Top four risk factors in the Middle East

Iran- As Ahmedinejad becomes a more ruthless dictator who is determined to see the demise of Israel, he is definitely a force to be reckoned with. Obama in early February made this statement: "What we are going to be working on over the next several weeks is developing a significant regime of sanctions that will indicate to them how isolated they are from the international community as a whole,". Iran is clearly taking actions that pose a new threat to Israel and the United States. If the international community does not start to follow suit with sanctions and condemning Iran for their actions, the world will then be in a bad position. Ahmadinejad has the nuclear resources to destroy the lives of entire countries. The Western powers: The United States, Germany, France and Great Britain with the help of Russia and China are urging Iran to not acquire more nuclear weapons or United Nations talks that will lead to sanctions will be inevitable.

Iraq- It is just not stable even with the American military presence. Every month dozens of civilians and soldiers are dying. There is just too many risky areas still left in Iraq that can serve as save havens for terrorist cells. The exit strategies proposed by the Obama Administration are not feasible. In my opinion, we took an already horrible situation and made it worse. America is trying to impose cultural imperalism throughout the world and it is unjustifiable. The United States and United Kingdom promised the Iraqi civilians to never have to live in fear again. Yet, I would say that is exactly what they are doing at this very moment. There is political unstability still present in that country and many people still do not understand the justification for the Iraqi War in the first place. The civilians are the ones suffering there; no one else. So how can we say that we have eliminated the fear if everyday a member of someone's family is dying?

Oil- As the world's population continues to grow at unsustainable rates so will the need for oil. Countries like Saudi Arabia who have an absolute advantage in oil because it is a natural resource of theirs hold a lot of political and financial power. At any moment, oil rich countries can decide to cut back on the production of oil leaving countries like the United States, the world's number one oil consumer, in a dire state. Without oil a lot of the daily activities that Americans rely on will cease to exist.

Egypt- The Arab Republic of Egypt is a particularly interesting situation. Hosni Mubarak has been in power for nearly three decades. His reign is finally getting old to the citizens of Egypt. Many people are becoming restless, especially the younger generations, yearning for change to occur in the culture rich country. Egypt has so much potential to expand their economy and really becoming a thriving country. It is sad to see a country so beautiful and so rich in ancient traditions to not progress forward properly due to the lack of proper power in the citizens' hands. If Egypt were truly a democracy then the citizens would have far more say in what goes on in government. The distribution of wealth in that country is extremely misproportionate. The lack of freedom of speech is very interesting to an American such as myself. It is horrifying to learn of guys such as Kareem Amer, an egyptian blogger who was senteced to four years in prison just because he spoke out against the Mubarak Administration. I am predicting that in the next couple of years there will be uprisings and protests because in order for Egypt to compete in the globalized economy the laws and rules need to be updated to fit in with the rapidly changing international community. If the administration in egypt does not do something to move forward they will be left in the dust.

Emmy Nominations 2009

The 61st Emmy Awards will be held September 20th in Los Angeles

Here are the nominees (some of which I am excited about and others which I am not so excited about) :


Drama Series: "Big Love," HBO ( I have never even seen this show so it must not be good. ahha ok maybe it is since it was nominated)
"Breaking Bad," AMC;
"Damages," FX Networks
"Dexter," Showtime ( I have learned to like Dexter because my aunt watches the show so much)
"House," Fox ( I apologize to all you Hugh Laurie fans but I hate this show. It grosses me out way too much. I want to throw up every time they show a patient who has some odd disease. I dont handle hospitals and illnesses well, clearly)
"Lost," ABC;
"Mad Men," AMC.

Comedy Series: "Entourage," HBO (Not a bad show)
Family Guy," Fox (Not my type of show but it is a bit funny at times.)
"Flight of the Conchords," HBO ( I love this show. its funny. its cute. its obnoxious)
"How I Met Your Mother," CBS (hahaha it just sounds like a good show. I have not seen it though)
"The Office," NBC
"30 Rock," NBC
"Weeds," Showtime.

Miniseries: "Generation Kill," HBO; "Little Dorrit" PBS.

Made-for-TV Movie: Ok so HBO has the advantage in this category with a 3-2 lead in nominations. I am completely rooting for Coco Chanel.

"Coco Chanel," Lifetime ( I absolutely adore this movie. What a story!)
"Grey Gardens," HBO
"Into the Storm," HBO
"Prayers for Bobby," Lifetime
"Taking Chance," HBO.

Actor, Drama Series: I don't particularly care who wins this category because I dont really watch any of the shows in this category.

Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad," AMC
Michael C. Hall, "Dexter," Showtime
Hugh Laurie, "House," Fox
Gabriel Byrne, "In Treatment," HBO
Jon Hamm, "Mad Men," AMC
Simon Baker, "The Mentalist," CBS.

Actress, Drama Series: If Mariska Hargitay does not win for her role in SVU I will be thoroughly upset. The show is brilliant and so is her performance.

Sally Field, "Brothers & Sisters," ABC
Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer," TNT
Glenn Close, "Damages," FX Networks
Mariska Hargitay, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," NBC
Elisabeth Moss, "Mad Men," AMC
Holly Hunter, "Saving Grace," TNT.

Supporting Actor, Drama Series: Yay for william shatner. I hope he wins.

William Shatner, "Boston Legal," ABC
Christian Clemenson, "Boston Legal," ABC
Aaron Paul, "Breaking Bad," AMC
William Hurt, "Damages," FX Networks
Michael Emerson, "Lost," ABC
John Slattery, "Mad Men," AMC.

Supporting Actress, Drama Series: I hope Cherry Jones wins for her performance in 24.

Rose Byrne, "Damages," FX Networks
Sandra Oh, "Grey's Anatomy," ABC
Chandra Wilson, "Grey's Anatomy," ABC
Dianne Wiest, "In Treatment," HBO
Hope Davis, "In Treatment," HBO
Cherry Jones, "24," Fox.

Actor, Comedy Series: Ok seriously this is a tough category to say which one I want to win.

Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory," CBS
Jemaine Clement, "Flight of the Conchords," HBO ( I love this show )
Tony Shalhoub, "Monk," USA ( I think Tony Shalhoub is hilarious and plus he is Arab.)
Steve Carell, "The Office," NBC (Who doesn't love Steve Carell...the guy is ridiculously funny.)
Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock," NBC
Charlie Sheen, "Two and a Half Men," CBS. (I loveeeeeee this show and I love Charlie Sheen)

Actress, Comedy Series: I hope Christina Applegate wins!

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "The New Adventures of Old Christine," CBS
Christina Applegate, "Samantha Who?" ABC
Sarah Silverman, "The Sarah Silverman Program," Comedy Central
Tina Fey, "30 Rock," NBC
Toni Collette, "United States of Tara," Showtime
Mary-Louise Parker, "Weeds," Showtime.

Supporting Actor, Comedy Series: Jon Cyrer all the way!! Haha I love him!

Kevin Dillon, "Entourage," HBO
Neil Patrick Harris, "How I Met Your Mother," CBS
Rainn Wilson, "The Office," NBC
Tracy Morgan, "30 Rock," NBC
Jack McBrayer, "30 Rock," NBC
Jon Cryer, "Two and a Half Men," CBS.

Supporting Actress, Comedy Series: Vanessa Williams is pure genius in Ugly Betty. Her role as Wilomina is hysterical.

Kristin Chenoweth, "Pushing Daisies," ABC
Amy Poehler, "Saturday Night Live," NBC
Kristin Wiig, "Saturday Night Live," NBC
Jane Krakowski, "30 Rock," NBC
Vanessa Williams, "Ugly Betty," ABC
Elizabeth Perkins, "Weeds," Showtime.

Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Kiefer Sutherland without a doubt!!!

Kevin Kline, "Cyrano de Bergerac," PBS
Brendan Gleeson, "Into the Storm," HBO
Ian McKellen, "King Lear," PBS
Kevin Bacon, "Taking Chance," HBO;
Kiefer Sutherland, "24: Redemption," Fox
Kenneth Branagh, "Wallander: One Step Behind," PBS.

Actress, Miniseries or Movie: This is tough: Sigourney Weaver or Shirley MacLaine. Both are great women!

Chandra Wilson, "Accidental Friendship," Hallmark Channel
Shirley MacLaine, "Coco Chanel," Lifetime
Drew Barrymore, "Grey Gardens," HBO
Jessica Lange, "Grey Gardens," HBO
Sigourney Weaver, "Prayers for Bobby," Lifetime .

Supporting Actor, Miniseries or Movie:

Ken Howard, "Grey Gardens," HBO
Len Cariou, "Into the Storm," HBO
Bob Newhart, "The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice," TNT
Tom Courtenay, "Little Dorrit," PBS
Andy Serkis, "Little Dorrit," PBS.

Supporting Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Shohreh Aghdashloo!!!!

Marcia Gay Harden, "The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler," CBS
Jeanne Tripplehorn, "Grey Gardens," HBO
Shohreh Aghdashloo, "House of Saddam," HBO
Janet McTeer, "Into the Storm," HBO
Cicely Tyson, "Relative Stranger," Hallmark Channel.

little pieces of advice

So a friend sent this to me and I found it to be very inspirational. I am going to write a bit of commentary after each line, giving my own thoughts about it. Unfortunately, I do not know who wrote this so I can give them credit. ( In no way whatsoever am I taking credit for this.)

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
( sometimes life just sucks. Things happen that I wish didn't but like the line says- its still good. I remember all the blessings I have in my life and all the things that I dont have no longer seem to matter.)
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
( I guess that is all you can do...just take everything one baby step at a time.)
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
(this is so true. It is probably the best piece of advice I have ever heard. Hate is such a strong word anyway. I dont bother wasting time hating people because it is only harming me;wasting my energy. Plus, hating someone is overrated. You may just dislike their actions but you shouldn't really hate them; atleast that is my philosophy.)
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
( ok now this one I do not completely agree with. If you want to be taken seriously you have to take yourself seriously.)
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
(Hahahahah I wish that were possible. but how lovely is that?)
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
(This is a piece of advice that I still need to work on. I am naturally argumentative. I have to remember not everything is a fight. Not everything is an argument. If more people remembered this I feel like they would be so much less stressed.)
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
(I do not like to cry in front of people. It makes me feel vulnerable. But I can see how its more helpful.)
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
( I do not agree with this at all. I can never be angry with God. He has blessed me with so much.) 9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
( This is a sound piece of advice. Saving for the future is crucial because you never know what is going to happen.)
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
(hahahahah I completely agree with this. No one can truly resist the yummy taste of chocolate.)
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
( this is true. however your past is your past. it makes you who you are. It defines you in a way. But I agree-learn from it so the future is better.)
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their
Journey is all about.
( I never compare my life to others because each person has a unique story to tell. even if thereare things that are similar it is still no comparison. each person copes with things differently.)
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
( WELL THEN. Ummm no comment. )
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
( Phwwwwwwwweeww. Thank goodness for that. :] )
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
( Living each day as if it were my last is something I am trying to work on. I try to get tasks accomplished each and every day so that at the end of the day I cant say it was a wasted one.)
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
( like i said just live each day as if it were your last. take one day at a time. worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.)
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
(I still have not learned that one yet. If you want to do something do it...i gotta learn how to do that.)
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else. (awwww i will probably never grow old because i am so young at heart.)
20.if it comes to going after what you want in life, dont take no for an answer.
( I love this one. No one has the right to stop you from living your life.)
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
( hahahahah this is one i love. I think it is hilarious when people buy expensive things but wait for a "later date" to use them. why bother buying it in the first place?)
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
( hey, I love purple and i am not old. haha)
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
( but when others are effecting my happiness they are.)
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years,
Will this matter?"
( this is sound advice for any young adult.)
27. Always choose life.
( I love life even when it doesn't always love me back. it could be way worse)
28. Forgive everyone everything.
( I sometimes forgive too much)
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
( don't worry about what your reputation is because its only what others assume about you. worry about your character)
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
( I try to never take for granted how good something is because it can change so fast.)
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
(I love my friends. they are some of the best people i know.)
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did
Or didn't do.
(God is so gracious, so forgiving.)
35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
( I do not want anyone else's problems. i have enough of my own and thank God they are not as bad as others.)
41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
( This is my life motto. I hate jealousy. it is a wasted emotion as well as weak. it doesn't get you what you want or where you need to be.)
45. The best is yet to come.
( and babe wont it be fine. hahaha. I certainly hope so)
46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
(hahahahaha I love dressing up!!)
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
( i take deep breaths atleast twenty times a day. hahaa)
48. If you don't ask, you don't get.
49. Yield.
50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.
( life is precious. It is a rollercoaster. Sometimes it hits more bad bumps in the road then good ones but over all it is amazing and exciting.)

*** Live laugh Love

splenda- the artificial sweetner

Ok so everyone knows that famous line " made from sugar so it tastes like sugar". This is the slogan of one of the popular artificial sweetners know as Splenda.


Well since it is artificial, it got me thinking "how good can this really be for you?" Lucky for me I limit my intake of natural sugar and completely avoid artificial sweetners. I do not put sugar in my coffee or tea and I most certainly will never be caught putting artificial sweetners in my beverages. So I started doing some research about this artificial sweetner that is supposedly better for you than sugar. Well here is what I say: It is a load of crap.


Splenda, according to websites, contains things such as aspartame and sucralose. These things apparently are harmful to your body. So my question is why would people want to use something such as this? Ok OK; I know people do a lot of harmful things to their body like smoking and drinking alcohol but the difference is we already know the harmful side effects of things like that. With aspartame, we still have yet to discover just what and how much damage could be done.

Plus whatever the reasons are for people drinking alcohol or smoking are not the same for using splenda. People are using splenda because they think it is healthier for them then regular sugar. So they load it in to their coffee, tea and cereal. When in actuality splenda actually makes you crave sweets more.

Did you know you also suffer from aspartame poisoning???? SHOCKING right?? It is scary to think about! But come on think about it: anything artificially made is probably not good for you. Did you also know it was denied by the FDA a dozen times (approximately according to some websites)??? Clearly there is something wrong with this product.

Here is my message to everyone: Do not use splenda. Use regular sugar. better yet, just cut it out as much as possible. Don't drink your coffee with sugar..it taste the same without it.

99 days

99 days goes by like the blink of an eye. Its just over three months. Three months. Just three months. Sometimes that time flies by and you wonder what happened. Sometimes that time drags on and you wonder why just why is this time going so slow? However, for one family three months was not long enough. It was a miracle that they even had those three months.

When I heard about this story I balled my eyes out. I cried and cried and cried some more. This story is truly remarkable.

A family in Arkansas had a baby boy named Eliot. He was a miracle baby born to a mother, Ginny and a father, Matt who loved him very much. The doctors said the mother would miscarry and the baby would never even be born. Well Eliot was born. Even after his birth the doctors said it was a miracle he was even alive. In the delivery room the mother of baby eliot said "oh he is crying. that means he is alive right?" Those are probably some of the most sad words I have ever heard in my life. Eliot was born with Trisomy 18. He had an underdeveloped lung and a hole in his heart. he also had DNA that placed information in every cell of his body that was faulty.

This family is extremely strong and brave. They were just so happy to have a baby and did not have time to be sad. Every day they celebrated the life of baby Eliot and photographed him. On his first month birthday there was a surprise party thrown for him. The mom and dad of adorable baby Eliot took turns throughout the day feeding him because it took an hour and a half to do so since he had to be fed through a feeding tube. Instead of feeling cursed that they had a baby that was born with these medical problems, they embraced him and learned how to care for him the best they could

on the 99th day of Eliot's life he passed away. At the funeral the family released 99 balloons to symbolize the 99 days of his life. This baby who never spoke a word to the world has ironically spoke volumes. His story stands as a message to millions. Life is too short and too precious to take for granted. This family truly cherished this gift from God. They never wasted a moment of time with Eliot. Everything good that happens in our lives is a gift.

God bless Matt and Ginny. God rest the soul of baby Eliot. may he rest in peace. May this story serve as inspiration to millions and remember to appreciate life.

abortion

Abortion is a very controversial topic that has long been debated from the court room to the class room. Abortion is when a human life is ended during pregnancy through a procedure. Throughout history, abortion has evolved into this topic that is widely discussed, even argued. This very controversial topic has stopped politicians from winning elections or has won politicians their ballot. There are many sides to this argument that range from people of varying socio-economic status as well as different religions and nationalities and political view points. Abortion sees no discrimination when it comes to its defenders and its opposes . The two opposing sides are pro-life and pro-choice.
In order to understand the arguments, one needs to understand the background. Abortion effects everyone in the world. There are court cases that date back from more than twenty-five years ago. The most well-known case is Roe V. Wade. In 1972, Jane Roe brought her case to court and it was decided that a woman can have an abortion if there was a valid reason proving the need for one. Although that is the most memorable case in abortion history, there was another case that laid the groundwork for Roe V. Wade. In 1965, Griswold V. Connecticut it was decided that it was illegal to outlaw contraceptives. These cases along with others have determined the fate of many women and their children.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), one in six woman have had an abortion. Abortions are not as safe as many people think. Abortions can cause injuries to your bladder and your bowels as well as an increased risk of breast cancer. Abortions cause complications for future pregnancies. A woman who had an abortion and becomes pregnant in the future can suffer from increased bleeding as well as an abnormal delivery with the baby having a low birth weight.
A human life begins from day one at conception. By day 14, a woman’s menstrual cycle is suppressed by the child through a hormone that they release. By day 21, the baby’s heart begins to beat. Therefore, as one can see that by the third week there is already a heart beat present. This is why many people believe that abortion is murder from the day of conception and not even from the time that the baby begins to develop. Currently, a baby can survive at twenty weeks outside of the womb. This means that at approximately five months a baby can survive on its own. Many people do not know this but according to the website, Abortionfacts.com, an abortion is legal up until the day the baby is born. This is an atrocity considering a baby can survive at twenty weeks outside the mothers womb.
Pro-Choice supporters run on the platform that a fetus is not human yet rather it is just a mass of tissues. Some of their arguments include that abortion reduces the surplus population of an alredy overpopulated planet. To pro-choice supporters, abortion is a safer alternative to childbirth. This is only the case if the mother has a high-risk pregnancy. However, in reality if an abortion is done incorrectly, the mother’s life is not at risk and she could possibly pass away. Another argument the pro-choice platform raises is abortion must be legal for women who have been raped. Even though rape is morally wrong and it should be a severely punishable act, it should not mean the product of that rape should be aborted. There are reports that show pregnancy from rape is actually less common than people think. Therefore, in the case of a rape victim they should have a hearing to justify their abortion.
Pro-life supporters come from different backgrounds, races, status etc yet they all agree that everyone has a right to life, especially an unborn baby. They run on the platform of it’s a human life and each one is valuable. The 2008 GOP platform made this statement in regards to abortion “At its core, abortion is a fundamental assault on the sanctity of innocent human life.” An innocent unborn baby should have the chance to develop and grow. People who claim to be pro-life strongly believe the government should not pay for abortions or the institute that gives abortions, Planned Parenthood. To counteract the argument that abortion should be legal because of overpopulation, the Census Bureau has released figures showing that the United States population is actually in a sharp decline with a birth every eight seconds and a death every eleven seconds.
Abortion is immoral and wrong. The taking of a life at any age should be considered murder. There are other options to abortion. There is the Save Haven foundation that takes a baby with no questions asked. A mother who is confused and distraught and unable or unwilling to care for the child can drop the baby off at any police station or fire department anonymously. The ending of a life at any age should not be allowed. As a society as a whole, people need to vote in order to elect officials who do not support the ending of a human life. There are alternatives such as education programs that teach young teens and any age, actually about safe sex. There are so many adoption options that exist and its better to know that a mother gave a child a better life with a family who can care for him or her than to know they ended a life. Plus there are many families who are unable to conceive that would love to adopt a child. There are many homosexual couples that would love to have a child in their lives that they could love and care for and raise as their own. If abortion becomes just a form of birth control it is absolutely unacceptable.
Abortion has its pros and cons. Morally, there are more cons than pros. The taking of a life at any age is not justifiable. In today’s society, there are so many other options that should not include abortion. Roe V. Wade was one of the most demoralizing cases ever tried in the court system of the United States. It laid the groundwork for many of the debates that exist today and legalized an act that is an absolute atrocity. Since the legalization of abortion, there have been increased rates of unwanted pregnancies and diseases. Abortion has affected many aspects of family life and placed a decreased value on the meaning of sex. Abortion effects everyone. Therefore, abortion should be illegal in the United States.

I am really curious to see how the next four years under the Obama administration lays the groundwork further for abortions. Democrats tend to be very pro-choice and that is just not a good thing. We can not allow women to use abortion as a form of birth control. I believe in the case of rape or severe high risk pregnancies where the woman's life is at risk, abortion is necessary. However, it should be on a case to case basis. Although I am sad for the loss of the abortion doctor down south that died recently and I think how he died and why he died is wrong. People come on now. Killing someone just to get a point across is not the answer. By killing that doctor, the murderer put himself in the same position he accused the abortion doctor of being: a murderer. And like I said, even though I am sad he was killed (may he rest in peace and may God forgive him), I do not agree with his profession. He killed babies. He ended the lives of thousands of babies and made a profit off of it by charging each woman $5,000 to $6,000 to have an abortion. He performed the abortions inhumanely and had no reservations about ending a pregnancy as late as eight months. He became a millionaire at the expense of thousands of lives. We can not allow doctors to become rich off of something so atrocious. We can not allow doctors to continue to do this to innocent lives who do not have the chance to speak for themselves. We need to outlaw abortion.

colors

So I am always interested to know the meaning behind things. Colors symbolize certain attitudes, beliefs etc. They can help you appear gentle, strong, powerful, playful, friendly and so on.


Blue is calming. It can be strong and steadfast or light and friendly. (Blue is one of my favorite colors). It can also symbolize loyalty. Blue to me reminds of the ocean. I love the color for that reason. The beach makes me feel so relaxed and so at peace. When I am on the beach I feel like for just a minute all is ok with the world.

Green is the color of nature, fertility, life. It is also the most restful color. Green is a symbol of self-respect and self-knowledge... Green is the color of balance. However, on the negative side green is also a symbol of jealousy. This is something I absolutely can not stand. This is the most wasted and weak emotion. Jealousy is the ulcer of the soul in my opinion.

Pink is the color of universal love. Pink is such a fun and pretty color. I absolutely love this color. Its a symbol of daintiness and lady like qualities. It is said to be a symbol of purity and innocence. Pink is said to symbolize that a person will never forget you. I think pink is just such a fun color. It says that you are flirty and fun yet innocent enough to maintain cute child like qualities. I accent so many of my outfits with pink accesories such as bracelets or headbands and even shoes! ( I have this amazing pair of pink stiletto heels...they are fierce!!)

Black. Ok so black is probably one of my all time favorite colors. Its a classic. It says professional and sophication. Black can be sexy. It can be mysterious. When matched with the perfect accessories you are sure fire show stopper. However, on the down side black can be see as someone who desires too much power and has a certain amount of depth that makes them almost evil. But what woman doesn't want to be viewed as powerful and sophisticated as well as mysterious and intriguing?? I know I do!

Red. It is the epitomy of strong radical emotions. Envy. Passion. Energy. Speed. Infatuation. Danger. Murder. Seduction. Red makes a statement. Its an eye catcher.

Yellow. Hunger. Deceit. optimism.

Brown. earth. energy. simplicity.


Black, blue, pink and green are definitely my favorite colors.

Sweatshops

Sweatshops are working environments that are generally very dirty and dangerous. They are hazardous to workers health and the workers have little to no rights. They work long shifts doing tedious work with little to no pay. Child labor laws as well as laws regarding overtime and minimum wage are usually ignored. Children of all ages are exploited in these sweatshops. Sweatshops produce anything from clothing to sneakers to furniture to pencils to coffee to bananas. In my opinion, sweatshops are degrading and horrible. Sweatshops are generally found in less economically developed countries aka third world countries. However, sweatshops can exist in an country, really. Those who support sweatshops say that these people choose to work in them and that they are aware of the conditions ahead of time. However, this is not the case in my situations. Sweatshops exist in third world countries due to outsourcing in developed nations. Developed nations outsource jobs to countries like Haiti and China because these countries have no laws or non-enforceable laws regarding exploitation. It is ironic because the sweatshop workers can not even afford to buy the products they make. They are able to make the products for ½ percent of what they are sold in the stores for. Sweatshops now are similar to the muckrakers movement during the early 1900’s when they exposed the horrors of working in the meatpacking industry. Although I believe globalization and free trade are great because it gives countries around the world more access to products they would not have if globalization did not exist, I do not believe that sweatshops are great. Sweatshops have been on the rise as globalization continues to occur. Stores like Victoria Secret, Gap, Old Navy and Disney have all drastically changed their policies to reduce or end their uses of sweatshops. I find sweatshops to be degrading and unnecessarily exposing humans to horrible conditions. Environmentally and morally, sweatshops are not good. There has to be another way to get things manufactured so that the environment is better protected and so that young children are not working 16 hours a day to make a shirt that they can not even afford to buy. Sweatshops allow corporations to become richer and richer because they are able to manufacture their products for a lot less by using sweatshops.

The international community needs to pull together and demand a drastic change in policies towards child labor and the use of sweatshops in manufacturing clothing. There are numerous resources available to find out if a product is ethically traded and if sweatshops were used in the manufacturing of that product. If the product was manufactured in a sweatshop I would consider writing to the head of the company urging them to change their policies and look to alternative sources for manufacturing.

Hobbes

Thomas Hobbes is one of the most influential political philosophers known to man. His writings on political theory are comparable to the level of writings of many great thinkers including Aristotle and Plato. In the 1600’s, Hobbes published numerous works on political theory. His ideas became part of many countries governmental structures and laws. For example, the system of checks and balances that exists in the United States was predicated off of Hobbes’s ideas. However, one of the most important pieces that was published was his ideas on the “social contract”. Hobbes was among one of the first people to be considered a “contractarian”. It is through Hobbes that the stage is set for many thinkers to base their works off of. During Hobbes’s time, he was considered to be controversial because ideas went against the church’s beliefs. His political theories served as the groundwork for later political philosophers to further develop the ideas and theories that Hobbes developed.
The state of nature is an idea that Hobbes utilizes to challenge people to think about how life would be without any government. In the state of nature, Hobbes views humans equally in the sense that we could equally kill each other. His view of humans in the state of nature is somewhat pessimistic. He believes that people are not benevolent beyond a certain superficial level. According to Hobbes, people tend to view their own lives more valuable than the life of someone else. Like Machiavelli, Hobbes believes that to some extent the ends justify the means in the sense that a person go to any length to achieve what they believe to be their most vital needs. In the state of nature, where no government exists there would be no central power that executes decisions for the people. Essentially, autonomy or self-government would be what occurs in the state of nature as people act on their own behalf deciding what is best for them with no higher authority to answer to.
Hobbes believes this will lead to a life of utter disaster and destruction because people are not capable of acting on their own behalf without becoming animalistic. Justification of the state was only existent if people consented to it. In the state of nature people are free to act on their own behalf and do what they feel is in their best self-interest. Hobbes’ view of the state of nature is somewhat pessimistic because when no authority exists humans behave more like animals. They take on animalistic behaviors, turning against one another, each one for themselves. It becomes everyone against everyone. Hobbes believes the state of nature to be a state of utter chaos. This is similar to the theory of “survival of the fittest”. Furthermore, social Darwinism or where every country; every society; every individual pushes to be the best in one or more aspects.
Hobbes believed that absolute monarchy is a necessary component in government to prevent the rivalry among people in their pursuit of their self-interests. Furthermore, the state of nature is merely a concept, according to Hobbes. However, it is not a concept to be taking lightly because there are countries that, in Hobbes’s view, have already been in the state of nature or still are in the state of nature. He believes it is something to be feared.
In the social contract there are numerous parties that exist. These parties would enter into agreement as rational and equal people. These parties are as follows: God, the state of nature, the sovereign and the people. However, in the Hobbesian Social Contract only people exist. Contracts are made from people to people excluding God, the state of nature and the sovereign. Hobbes believes that the sovereign are above the law. According to Hobbes, it is people who make the contract in spite of cooperation but father through fear. People do not willingly enter a contract knowing they will lose rights and power; a social contract is simply an agreement. Social contracts are based on the notion of consent; consent of both parties based upon a foundation of agreement. Even though one or several parties may have justifiable reasons for entering a contract, it is not the case of society as a whole. Further, these parties must enter into contract under the terms of rationality and accepting moral norms. If these conditions do not exist, the contract is not effective because the stability of the parties is unequal.
Hobbes does not believe in an actual existence of the social contract. He views it as a utopian idea that arises through fear as people desert their rights in the search of rationality to enter these contracts. He is not a liberal thinker and sees that following such a course leads to a tyrannical way of governing. Hobbes believes society should submit to a power that has unlimited reign; one that is undivided and sovereign. Essentially, Hobbes believes absolutism is the result of social contract.
In many ways, Hobbes’s ideas are similar to how I view my own life. We live in a global society where countries are interdependent upon each other. In our daily lives, especially in America, we enter into contracts more out of fear than cooperation because we do not want to be sued. Although, Hobbes is a pessimist in regards to man in the state of nature, he is generally right in his depiction of humans. At some points in my life I did something because I was going to receive something in return. However, unlike most people, I am an altruistic being; yet I understand that most people act in their best self-interests. However, I do not agree that absolute self-judgment and power is necessarily a bad thing as long as it does not become out of control. But this is exactly what Hobbes feared- the state of nature is all against all. It is an all out war where men do what is best for themselves even it inflicts pain amongst the members of society.
In America, we have a government that is supposed to oversee what goes on in the country. However, there was little to no regulation on Main Street or Wall Street thus attributing to the current financial crisis we are in. In some sense, I believe countries are on the brink of slipping into the state of nature where its everyone for themselves. Especially in the time of crisis (or war), people think twice about lending a helping hand because they have to put their life before someone else’s. We are slowly slipping because people no longer want to do for other or help especially if it is not going to improve their lives. So in that aspect, I agree with Hobbes that a state of nature is a state of chaos. However, I do not think as pessimistically as Hobbes because I believe there is good and evil in everyone; there just needs to be a balance.

McDonaldization- how it took over America

McDonald’s has grown to become one of the most influential symbols in contemporary American society and societies all over the world. McDonald’s influences every aspect of society, not just the restaurant industry. McDonald’s success is very noticeable. There is McDonald’s everywhere. At the rateof McDonald’s expansion, there may soon be one in your house (ewwww God forbid). Estimates show that their sales have rose to over 116 billion dollars and continues to grow. McDonald’s has taken the service industry by storm. Starbucks, KFC, Burger King and other fast-food businesses have taken McDonald’s uniformitarian policy and adopted it into their system.

When the first McDonald’s opened in Israel, the U.S. Ambassador to Israel was sent to be at the grand opening. The ambassador was approached by a young teenager and was asked for his autograph. The young teenager told the ambassador how he thought it was amazing to be the ambassador of McDonald’s. The U.S. ambassador corrected him letting him know he was not the ambassador of McDonald’s but the ambassador to Israel. The kid took back that he asked for his autograph and said he no longer desired his signature. This is really interesting fascinating to me because the teenager saw McDonald’s as more important than a political figure. As Americans, McDonald’s to us is simply just something we accepted as part of American culture; an icon if you will. It is just a place to grab something to eat really quick. However, in other countries, people see it as something much more than that.

Today, college cafeterias are beginning to look more like food courts you find in a mall where students have options like McDonald’s as well as Subway, Starbucks and Pizza Hut. Hotels like the Marriot are now supplying food to colleges so they would not be left out of the growing phenomena of McDonaldization. Fast food has become more readily available in hotels, airports and train stations. Some flights have even gone as far as to offer fast food options as in-flight meals. This to me is appalling though because fast food has taken over our lives. It consumes many people’s daily diets. America, in particular has completely embraced this fast-food drive thru way of life. Instead of sitting down to a nice healthy home cooked meal, families are instead just hitting up the nearest fast-food restaurant and eating that. Fast-food restaurants have changed the ways families connect. People no longer gather around the dinner table and discuss the activities of the day. Now they just take their "bag" and go off to their seperate rooms or locations.

Kids, especially, see fast food as merely a way of life. It is no longer a treat to get a happy meal but rather their daily dinner (or breakfast now that they have a wide variety of breakfast options). Despite nutrionists concerns, some schools are offering a free burger to kids that perform well in school. It is known as “an A for cheeseburger”. How disgusting is this? We reward kids who get good grades by giving something that clogs their arteries. This is absolutely atrocious.

Well why is McDonald’s so irresistible? It is a sign that people are in sync with this so-called contemporary lifestyle. McDonald’s monumental success lies in the fact that it offers calculability, predictability, efficiency and control. Calculability is everything able to be sized (time, cost, portion size as well as products offered). Predictability allows the consumer to know what to expect when they go to order something. Efficiency is the most important factor McDonald’s. It it the optimum amount of time of getting to point a to point b. Control applies to both the consumer and employee where they feel this time constraint output by the atmosphere in McDonalds. If a consumer eats too slow they may begin to feel this pressure to grab their food, eat it quickly and get out. Employees have this pressure to do well on their job or they are threatened by being replaced by machines as technology rapidly takes over the world. It is already happening in supermarkets, post offices, banks etc where humans are no longer needed in the workforce because machines are now doing their job. McDonald’s depends on these factors for its continued success in the fast-food restaurant industry.

An economic columnist dubbed McDonald’s as “the greatest restaurant chain in history”. Innovation is not discouraged in the workplace of McDonald’s among managers and franchises. McDonald’s continues as a force to reckoned with as they create a more health conscious menu (or at least they try). They have added salads and apples etc. However, they have also added iced coffee and mccafes to their menu as they compete with companies such as Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks, two well known franchises for coffee.

There is no doubt that McDonald’s has taken America by storm and the world for that matter.The McDonald’s franchise is located in over 100 countries. It is estimated that 96% of school age children could recognize the McDonald’s logo. All around the world from Beiijing to France, the majority of people see McDonald’s as a symbol of modernity and contemporary lifestyle. McDonald’s is considered to be “Americana” and it is something that world is becoming obsessed with. However, in my opinion, it is an unhealthy obsession. Although McDonald’s strives to be more environmentally friendly and health conscious, it is just not working. McDonald’s menu, like many other fast food places, is just loaded with fat and salt as well as other ingredients that can have harmful effects in the long run. It is processed food that is just not good for you.

As a business, McDonald’s has obviously done well for itself. It is one of the most recognizable icons in the world. Its profits out do companies that compete with McDonald’s strategic ways of running the company. Many fast food chains strive to achieve the “McDonaldization” way in hopes of increasing sales and worker productivity. If you look at it strictly from the business sense then yes. McDonald's is an amazingly strong company. They continue to expand their menu and sales increase exponentially.

However, I am not part of the “Mc” world. I find the food they serve to be disgusting and unhealthy. Ok Ok now I understand people need to eat on the go. But come on people, really? McDonalds?? Its nothing but pre-packaged pre-processed food. There are healthier food options out there.

10 most liveable cities and 10 most miserable cities

Every year Time Magazine puts out a list of the 10 most liveable cities in the world. I think this is really fascinating. However, for me I think I could just about live in any industrialized nation and make the best of it as long as the crime is not bad and life is sustainable. But anyway here is the list. I love how Australia and Canada each have three cities each on the 10 most liveable cities list.



So at a tie for number 10 are two cities : Zurich, Switzerland and Sydney Australia

# 8: Geneva, Switzerland

#7: Helinski, Finland

#6: Calgary, Canada (tie)

#6: Perth, Australia (tie)

#4: Toronto, Canada

#3: Melbourne, Australia

#2: Vienna, Austria

#1: Vancouver, Canada



10 most miserable cities in America:



#10. providence, Rhode Island

#9. charlotte, North carolina

# 8. Modesto, California

#7. Los Angeles, California

#6. Chicago, Illinois

#5. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

#4. New York City, New York ( I do not appreciate the fact that new york city is considered the fourth most miserable city in America to live in. Really?? Come on! Really? Williamsburg, Virginia should be on here. Its like a waiting room for the dying. Atleast New York City is full of life and action. Other than Historical Williamsburg (which is amazing and really cool and totally beautiful to see) there is nothing else in that damn town. Its boring. It bothers my allergies. The only tourist attraction is King's Dominion....whoooo hoo! New York City has so much to offer. It is a culturally diverse city that always excites you even after you have lived there for so long. I love NYC!!

#3. Flint, Michigan

#2. Stockton, California

#1. Detroit, Michigan

new baby in the family

So my cousin from my dad's side of the family just had her second baby at approximately 7 a.m. in the morning in Giza, Egypt. 12 a.m. our time. I am so happy for her as her family continues to grow. She now has two boys. (It just makes me optimistic for that future that I will hopefully have my first born child be a boy. My dad's side of the family is mostly boys. One of my aunts has four boys...the poor woman doesn't stand a chance in that family.) I know its a bit soon to be thinking about her third child considering she just gave birth to the second child but hopefully she will have a girl so that she can have someone who won't grow up too fast on her. Plus those two boys need something to protect and fight over eventually. A girl would be such a lovely edition to that family.

But anyway his name is Mohamed (he was named that for two reasons: 1. after the Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) 2. after my cousin's brother, his new uncle). I am sure he is going to be a little rugrat just like his older brother. I cannot wait to meet this little gizmo when I go to Egypt in July. If he is going to turn out anything like his big bro, Saif, then he is going to be so much fun to watch grow up. I am so excited to get to spend the summer with my cousin and her two sons as well as the rest of my dad's family. Hopefully my cousins from Saudi Arabia can make it to Egypt to really make it a family affair as we welcome this new little bundle of joy into our family.

May God bless my cousin and her husband and two sons and may God bless my entire family!

marrow doner

Back in april I signed up to be a bone marrow doner since I am not allowed to donate blood because I have severe anemia. I figured it was a good way to give back to the community. It is probably one of the best things anyone can do. Although the procedure for donating bone marrow is a bit painful, it helps so many people out in the process. Bone marrow is used to help many diseases including certain types of leukemia and lymphoma as well as sickle cell disease and other malignancies. It is estimated that every day in the united states 6000 people need a bone marrow transplant. Not many people are able to receive that transplant due to lack of proper donor matches. There are only approximately 11 million Americans who are signed up to be donors.

Bone marrow is found inside the bones of the hip, thigh and middle of the chest as well as other locations. There are two types of bone marrow: yellow and red. When a baby is born, all of its marrow is red. As the baby matures into an adult the marrow becomes yellow, leaving half the marrow in an adult body to be red. At the necessary times of increased blood cells, the body has the ability to convert yellow marrow back into red for that period. Bone marrow is a soft tissue that is generally fatty and when these cells mature they are released into the blood stream. If the cells are released prematurely this could be an issue.

There are two ways that a doctor takes bone marrow from a donor: 1. through a procedure known as a peripheral blood stem cell donation 2. through a needle inserted into the back of the hip bone to retrieve the marrow. When a person joins the registry they must do a donation kit where they fill out all their personal information as well as a health questionnaire. A donor must also complete a cheek swab. This is done to help determine the person's bone marrow type/blood. People can sign up to be bone marrow donors through the be the match registry. marrow.org. the registry is going on from now til June 22nd. make the choice to help save a life!!

Richard Avedon: Photographer

Richard Avedon may just be one of the greatest if not the greatest photographer of the century. His photos are amazing! Avedon is the epitimy of a photographer; more specifically a fashion photographer. He photographed women like fashion icon Twiggy. He was truly a visionary.



Richard Avedon was born in 1923 to Russian-Jewish parents. He attended Columbia University where he studied philosophy. In his early career he worked for the U.S. Merchant Marines during WWII as a photographer. Post WWII, Avedon attended the New School for photography. He worked briefly for a department store as their advertising photographer. Soon he was discovered by the art director at Harper's Bazaar. He also worked for Vogue magazine.



Avedon's work redefined the art of photography. He thought out of the box when it came to the direction he took with his photography. Avedon was not only a talented photographer but an author as well. He wrote several books including An Autobiography and Made in France. Richard Avedon worked for the New Yorker from 1992 until 2004, when he passed away.



An icon, a visionary, a legend, an inspiration Richard Avedon is one of the greatest photographers of the century!! His work has been featured in the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art. Hopefully everyone will appreciate his work in generations to come.

Hello Kitty- 35 years

So Hello Kitty recently celebrated its 35th anniversary. How cute is that??

I remember having Hello Kitty merchandise when I was a kid back in the 90's. I grew up with Hello Kitty and I have seen how Hello Kitty has transformed and how I have transformed. We sort of grew up together. (not really considering Hello Kitty is 35 and I am soon to be 20)

Hello Kitty originated in Japan in 1974 and became an international phenomenon that still exists 35 years later. The design started out with just a simple coin purse and now has everything from coin purses to stationary, pencils, accessories for little girls' hair, backpacks, purses etc.

According to various new sources, Hello Kitty has a theme for its 35th anniversary: Colors. Each color represents a certain message/symbol. These colors are supposed to help show fans all across the world what they know and love about Hello Kitty as well as how something that started off so small has become so big.

I just hope kids are able to appreciate and enjoy a fashion icon as much as I have in the past for another 35 years.

Saudi girls playing soccer

For decades upon decades sports has always been viewed as a man's world. Men dominated the sports arenas and it was rare to see a woman as more than just a spectator. It took great strides before women were seen as a solid competitor. And that was just in "westernized" liberal countries. So imagine how hard it must be for a woman in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to be viewed as an athlete?

So everyone knows that Saudi Arabia is a male dominated country. Women have far less rights than that of men. Women there are not allowed to drive or be seen in public without covering their hair. In some regions of Saudi Arabia, women are not even allowed out unless they have a male relative such as a brother or father accompanies them.
Well some girls are shaking up the dynamics in Saudi Arabia. A group of girls have formed their own team. A soccer team. Yes that’s right I said it. SOCCER. And I could not be any more proud to say that one of the girls is my COUSIN.
My cousin and I do not get to see each other very often because she lives in Saudi Arabia and I live in America. However, what I do know is that she is in love with soccer. She adores the sport. On our summer vacations to Egypt, I would see her kicking the ball around in the front yard or playing street soccer with the little five year old boys. She would do anything for a chance to play. When she wasn’t outside playing in the streets or soccer fields of Egypt she would be playing soccer on Nintendo, play station and whatever other gaming systems we have in our house. My cousin is an avid soccer fan. She watches all the games and has vivid arguments with my relatives on good playing techniques.
With this step, hopefully more women will be inspired to speak out. More girls should have the courage to step up and fight for their rights. I have been to Saudi Arabia and I must say it is a beautiful country rich in family ties and cultural uniqueness. Saudi Arabia is fighting so hard to keep their strong roots to the Islamic religion and their background as a nation. Nobody is challenging this. I do not think Saudi Arabia should become completely “westernized”. However, I do not see a problem with girls playing soccer or any sport for that matter in an area with no men around.
Her and her team is seen on YouTube and MBC. I could not be happier for her. She deserves this chance to play. I wish her the best of luck in all she does especially in soccer. I hope she goes far with this. God bless her and her team. Inshallah (God willing), they will make it big. Alf mabrook ya gamar!! (a thousand well wishes).

Maslow's theory of hierarchy needs

Abraham Maslow, a psychologist, proposed a theory in 1943 stating that behavior is determined by a variety of needs. These needs are depicted in a pyramid of five levels. the most basic needs are located at the bottom of the pyramid and the most advanced needs are at the top. Maslow believed that a person must satisfy the needs in one level before moving onto a new level. Once the person has moved onto the next level that lower level is no longer considered a priority. At times one level will be more prioritized than other levels. ( I just find this notion very fascinating.)

Maslow defined the first four levels as deficiency levels. He described these levels as necessary to people. However, when the needs are met the person will not experience any significant feelings. On the other hand, if the needs are not met the person will grow anxious. The deficiency needs are known as physiological, safety, love/belonging and esteem needs.

Physiological needs are things like breathing, water, food, excretion and sex. They are basically things that the body needs. (as much as I have a political science/business oriented mind i find psychology and sociology so fascinating) Without these things, a person will grow sick experiencing pain and discomfort. Physiological needs, once they are met, are followed by safety needs. Safety needs include safety from crime, financial security, good health, and safety against accidents and illness as well as the unfavorable impacts from these things. Clearly, people that are not a part of mainstream society experience more difficulty meeting physiological and safety needs.

Safety needs are then followed by social needs. People need a sense of acceptance and belonging. They achieve this through friendship, strong family support system and intimacy. Social needs or the need to be accepted can physiological needs and safety needs depending on how great the pressure is from certain social groups. People need to love and be loved. Lack of any of these elements can lead to anxiety problems, depression and a feeling of being alone.

Followed by social needs is esteem needs. These are similar to social needs. People need to be respected, have self-respect as well as self-esteem and respect others. Any imbalance of these things causes inferiority complexes and esteem issues. People that develop a low self-esteem will then seek approval from others by seeking glory or fame. If this fails, like in social needs, people may develop anxiety or depression. In order to overcome this people must first accept himself or herself, according to Maslow.

Esteem needs, social needs, safety needs and physiological needs all made up the deficiency part of Maslow's hierarchy of needs structure. The next category is growth needs. growth needs, unlike deficiency needs which neutralize themselves, are continuing motivators. There are three components of growht needs, which the fifth level of Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Growth needs, according to Maslow are the hardest needs to achieve. Growth needs consist of cognition, aesthetics and self-actualization. Self-actualization is the main component of growth needs.

Cognitive needs are the human races' desire for knowledge. It is the need to increase our intelligence by learning and exploring. We chase this knowledge to better enhance and understand the world we live in. Aesthetic needs are humans' desire for visually pleasing environments. People need things that show them all the beauty that life has to offer in order to continue on the level to self-actualization.

Self-actualization, the highest and most difficult level to achieve, is the need to become everything one can become. this part of the hierarchy helps to explain why people become self-made entrepreneurs or make radical career changes. Once the other four levels are met and become dormant, a person focuses on being the best he or she can be. they strive tobe more; a more creative, mature and effective person. According to Maslow, people have reached the self-actualization level are generally happy people. They accept life for what it is and do not live in denial. They have strong morals and are able to look at a situation objectively.

Maslow's theory of hierarchy needs is an easy way to classify peoples' needs. The needs are arranged in order of importance. New needs only emerge when other needs have been satisfied. However, it should not be viewed as a rigid pattern that everyone should follow because everyone has different needs and different levels of prioritization. Safety may be a more important motivator than esteem, for example.

Gay Marriage

Although Republicans do not support gay marriage, generally. I however as a moderate republican do support gay rights. I think the democrats are not doing a fantastic job on supporting the gay community so the republican should step up and be a more inclusive party. I support gay rights probably because I was taught to respect everyone even if they are different from you. It is a philosophy I live by. Even though I am not homosexual does not mean I should not support them. I truly believe that we live in one of the greatest countries in the world if not the greatest. We, as Americans, the youth of America- we need to embrace this issue and tackle it head on. Everyone deserves to do what makes them happy; to be with who makes them happy.

To many marriage can be defined as a legally recognized union between a man and a woman. However, in the United States and across the world that traditional definition of marriage is being questioned by many. THe question that is becoming part of debates everywhere around the world is should homosexual couples have the same rights as that of heterosexual couples? As much of a shock as it may be, the United States was not the first country to recognize same-sex unions.

As a matter of fact, it was Denmark that first approved legislation allowing registered same-sex partners the same rights of a heterosexual couple. However, Church ceremonies were prohibted. In 1996, Norway, Iceland and Sweden created similar legislation giving gay couples more rights. Finland followed suit six years later. In 2003, Belgium permitted gay marriages with Spain following in 2005 allowing gay couples adoption rights. Also in 2005, Britain's legislation allowed same-sex couples in registered partnerships similar privileges to that of heterosexual married couples.Canada, New Zealand, Argentina nad South Africa have also instituted similar legislations that allow gay couples certain rights.

Howeve,r the United States has been less open-minded. Many states have strictly defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman in their states constitution. Vermont was the first state to give homosexuals the right to have civil unions, giving them the same benefits as married couples in regards to life insurance, child custody and health care. In 2005, Connecticut became the second state in the U.S. to allow same sex civil unions. They were also the first state to do so without a court order. However, at the time they defined marriage as the union of a man and woman. Massachusetts was the first state to issue gay couples a marriage licenses in May 2004. In a landmark decision in New Jersey's Supreme Court in 2006, the state constitution guranteed same-sex couples the same legal benefits of marriage. But they did not legalalize gay marriage simlply just civil unions. So currently the only states that have legalized gay marriage and not just civil unions are: Massachusetts since 2003, Connecticut since 2008 and Iowa since early 2009. Vermont and Maine will be legalizing gay marriage in September 2009.

In 2004, San Francisco began issuing marriage licenses to couples of the same sex. This was later annulled by California's Supreme Court. However, it was later ruled by a judge from San Francisco that banning same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. In the latter part of 2005, a bill was voted down that would have legalized gay marriage. California is a state that clearly struggles when it comes to giving homosexual couples equal rights. They have debated on this for years. Now in 2009, Proposition 8 exists which gives voice to those who oppose same sex marriage.

clearly this is more than just a political issue. Many democrats openly support gay rights as do some Republicans. Conservative Republicans have a long way to go before they accept gay marriage. However, moderate republicans such as myself accept that gay rights is centered around civil rights/human rights. The very history of America is based on such rights. First we freed white males from the domineering rule of a king and queen. We then freed men of a different race. Later on, we expanded more rights to women. This is just another civil rights issue, in my opinion. This is just something we have to embrace. We need to face reality that the gay community in America is growing exponentially and they deserve rights to marriage, rights to spousal decisions in matters of emergency, rights to adoption, rights to healthcare, etc. It is imperative that we remember "We, the People" means all of us. In my opinion, love is love. You can't really help who you fall in love with.

books I plan to read this summer

John McCain's Faith of My Fathers- He is a senator and the 2008 Republican Presidential Candidate who lost to Barack Obama. He is a military man who has served this country and served them proud. I admire McCain for his hard work in the Senate and his dedication to this country.

Barber Walters' Audition- An icon. A legend. What is there not to say about Barbara Walters. She is a brilliant journalist who has seen so much over the past couple of decades.

Larry King's newest memoir- He is the host of Larry King Live on CNN. CNN is only of my all time favorite channels. I just find him to be such a fascinating human being. Like Barbara Walters, LK has just seen so much of history and I would love to know more about a guy who knows so much.

Lauren Conrad's LA Candy- Lauren Conrad is the biggest thing in Hollywood gossip or atleast she used to be. So now that her popularity is declining as the show The Hills is not doing as well as it has in previous seasons, Conrad decided it was time to write a book. I figured why not read it? It will be a nice easy read when I am laying out on the beach getting a tan.


3rd and 4th books in the series The Sister of the Travelling Pants - Ok so this is me being a little teeny-bopper again who cant get enough of these four best friends who sent out on world wide adventures seperately with only one pair of pants holding them together. I absoluteeeeeeeeeely love this series.

anything by nicholas sparks!

iphone versus nokia 5800

So when I was on the market for a new phone I was debating hard and long between the Apple iphone and Nokia's 5800 xpressmusic phone.

I found this article while i was trying to decide which phone to purchase that broke it down by categories. (http://www.lucifiligheddu.com/)

1. price- Iphone is more expensive than nokia 5800. I am not one for wasting my parents money.
(that is a negative for iphone)
2. display- the phone automatically adjusts according to which way you are holding the phone on a nokia. although the screen is bigger on an iphone, the resolution is not as great as that of Nokia's 5800. I think that is pretty cool that the screen flips when you turn your phone at a different angle.
(another negative for iphone)
3. size- the iphone is a bit bigger. Although this is nice for reading things and dialling numbers, it also makes it harder to hold and makes it more difficult to use the phone with one hand. The nokia is a bit more slimmer and a bit lighter. Since I have tiny hands, the nokia is definitely more ideal.
(another negative for iphone)
4. memory- the iphone is available in 16GB and 8GB. The Nokia 5800 is available in the 8GB via a memory card which is removable. This makes upgrading much easier than the iphone and it also makes it easier to add and remove things from the storage device. I like having a memory card because I can take the pictures off my phone and transfer them to my computer.
(another negative for iphone)
5. usage- for the Nokia you can use your fingers or you can use the instrument known as a stylus provided with the phone. With the iphone you only have your finger. I like how it looks when you are poking at your phone with a little mini pen rather than just your finger.
(another negative for iphone)
6. battery life- the nokia 5800 tends to have 15- 30% longer battery life overall. Battery life is the utmost importance to me. I am always texting or calling someone so if the battery life sucks i am going to be very upset if the phone dies in the middle of a phone conversation.
(another negative for iphone)
7. camera/video- the camera on the Nokia 5800 is better than that of iphone seeing as iphone only has a basic camera with no flash. Iphone also lacks video recording options. While you can install video recording on iphone it already comes as part of the nokia's features. The nokia also has the options of video calling.
(yet another negative for iphone)

So, I am happy with the selection I made over purchasing the Nokia 5800. Not to say that I still do not love the iphone. Honestly it was my first choice. I think the phone is designed very well and it has awesome features. I think I will still purchase an iphone in the future when they make it more easily available to customers outside of the AT&T network. For now I will just deal with my nokia 5800.

New York Terror Plot unfolded

Today May 21, breaking news:

four men wanted to bomb a temple in the Bronx section of New York City. They also had plans to attack the New York National Guard base at Stewart Airport. Luckily the FBI discovered this ahead of time and was able to stop it from happening. The four men are Muslim converts. It is said that this terror attack was planned due to the anger the men felt over what is occuring in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

According to Fox News, Mayor Michael Bloomberg stated that "homeland security threats against New York City are sadly all too real." It was discovered that these men are not connected to any group outside which is a good thing. However, I think it shows that its not just the major well-known terrorist groups that are planning attacks. There are homemade attacks occuring meaning its a new sector of security we need to focus on.

I love what Senator John McCain said to fox news: " maybe the bush administration might deserve a little credit for the fact that theres not been another attack on the United States of America since 9/11." This is so true. America has been safe since 9/11. If anything he deserves a great amount of credit because I kinda blame Clinton for not making America safer when the WTC was attacked in 1993. Bush did an excellent job making America more safe.

P.S. World, America is huge...its not easy to protect. Everyday new terrorists are being trained by the Islamic fundamentalists who are trying to devalue America's power. I think it is disgusting that these "Jihadists" are the face of Islam. They should not be. These terrorists take the religion to the extreme and twist it to their liking. Mayor Bloomberg said in response to this terror plot that we should avoid sterotypes against Jews....well hellooooo!! the same thing goes for Muslims. DO NOT stereotype world. Not every Muslim hates Jews. Not every Muslim believes Israel should be destroyed. Not every Muslim believes in Jihad.

Basically, we need to stop stereotyping. Life is too short and too precious to be attacking each other. Especially, over religion. We are all God's children.

Guantanamo bay

Guantanamo Bay is the topic of much controversy. It was created in 2002 by the Bush Administration to hold detainees from Iraq and Afghanistan. Under the Bush Administration, the detainees at Gitmo grew tremendously to include more detainees from other countries. When current president Barack Obama was campaigning, one of his promises was to close GITMO.

In the Wikileaks, the Emir of Kuwait said "You know better than I that we cannot deal with these people (the Guantanamo detainees). I can't detain them. If I take their passports, they will sue to get them back. I can talk to you into next week about building a rehabilitation center, but it won't happen. We are not Saudi Arabia; we cannot isolate these people in desert camps or somewhere on an island. We cannot compel them to stay. If they are rotten, they are rotten and the best thing to do is get rid of them. You picked them up in Afghanistan; you should drop them off in Afghanistan, in the middle of the war zone."

The King of Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah proposed using electronic chips and turning GITMO into an enclosed secure island where the detainees wear these devices. It would be like they are on house arrest but can move freely through the island with the use of the electronic monitoring devices. This idea actually isn't that bad in my opinion. The detainees would be allowed to live more like normal human beings rather than being confined in cells. They'd be monitored which allows the U.S. to keep an eye on them until a more permanent solution is worked out regarding their trial and prosecution. It also takes the responsibility away from extraditing them back to their home countries where they are not wanted.

Aside from the controversy of what to do with the detainees, there is controversy of how GITMO is run. Human Rights Groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch are concerned with the detainees' safety and rights not being violated. Despite the fact that many of these detainees are allegedly criminals guilty of committing acts of terrorism, war crimes, treason among a range of other crimes, they are still human beings and they still have the right to be treated as such. Many of the detainees are actually innocent and have not officially been charged with any crimes. They are tortured and dehumanized. They are not treated as people with rights but merely a means to end. All the military personnel guarding GITMO detainees want is information. They are not ensured fair treatment or the rights to a fair trial. They were denied visitation rights at times.

GITMO has been described as a great failure in America's justice system. I do however have to agree with King Abdullah's idea. They should be placed on a type of house arrest where they can't leave the confines of the island but they would have to wear electronic monitoring bracelets. I do not think they should go back to their countries of origin because many of the detainees are from countries that have known ties to terrorist organizations and probably will not be properly rehabilitated back into society. Their governments will probably just harbor them until they fall back off radar and if they are in fact criminals they will just return to that life of crime.

In my opinion, GITMO is a lost cause.

International Humanitarian Law

So International Humanitarian Law is a topic that i find quite fascinating so I thought I would blog about it.

(I am getting all my facts from ICRC.org)



International humanitarian law aka the law of war or law of armed conflict, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross, is set up to limit the effects of armed conflict. However, it doesnt regulate if a state may use force or not. That is established by a distinct part of international law displayed in the United Nations Charter. IHL applies to armed conflict in which two or more states are involved.

IHL is set out to control the means and methods of warfare. IHL is meant to protect those no longer participating in conflict/hostilities.

A major part of IHL is that parties of conflict must distinguish between civilians and combatants. IHL states that the civilian population can not be attacked. Attacks can only be made against the military. Its against IHL to kill an opponent who surrenders or who is no longer able to take part in war. Any weapons or methods that cause excessive suffering or unnecessary loss is not allowed as well as anything that causes long-term harm to the environment is not allowed.

International Humanitarian law is established in the Fourth Geneva Conventions (1949). However, there have been myriads of international humanitarian law violations.

More on this a bit later.

something to ponder

In the Koran it is "written that a son of Arabia would awaken a fearsome Eagle. The wrath of the Eagle would be felt throughout the lands of Allah and lo, while some the people trembled in despair still more rejoiced; for the wrath of the Eagle cleansed the lands of Allah and there was peace."

The United States is represented by an Eagle. A son of Arabia, could arguably be Osama Bin Laden since he was born in Saudi Arabia. So I just find it very interesting that the son of Arabia awakened this eagle. Basically Bin Laden shook America up when the September 11th attacks happened and now America its casting its wrath upon the Islamic world starting with Iraq and Afghanistan with the war on terror. Should we wonder if this will spread to other countries in the Middle East? Look at the current situation in Pakistan....is that country next? What about Iran? Obama is opening peace talks with Iranian president Ahmadinejad.

I am just saying this is something to consider.

Very interesting info on Iraq

So I am not sure where I found this but its really interesting...I think someone emailed it to me. Its just some quick tidbits of info.

Mesopotamia, the cradle of civlization is present day Iraq.
The garden of Eden was in Iraq.
The Tower of Babel was in Iraq.
Noah built the ark in Iraq.
Isaac's wife is from Nahor,Iraq
Jacob met Rachel in Iraq.
Assyria, which is in Iraq, conquered the ten tribes of Israel.
Babylon which is in Iraq destroyed Jerusalem.
Daniel was inthe lion's den in Iraq.
The wise men were from Iraq.
Peter preached in Iraq.
Nebuchadnezzar carried the Jews captive into Iraq.
The second most mention nation in the Bible, after Israel, is Iraq. However it was not called that. It was called Babylon, Land of Shinar, Mesopotamia. The word mesopotamia means between two rivers. (tigris and euphrates) The name Iraq means country with deep roots.

I just find it fascinating that Iraq has so much history behind it. It is so interesting that a country that is in shambles today was one the homeland to so much history.

Favorite Websites/most visited websites

Youtube.com- I listen to a ton of great music on this site as well as watch clips of shows I may have missed. I listen to everything from arabic music to french to turkish to english music on here.

Twitter.com- I keep myself in the know with updates from all different media outlets while also letting everyone know whats going on in my life. Twitter is such a great source for keeping yourself updated on the go because the messages can be sent right to your phone.

Cnn.com- great news source

bbc.com- another excellent news source. I find it to be reliable and not too biased like most other sources.

aljazeera.net- excellent source for news all over the world but in particular the middle east. Best resource for Middle Eastern news because it tends to be the most factually correct.

verabradley.com- shoppinggggg duh. Adorable items. Anything from stationery to backpacks to purses to laptop cases.

coach.com- who doesn't love coach purses,accessories, shoes etc?

macys.com- great sales, great shoes!

sephora.com- oh my gosh some of the best make-up everrrrrrrr!!!!! gotta love it. :)

UN.org- keeps me in the know about what is going on at the United Nations and the world.

google.com- because I am always needing to google something.

abc.com- news source

nbc.com- news source

facebook.com- keeps me in touch with my friends and family

fmylife.com- I loveeee reading about other peoples lives because it makes mine seem a bit more normal. some the stories are really effed up but for the most part pretty funny :)

blogger.com- keep my blog updated and vent about the garbage that goes on in the world.

washingtonpost.com- great news source

juicycampus.com

formspring.me - ask me all the juicy questions that you can't ask me to my face.

bing.com - the best search engine know to man.

THE LIST GOES ON AND ON AND ON!!!!!

Netanyahu's talk with Obama...hope for the Palestinians?

During his campaign, Barack Obama promised to shed a new light on the dark path of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Will he keep this promise or will the turmoil that has existed for the past 60 years continue to worsen?


Just recently the Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu, one of the most right wing and controversial leaders (according to bbc), met with President Barack Obama to discuss the situation. Their talks seemed to go much smoother than during Clinton's Presidency when Netanyahu was Prime Minister of Israel.



So of course, the Israeli Palestinian conflict was discussed. Obama called on Netanyahu to push forward for a two-state solution. I think Netanyahu's request is fair that Palestinians must recognize Israel as a Jewish state but on the same note I think Israel needs to make more of an effort to stop the humanitarian crisis that exists in Gaza and give Palestinians their freedom and basic rights. While I think Israelis need to have a homeland, I believe Palestinians do too. Palestinians have always been displaced. A large majority of Palestinians are not living in Palestine but in other countries as displaced people/refugees.



In my opinion, its a bit ironic because Obama and Netanyahu both agreed that a nuclear Iran was a threat to the international community yet prior to the 1970's Iran was very close allies with Israel and the United States. However, Obama emphasized the need to open talks with Iran. This could be a positive thing as long as there are results in these talks that lead towards better Middle East diplomacy.



Netanyahu also agreed to reopen talks with Syria...this is a step in the right direction. hopefully. The disputes that are ongoing between Syria and Israel and Israel and Lebanon need to be addressed immediately because they are situations that can easily escalate. That would not be good for the international community at all. The turmoil that exists in the Middle East causes an extremely delicate situation to exist. this hotspot is literally in the middle of the map. any upset in the region shakes the balance of the entire world. Plus with all the oil reserves that exist in countries like Iraq and Saudi Arabia, the two leading nations in oil exports, we need to make sure the region is stable.

Lets just hope Barack Obama does a good job with direct diplomacy and takes a more aggressive but positive stance in Middle East policy.

Dancing with the Stars

Dancing with the stars is a show were they pick these b-list celebrities and partner them up with professional ballroom dancers. I love this show because its a competition and its nice to see how the competitors progress each week and what the judges have to say about them. Every season they have some great celebrities on there. I love Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli...Carrie Ann Inaba annoys me a little but she has some beautiful dresses. Len and Bruno are just absolutely hilarious judges. Bruno is so passionate about giving feedback and I love how he holds his paddle and throws his arm in the air if the score is high. I would love to be on dancing with the stars...too bad I cant dance though. :(

This season particularly was very good. So the finalists were Shawn Johnson, Gilles Marini and Melissa Rycroft. I thought Shawn Johnson, the olympic gymnast was fantastic. She perservered throughout the competition even when it was difficult. She was adorable...she is only seventeen too. That is impressive that a seventeen year old has that much determination and will power. Go you shawn johnson!!!!

I am shocked Melissa lasted as long as she did in the competition because I did not think she was that good even though she does have a background in ballet so she definitely has a bit of dancing experience. Her partner is hot!!! I feel like she only lasted so long because the fans felt bad for her after she was dumped on national t.v. She should be happy that guy dumped because now her career has skyrocketed...no one really knew who she was before that anyway...atleast I didnt.

See now as far as Gilles goes, I would have loved to see him win because he had so much passion and character when he was dancing but I do not like his partner Cheryl. Gilles Marini acted in the blockbuster hit "Sex and the City the movie". He has a gorgeous body and beautiful eyes. He makes any lady want to be his dancing partner. I think after this show every woman is jealous of Cheryl because she got to dance with him for eleven weeks. But anyway, like i was saying Gilles would have been an excellent choice for the trophy but I am kinda happy he didn't win because Cheryl is just too cocky. I find her a bit annoying. However, I must admit she is an excellent dancer with grace. She moves so flawlessly on the dance floor. I loved when Bruno said "french class meets american flair" after a dance Gilles and Cheryl did.

It was an excellent season of DWTS and I am glad Shawn won. She wanted it so badly!!!

Kuwait's step towards womens rights

Yay! the oil-rich state of Kuwait has made a great step toward democracy when they elected their first female members of Parliament. Rola Dashti and Aseel Al-Awadhi (a U.S. educated woman) were recently elected in Kuwait in the third district, according to BBC News.



This is a huge step for Kuwaiti democracy...its just exciting because the Middle East is always under fire for its so called "backwards" human (woman's) rights policies. However, now that woman have been elected to Parliament, its a leap in the right direction. Womens right to vote started back in 2005, however not much advancement was made but now that Dashti and Al-Awadhi along with two other woman have been elected to parliament it shows Kuwaiti women's desire for change and advancement. According to ABC, its a major milestone as these women secured their place for the first time in parliament.



I can't wait to see what happens next for women in Middle Eastern countries such as Kuwait.

World Economic Forum

At the World Economic Forum in the Dead Sea, Jordan (may 15-17th 2009), the main issue that concerned most of the arab leaders seemed to be the Arab-Israeli Conflict. Many argued that it was causing instability in the region.

This is an agreeable statement. How can we achieve a more stable economy without stable peace???? we need peace in the region before any other issue can be logistically addressed.

Jordan's King Abdullah opened the World Economic Forum by urging Israel to join Arab states in finding a solution to the conflict. He said he felt a sense of encouragement when Obama expressed commitment to a solution in which both Palestine and Israel had a state.

A Dubai-based group for private equity donated millions of dollars at the World Economic Forum to Gazans who became orphans during the recent Israeli offensive in Gaza during December 08- January 09.

Egypt's minister of Trade summed up things the best, in my opinion. He noted that reform was much needed in the middle east in order to deal with the effects of the economic crisis.

Queen Rania did her first twitter interview during the world economic forum.

Donald Trump's decision

So after hours of hair and makeup and bathingsuits and questions, Miss California won the pageant. Then not too long after, it was revealed that she took some pictures that were considered controversial.
I think Donald Trump granting the winner the right to keep her crown was fine, after all he is the owner of the pageant. She took some photos that might have been risque but who the hell cares. Who hasn't taken "risque" photos? so who cares? plus if people are worried about little girls looking up to the contestants in pageants, they should realize that they are only human. besides there are alot worse things being done by people who are looked up to by young girls than someone taking some risque photos. just get over it. :)

k byeee

So i am trying to write this paper. Its not going so well. Its on us and saudi relations post september eleventh.

Quick question?

Today a friend asked me would I sacrifice my own happiness if it meant that I was obeying my family's wishes?

my response: yes. I do not really have a choice.

Here is the context of the conversation...he asked if I were to marry a guy that my family did not approve of would I still marry that guy? well I can't. I do not really have a choice.

In Middle Eastern society family comes first. no matter what. bottom line. The wishes of your family supercede your personal wishes/happiness if it comes down to that. If a middle eastern girl were to marry a man that her father did not approve of then the marriage would be called off. If the marriage is allowed to go on then the girl may be blacklisted and cut off from her family. It is just easier to submit to your parent's will in that society. Most view this as wrong but their culture states that family is above all the most important thing. Furthermore, Middle Eastern society emphasizes that the parents are always right (even if they are wrong).

Swine flu

So there is this new public health emergency known as the swine flu or H1N1 virus. People are going crazy over it, wearing masks and not riding the subway. Its like its SARS or something. Ok but in all seriousness, America needs to close the boarders off to Mexico until this thing is under control. Do not allow people to travel to the region since the outbreak started there. Uhh duh. Hello America wake up! Just a couple of days ago Japan tighten their border checks in efforts to reduce the number of swine flu cases in the region. How can Obama say its "not a cause for alarm" when it was declared a public health emergency? Furthermore, the EU is urging citizens not to travel to the US?

I think that the U.S. needs to step up its game in creating a vaccine. One upside is that this thing is responding to regular flu medicines. The outbreaks keep increasing. I actually have a friend who stopped going out.period. no seriously. just stopped going out. its kinda over the top but whatever.

there are now over 5100 cases in 48 states in the U.S. as of may 19th 2009. how much longer can this go on? there are sixteen schools closed in NYC alone. however, the WHO is not ready to raise the level to 6, its highest risk level for pandemics.

japan continues to see the largest outbreak of swine flu

my school thought they had a confirmed case of swine flu but we didnt so thats good. phewww.
Ok so an update as of June 11th, the WHO (World Health Organization) has finally raised the level to a pandemic because of the number of outbreaks the world has seen. There are over 20,000 cases now. Australia fears it will rock their tourism industry. This is the first time a pandemic has been declared by the WHO in 41 years.

Iranian President Ahmadinejad

During an interview last week with George Stephanopoulos, Iranian president Ahmadinejad said he supports Palestine in a two-state solution.

Here is an excerpt from the interview:

Stephanopoulos: "If the Palestinians sign an agreement with Israel, will Iran support it?"

Ahmadinejad: "Whatever decision they take is fine with us. We are not going to determine anything. Whatever decision they take, we will support that. We think that is the right of the Palestinian people, however we fully expect other states to do so as well."

In my opinion, it is about time that Ahmadinejad said this. Ahmadinejad is known for being wishy washy and indirect in my opinion. Maybe with the new administration and Ahmadinejad's new found approval to agreeing with whatever the Palestinians agree to we can work towards peace in the region.

In his interview, Ahmadinejad also noted that he was not happy that Obama did not personally thank him for congratulating him on his win. Get over it!! you do not need a personal thank you. Although, I do think its a bit rude. Recently, Ahmedinejad also said Iran is ready to talk with the U.S. It makes one wonder if this is because Bush is no longer in office. I am just going to go ahead and say it- Bush was NOT that horrible! People just make him out to be such a bad guy. Stop blaming the president for everything that goes wrong. Besides what does it say about us a whole if we re-elected him? But anyway...Ahmadinejad said "The Iranian nation is ready to hold talks, but talks in a fair atmosphere with mutual respect."

On another note, during the UN conference in Geneva several western European nations as well as the United States and Israel walked out/protested the conference because Ahmadinejad was speaking. He called Israel the most "racist regime". It is ironic to call Israel racist in my opinion.

the new face of the republican party

Meghan McCain, daughter of Senator John McCain, is trying to revamp the republican party. I think she is absolutely right for wanting to do so. As someone who leans more toward the republican side I think she is brave for wanting to break the stereotypes of Republicans. As a party, overall it is not a diverse party at all.

Meghan was on the hit talkshow The View just a couple days ago and she was saying how she was pro-gay rights/marriage. This is something I agree with! However, the republican party tends to not share the same views. Like Meghan I am also anti-abortion. Meghan and my generation are very progressive thinkers. We like change.We want change. We welcome change and we embrace change.

I think people like Dick Cheney need to sit down and shut up. They had their time. Telling Meghan to get the hell out of politics is like telling everyone who holds similar view points to get the hell out of politics as well. We are the future, Dick Cheney. So go back to doing whatever it is that you did during your vice presidency which is basically nothing.

An update on Meghan McCain: May 21st on the Tyra Show.

Meghan McCain was on the tyra show today and she was talking about positive body image. She is not the skinniest girl and she embraces that. I think Meghan is beautiful. As someone who struggles with my body image, I admire and respect Meghan for saying "kiss my fat ass" on national t.v. to women like Ann Coultier who attacked Meghan's body image because she is not as conservative as Ann. Well Ann you are being ridiculous because Meghan challenged your view points and you turned around and challenged her weight???? Come on people that just does not make sense.

You go Meghan McCain!! I say lets revamp the Republican party together!

warm weather is finally here...hopefully!!

So this weekend was such a beautiful weekend. I had such a good time. Friday I went to the seaport with my dear friend carly. We had lunch at this cute little place called IL porto?? think. then we walked around the seaport taking pictures. Later that afternoon I went and watched a screening of a comedy tour then met Dean Obeidallah. Now Dean is a unique character. He is Sicilian-Palestinian. He reminds me a little of myself with a christian mom and muslim dad. Dean is hilarious. He pokes fun at Arab stereotypes in an effort to break the misperceptions of muslims out there.

Saturday I went and saw the new fast and furious movie with Vin Diesel. It was not bad. After that I grabbed some lunch and headed to the beach with my sister. We layed on the beach and soaked up some sun. The weather was still too cold to go in though. We stayed for about two hours. After that we drove back and I showered and got dressed to go to a baseball game. I went to the game with an old friend and her family as well as her boyfriend. The game was fun even though they lost. After the game we went back to my friends house and started taking silly pictures of ourselves. We drank coffee and sat out in backyard enjoying the warm weather.

Sunday I kinda played it low key. I wanted to go the beach again but figured I would stay home and do some studying.

Overall my weekend was pretty good. pretty lowkey. but hey thats how i like it sometimes. I hope this warm weather stays and that it does not fluctuate too much.