon as I put the camera up to my face, he immediately strikes a pose. Since not everyone has a supermodel child, here are some tips to get some decent photos of your kids:
Don’t think of it as a photo shoot where your child has to stay at an exact spot. Guess what? They’re not going to stay there! Kids like to explore. Follow them around with the camera and take pictures of what they do.
Get down! Take photos from a child’s perspective. It will be more personal and you’ll have more fun as well!
Be crazy! Make silly sounds and faces to make them laugh! If you find that you can’t do this and take pictures at the same time, have someone behind you doing it.
Bubbles! What child doesn’t like bubbles? Have someone blow bubbles off to the side. You’ll get plenty of smiles and the bubbles will add extra “cuteness” to your photos. If your child is old enough, have them blow the bubbles themselves.
If all else fails, get some good crying shots. They’ll be good to show at the wedding.
Black Tie + Blue Jeans + The Blues
After months of renovation and anticipation, the Columbia Tower Club will celebrate its grand opening on November 10. What's a grand opening party without a theme? The evening gala is a black tie, blue jean and blues affair; men are encouraged to wear their blue jeans and black ties while women should wear cocktail attire. Seattle in Style offers ladies seasonal cocktail outfits for those still pondering their grand opening party garb. More information and tickets here.
Sequin Cabernet
A|Wear, $180 | Dorothy Perkins, $57 | Ellysa, $53| Debenhams, $64
Sang is the color of the season and the perfect shade to rock with sequins, glamorous heels,
an eye-catching cocktail ring and a jeweled clutch.
Green Glam
H&M, $40 | RMK, $140 | Shourouk, $424 | Windsor, $23
Pair an emerald mini dress with bright silver heels, dramatic drop earrings and a complementary clutch.
Frills & Pearls
Aftershock, $239 | Promise, $50 | Zara, $17 | Valentino, $697
A feminine rosette cocktail dress in neutral colors needs pops of smooth cabernet and pearl earrings: classy!
Blue Fever
Precis Petite, $158 | New Look, $48 | Kenneth Jay Lane, $150 | Dorothy Perkins, $27
Nothing's more fitting than a black and blue cocktail dress for a Black Tie + Blues party. Wear it with black and gold accents.
Corruption 3 - TEPCO's History of Corruption
I have already mentioned in several previous posts problems with TEPCO in particular and the Japanese nuclear industry in general I have covered the Fukushima disaster in March of 2011 extensively. Today I am going to delve into past problems involving Japanese companies that own and operate nuclear reactors.
In 1988, a drive controller for control rod failed at Fukushima II-4. TEPCO asked Hitachi to substitute another drive controller and to put the serial number from the failed controller on the new controller which did not undergo the usual inspection process. This incident was only reported to the Japanese government by Hitachi in 2007.
In 2002, TEPCO was involved in a scandal when a whistleblower provided information that showed that TEPCO had falsified inspection records and concealed problems at its nuclear power plants. Operation of the Fukushima I-1 reactor was suspended for a year because of falsification of a test on the seals of the containment vessel. TEPCO was forced to shut down all 17 of its reactors and four executives resigned. TEPCO presented a plan to regain public trust including “increasing transparency, improving company culture and instilling corporate ethics.”
In late 2006, news of extensive falsification of records and deception with respect to safety at power plants came to light. In 2007, the government ordered all twelve power companies in Japan to submit thorough reports of all problems at their power plants. The reports contained over four hundred incidents at nuclear power plants including over two hundred that involved TEPCO reactors.
Following the revelations of the mandated government reports in 2007, TEPCO again announced a plan to deal with their problems. Given what happened in March of 2011 at Fukushima and the charges against TEPCO that followed, all their plans for positive changes apparently had little effect. This appears to be a repeating pattern with scandals revealing falsified records, irregular behavior and unreported accidents leading to public censor. The guilty parties promise to do a lot better in the future. Time passes. Then there is another round of scandal, revelation and contrition which does nothing to improve the situation.
The Japanese regulatory organization, the Nuclear Industrial and Safety Agency (NISA), has little power to force regulatory compliance. Part of the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry and charged with promoting nuclear power in Japan, the Agency also has little motivation to crack down on non-compliant companies or to publicize problems. The billions of dollars that flow through the nuclear industry provide plenty of incentive for companies to cut corners, ignore procedures, bribe companies and officials all in the name of increasing profits. These problems are not restricted to Japan. There are similar patterns of behavior in other countries that have nuclear power programs. Nuclear power will not be a safe form of energy until these institutional issues are dealt with.
Trekking in Banlung, Cambodia
Banlung, in northeastern Cambodia, is the main city in the Ratakari province. It is home to dense jungle, beautiful waterfalls and some beautiful crater lakes. Though there are many great places to see that are easy to visit by walking or tuk tuk, some of the best sights to visit are only accessible through a few days of jungle trekking.
Though there are many options, my travel partners and I decided to take a two-night, three-day trek organized through our hostel. Our itinerary included one home stay, one night sleeping at a waterfall and one day of bamboo rafting down the Saesan River. We were promised three meals a day, ample water and an English speaking guide. All of the above, in some form were provided as stated.
Our trek started on morning one in our guest house. We were told to come having already ate breakfast, and that we would start our day at 8:30am. After much debate and a few cups of tea and coffee, we found ourselves departing around 10 am. Our guides name was T, and his small stature (maybe around 5’2) was no indication to his skill level as a guide and entertainer. We also found ourselves in a group with a 6’8, 300 pound Brit, so the two together made quite the sight.
After an hour and a half drive and a 40-minute boat ride, our feet hit the trail for the first time. The hike began in an indigenous village where would do our home stay the second night, and it saw us setting out through rice paddies. As the hike carried on, rice paddies quickly transformed into dense jungle, and the flat landscape was exchanged for hills. The actual trek lasted for about five hours, and saw us arrive at the waterfall right before sunset. Here we swam, set up our camp, and spent the night eating a delicious meal cooked in bamboo chutes over a fire and drinking local rice wine.
Day two started with swimming and bathing in the river. At around 10, we began the last trek which lasted about seven hours total. Though we were heading back the same way we came, we went a different route which involved more hills and less water. Our guide did a great job keeping whiny westerners motivated and happy, and even dealt well with the curses and yelps of the oversized Brit. That night ended nearly the same as the previous, but in a home stay drinking a new local spirit.
Day three saw us rafting, but before we got on the river, we needed to help in the construction of the boat. This consisted of bamboo chutes linked together with empty water jugs. Though not the prettiest vessel, it also wasn’t the most buoyant either. But, after a few hard days of hiking, a float trip was a perfect way to relax and enjoy a beautiful, sunny day in Cambodia.