' Come on Charlie'...'Come on Tom'...

"You can't pin either of these guys down on the issues that matter, and you can't trust anything either of them says," Democratic Party Chair Karen Thurman said in a written statement after the debate. "Their credibility is shot, and the voters saw that front and center tonight."

Likely story...

Did anybody catch the last Republican primary gubernatorial debate last night? I listened in on it. Very entertaining... epecially the part when the candidates asked one another questions. Did either one even answer any of their opponent's questions? 'Come on Charlie,'...'Come on Tom,'...

My current compulsive obsession is no longer following the political scene but rather watching anime on YouTube. And unfortunately classes have started up again. Let's vote Davis and be done with it.

Post hoc hurricane forecast

As we get into the busy part of the Atlantic hurricane season, Hurricane Ernesto is the first real threat to the Florida gulf coast. The image from Wikipedia shows all tropical cyclones (ie hurricanes/typhoons) from 1985 to 2005. The strength of the storm is color coded where blue represents a tropical depression and red represents category 5 hurricane.

I'm really annoyed. The local meteorologists have been saying not to rely on the computer models of the hurricane forecast tracks, yet it is the first thing that they show on their TV broadcast and all of the major local stations have graphics of it on their website. But most of the graphics online are tiny, illegible, and non-expandable. (The National Weather Service has much better hurricane forecast graphics anyways.)

Why are you posting it if it's not even readable? If you think that the models may adversely affect people's decision on evacuation and such, don't show them. But since you do show them you have to make sure that they are clearly presented.

And the worst part is that all of the local stations will brag on how good their software is at tracking the path of the hurricane after it has already passed. Tch...

So if I post this photo with accurate hurricane tracks from the past on this blog, then any hurricane tracks that I post will also be accurate. Huh...?

Gubernator 06: Round 2

The democratic party preliminary election debate was a lot of fun to watch (notably the part where candidates can ask one another questions). I guess that you can never get off from playing hooky. It seems that Rod Smith got the better of Jim Davis this round. How did you find it?

Post debate thoughts

I watched the debate again. Not as much fun as it was watching it live because I still don't know which of these two candidates to vote for in the preliminaries. These two guys didn't distinguish their point of views well enough and I think that they were arguing the same points. I would be more inclined to vote for Davis because he's a local (but so is Republican Charlie Crist), but I wasn't impressed by how his questions attacking Smith blew up in his face as Smith was able to deflect much of it. When you actually go to work, you should actually read the bills (or something to that nature). Also I didn't understand Davis' argument why shouldn't small class size be considered at the federal level, but should be placed in the State constitution.

I received my sample ballot in the mail. Anyone know who Burkett, Castagnero, and Crotty are?

Here is video of the debate from WUSF.

Gubernator 06: Class size

The Democratic candidates are in favor of the recent admendment for reduction of class size. Charlie Crist is also in favor in continuing its implementation, butTom Gallagher is in favor of repealing the admendment.

I originally voted against the admendment. I remember reading in the book Confucius Lives Next Door how large class sizes are favored in Japan and where a teacher had apologized to a parent when their school had low class enrollment. However, Confucius doesn't apparently live in the US because dumb-ass American parents will raise dumb-ass American kids. Kids with families that emphasize the importance of education will do well regardless of class size (hey, state university is better than nothing); but for the rest of the population, the state should have some role to provide equal opportunities. So although money needs to be spent on equipment and infrastructure (ah... memories of classes in those red portable classrooms), art and music programs (which with the exception of Mr. Keon's band classes was seriously lacking in my schools), and teacher pay raise; small class sizes may be the first step needed to improve the education system for poor and african-american communites.

I believe that small class size would be most beneficial in primary school so teachers will be able to detect learning impediments and to instill a fervor for learning in kids at an early age. In secondary school, class size isn't as important because students would have already gained the necessary study skills to learn from class lectures. Also learning in more advanced topics requires study rather than having teachers showing students how to do something. So as I understand the class size reduction admendment, class size reduction would begin in the elementary schools.

Gubernator 06: Ready... Fight!

There will be a debate between Republican candidates Charlie Crist and Tom Gallagher tonight airing on WEDU at 8pm. The Democratic primary debate will be tomorrow night. If I can think of anything witty, I'll post after the debate.

Post debate observations: So who had the runny nose?

I thought that Crist had a confident composure and his responses were more coherent than that compared to Gallagher.

Key differences
Crist: anti offshore drilling, moderate views in gay rights, pro stem-cell research, pro class size reduction. Gallagher: pro offshore drilling, anti gay rights, anti stem-cell research, pro class size reduction repeal.

Image from Capcom's Street Fighter series.
Original photos from charliecrist.com and tg2006.com

Here is video of the debate from WUSF .

Don't give up for tomorrow Progressive Sailor Moon

I finally found the final season of Sailor Moon, Sailor Stars, to watch. Sailor Uranus and Neptune were known to be lesbians but sexuality in general is very much openly discussed and now transgendered pop singer star soldiers. And planet gentle uterus? How are they going to translate that? There is no way that the very conservative American public will be able to accept this as kids programming. Too bad. Good luck to any distributors hoping to somehow translate and localize this in America.

Even though every show since episode 1 has the exact same plot, Usagi-chan is so cute to watch. The exaggerated expressions in Japanese anime are hilarious.

Gubernator 06: Family Values

Okay, I'll fall for the Republican party tactic of pushing the family values agenda as a diversion to more important issues for my first post on the Florida gubernatorial race (I hope to add more on other issues) . The TV ads leading to the September primaries, mostly from the Republican candidates and especially Tom Gallagher, have been getting a lot of air time (which is the main effect on me, otherwise I wouldn't give a damn) . I really don't like Gallagher. His only message is, 'I'm a homophobe, and since Charlie Crist isn't pushing the issue, he must be a fag.' Crist's website states that he supports the Florida Defense of Marriage Act, but has been heard to be open to gay civil unions. The Democratic party candidates are in support of gay rights although Jim Davis' website does not directly side either way.

In my point of view, the government should only recognize civil unions (between any consenting adults) since the only thing that really matters is the tax exemption status. Since there is supposed to be separation of church and state, let the churches decide what a marriage is with the moral and spiritual implications attached to it among their own parishioners (and no one else) and not let it have any legal bearing. People normally go to the court house and church separately anyways. We need a Destruction of Marital Legal Status Law. That way catholics and baptists will finally shut the fuck up about the issue, and gays will get their social security and tax benefits. IRS can go to hell, but not for giving out tax return checks to gays, right? As for polygamists... not sure. Maybe the same idea...

Republican Party Candidates
Charlie Crist
Tom Gallagher (Edit: If you guys won't play fair, I won't put your link at all.)

Democratic Party Candidates
Jim Davis
Rod Smith

Urban Sprawl

I generally hate driving on large urban highways. For example here in Tampa, having to cut across three lanes of traffic to get to the airport exit on Veterans. And driving in Miami-Dade... forget it. I fear for my life when driving on the turnpike.

But imagine what it's like for the squirrels. I saw a poor little guy trying to cross a four lane highway as cars were barreling past him and over him; and fortunately with much luck, not on him. The tenacious little guy, after a bit of acrobatics made it across.

I'll be here

I'll be waiting... for you... so... if you come here... You'll find me. Except that my discs are all scratched up. I've been replaying Final Fantasy VIII, but I'm stuck on the end of the first disc because the dog chewed up the second one. Oh well, at least YouTube has some of the cg rendered cutscreens.

Eyes on me

Wake up Jeff

The Wiggles: 'Lights, Camera, Action, Wiggles!'




The Wiggles performed on the Today show this morning. Poor Jeff got left out after performing their second song as the group talked with the anchors. Lester Holt, filling in for Matt Lauer, stood in front of him, and the poor guy was peeping between heads of Holt and Anne Curry to get in the frame of the camera. C'mon Anne, you have to watch out for the short asian guy.

I don't know if any of the kids even like watching the Wiggles, because none of them looked as enthusiastic as their parents during the show. Check out the kid plugging his ears about a minute 30 into the clip. My neice has already outgrown their show, but I still think that they're fun.

If you ask me... and no one does

If one asks an Iraqi whether American troops should stay, what would they say? People are fleeing their homes, being blown up by bombs, being shot at with high powered rifles, raped, murdered and burned. And how much more is going on that the mainstream media does not show. I don't know any Iraqis.

What other superpowers are left today? How many times have American troops been called upon to serve in the affairs of foreign countries? How many times has America been criticized for not acting in time or at all in service of foreign countries?

If one asked the Hutu militia in the early 90's whether American troops should intefere with their actions against the Tutsis, do you think that they would have wanted American troops in Rwanda? I don't know any Hutus.

I'm proud to be an Amaracun

Not that anybody actually reads the drivel that I put on this blog but the posts relating to political issues are only my observations and reactions to watching, reading, or listening to news from the media. Obviously, I don't have an extensive backgroud on most of the current issues. But since this is my personal blog, I write about my personal opinions. I'm not a politician; I don't care to start a think-tank on how to achieve world peace. But I live in this world. I'm inundated with information of all kinds, and I obviously will form some thoughts on the information that I'm given. It is up to every person to disseminate information (as much as possible) and to do what one thinks is right (except for people blowing themselves up, that's just screwed up- I suppose blowing others up is bad too.) ... Anyways, one doesn't need a Masters in political science degree to form an opinion. If what I post is total crap, you should be able to figure that on your own. Most of what I write is total crap anyways (ie the monster debate). But it doesn't hurt anyone to read the opinions of others; the more ideas that one encounters can only broaden one's point of view especially if it is something that one does not agree with.

Are you ready for some football? Umm.. yes, but what channel again?

I don't get it. So CBS and Fox will keep the regular AFC and NFC games. ESPN will retain the Monday night football name but Madden and Michaels are going to NBC's Sunday night football with the premiere match-ups. So who is going to play on the Monday night game and why would one watch it if they aren't going to show the good games (unless its your favorite team of course)? I was willing to stay up on a weeknight to watch MNF in the past but I'm not sure anymore. Disney better put something good on ABC's Monday nights to make up for screwing with an iconic American tradition.

Il était mon ami

«Ce n'est pas la meilleure façon de gagner le Tour, mais je ne considère pas cela comme un cadeau, je l'ai gagné sur la route, il faut arriver deuxième». Landis «était mon ami, mais il m'a surpris et je le regrette».

Attendez un moment Monsieur Pereiro. Landis n'est pas encore d'accord avec les conclusions du laboratoire du contrôle à la testostérone. Dans le laboratoire, les résultats sont quelquefois en faveur duquel on veut voir et évidemment les français en veulent aux cyclistes américains. Le dernier mot n'appartient pas à vous ou M. Bordry.

original photos from USAToday and BarryBonds.com.

...Ain't no time to wonder why...

I am no fan of the current White House adminstration; I voted against Bush during the last two presidential elections. But the Democratic party right now is in total disarray. If Lieberman does not get renominated to the Senate in Connecticut, I will have no faith in the Democratic party.

How can people be so 'anti-war' in Iraq right now when there is no war. You should have been anti-war before the actual war started. That's including you Sheehan. Why the hell did you let your kid enlist in the military in the first place? It is a soldiers job and priviledge to serve their country and all that you're doing is pissing on your kid's grave along with his fallen comrades. Just because Bush has led the US fumbling its way into the current situation, the answer does not lie in doing the complete opposite. Nor does the answer lie in following current popular opinion on the war, because most of the people against the war now were in favor of it when we were bombing the fuck out of Baghdad. What do you expect from a country full of hicks? There is no reason to call for a withdrawal of troops until Iraq is able to self-govern itself in relative security. It is our obligation whether we like it or not (because we put ourselves in this situation) and whether the Iraqis like it or not because they are going to end up killing each other as we are seeing in the current sectarian violence.

Besides from the whole oil thing (which the US does need to run our economy), a stabilized Mid-east is favorable for our national security. There is no question that there has been anti-American sentiment before the Iraq war (you remember, they have two movies about it now) and much of it comes from American support of Israel. I don't know why the US cares so much about Israel-money or maybe guilt about the whole Holocaust thing- I dunno. A stable region where people can have access to information that doesn't scream Jihad- death to America all the damn time will alleviate some animosity.

The Mideast has been in turmoil since the end of the WWII when someone decided to draw on a map of the region with a crayon and the West has snubbed its nose, content with their precious oil. An argument in the old textbooks relates how the world did not respond in time to the ascent of the Nazi-axis power. Is the US involvment in the Mideast a preemptive act (you know the whole Al-Qaeda thing) or are we just heading into Armageddon. We shall see as the Mideast is enflamed yet in more violence.

Now where are all of you damn hippies when it comes to topics such as stem-cell research ban, intelligent design, school prayer and other right-wing evangelical crap?

Take those fucking W and Kerry stickers off of your cars already. The 'Don't blame me, I voted against him twice stickers' can stay.

Who shot who in the what now?

As much information that I could get from PBS, isn't Judaism and Islam similar to one another in a lot of ways (besides the whole prophet thing)? Isn't it that in history, jews and muslims have been victimized by christians more than by one another? What are you people doing?

Didn't the US overthrow of the Baathist party eventually give a large part of governmental control to the Shiites? Occupation of Iraq is one thing but what are these Shiites shitting about America concerning Israeli attacks in Lebanon?

photo from msnbc.com

Burn, Baby Burn.

When I got home Wednesday night from vacation I found that I couldn't connect online from my computer. Went through the usual routine: resetting the modem, screwing around with connection options, exchanging modem, waiting on hold for customer service. Didn't work on either my desktop or notebook. I think that my modem, router, and network card all fried at the same time when I was out. With a new (old) modem, only my notebook can now connect. But no wireless. Is there any difference with the expensive and cheap surge protectors? I think that they're all crap.

Mi Vacaciones Part II

Día 6. Sahara. Susana is a Mexican girl that I met; 19 years old, pretty and outgoing yet lost at the same time. She tells me that she has no family yet she carries a picture of her nephew on her cell phone. I can't help but feel sorry for her. She is in Chetemal on her own, her own town some distance away. She is getting by now, probably pretty well given her profession. She plans on going to university, I forgot the name, to study idiomas. She wants to see Europe. I hope that she will be alright. I wished her goodluck before she left.

Día 7. Lost in Translation. Doing business in the Free Zone is an unusual thing. Very confused in the hustle and bustle around me, I'm lost. Pesos, dollars, Belizian dollars... it all goes, all used interchangeably. About 11 Pesos and 2 Belizian dollars per US dollar. What time is it? Belize doesn't obervse daylight savings time, so although the Free Zone and Mexico is only a couple of miles apart, there is a one hour difference across the border. Spanish, English, Creole, Maya, Hakka, Cantonese, Manderin, Hindi... they are all spoken here. And poor pathetic me trying to speak in broken Chinese and Spanish, and listening to broken English. I have already picked up the some local colloquialisms. I caught myself saying several times, for example after dinner 'you done left the tip.' In my familiy's store, my attempt to help a customer usually goes something like this.

"This one?... That one?... Cómo?... Qué?... What?... (blank stare)... No lo tenemos."

Día 9. Burro. I visited Corozal. Finally road signs that make sense. No more kph or mts (never figured out what this is; either minutes or meters), no more está avenida no es de velocidad halta, no more speed bumps in the middle of the highway. Mph, yellow traffic signs with black markings. Just like home.

The city doesn't look anything like I had remembered from the last time I visited when I was small. I guess the world gets smaller as you get older. But the town still feels quiet and lazy. Breezy. Muddy. Just pass the time away with a card game.

Día 10. On the Road Again, umm... Sky Again. Took a taxi back to Cancun. A nice four hour drive in the Yucatan. No matter how desolate the hutches may seem to me, it is evident here that no house is home without satellite television.

The flight back home went without any incident although there were some really retarded latinos on my flight. If you want to get yourself hurt, that's one thing, but don't walk your kid down the aisle when the plane is descending you dumb-ass. Miami International is a screwed up airport, security checks really suck, and people really rude. Glad to be home.

Mi Vacaciones Part I

Día 1. Long, long layover. I remember hearing somewhere that women in general will speak significantly more than men in any given day. This was more apparent to me in the airport terminal than anywhere else. In a crowded area by my departure gate, there was this lady sitting next to me. I was keeping myself occupied with my magazine, and others around were conversing amongst themselves. But this lady continued to jabber and jabber on her cell. I don't know if it's just me, but I get drawn in when people use their phone nearby; I don't wan't to, but I can't tune it out. On a normal call I normally don't mind, but when someone talks for a significant amount of time on a cell phone... it just gets irritating. I suppose that I could have moved, but I didn't want to lose my seat and like I said before, you get drawn in (something like looking at a car accident).

But much more entertaining was watching this poor guy trying to pull a cell phone away from his wife as their plane was about to leave. As the airline attendants were calling general boarding, this lady continued to talk on her phone as her husband, carrying all of their luggage on his back, beckoned her to hang up. It would have been more fun if the plane had left without them.

Día 2. You Chinese, Over Here. I would recommend that people stay away from the typical tourist traps. My guidebook said that the best place to be in Cancun is the Hotel District. I disagree. There is not much there that is any different from other vacation spots namely Orlando or Miami. if I wanted to look at Western imports of perfume and clothing that I can't afford, I really don't need to fly to Mexico. Planet Hollywood, Hardrock, and even Hooters... give me a break. Downtown Cancun is much more interesting and I prefer eating in Mexican restaurants with a majority of Mexican patrons. The English supposedly have terrible food, so why would I want to eat where they go. [Note: somebody got shot around 50 times yesterday in the downtown area, so maybe the touristy areas may be a better place to go afterall].

Playa de Carmen has a nice beach but I found the shopping area naseautingly stereotypical of a tourist trap. Imagine the worst stereotype of a Mexican accent, "You Chinese, over here." Ugh... no thanks.

Día 3. Zucratista... They're Grrreat.
I find it amusing to see familiar products localized in Mexico. Wal-marts here are pretty much the same, although they do sell lychee here. The Mexican version Chedrauii is also all over the place. I needed to get my usual Old Spice barro desoderante and hair gel ultra-fuerte (rather than super-fuerte of course).




Día 4. Mexico 307. The roads here are frequented with import cars that we don't see much in the States such as Peugot and the other French one (I don't remember the name), but also familiar manufacturers have some unfamiliar models. See if you can match the model and manufacturer.

1. Nissan 2. Chevrolet 3. VW 4. Ford
a. Corsa b. Lobo c. Platina d. Pointer

Answers 1c 2a 3d 4b

Día 5. La Zona Libre. I saw the Free Zone across the border from Chetemal to Belize. My family has a shop here. Check out Rexo if you're ever in the area. I don't quite understand the point of the Free Zone; the district is behind metal fences and the borders are secured. Supposedly Belize is trying to encourage development by allowing companies to sell goods out of Belize without having to pay duties. Although the workers are Belizian (except for some of the girls at Chili Willi- so i hear...achem- but that discussion can wait for another time), goods can only be sold out of the country. No Belizians can buy stuff here; no one lives here. After closing time for the stores, there is a mass migration of workers back to Belize, shoppers back to Mexico, and gamblers into the casinos. Stuck in traffic for an hour. The traffic control is nuts (used to be done by kids I hear).