Every minute, the national debt grows by $1 million December 4, 2007
Posted by NettyD in Lifestyle, Sociology, U.S. and World News.add a comment
[Image courtesy of patrick.net]
Yes folks, the national debt is expanding by about $1.4 billion a day! Most of you will hit the $30,000 in debt mark very soon. The news gets worse for those with an adjustable rate mortgage because the government is going to raise your interest rates in order to compensate for all of this.
And this might also lead to a drastic cut in services like Social Security and other government benefit programs. I guess Americans don’t really care about their libraries anyway since they don’t go to them anymore. But hey, at least Iraq is headed towards becoming a democratic and free nation! Oh wait, they’re not. SHIT!
(Facts from Associated Press writer, Tom Raum, 12/3/2007))
The faithless are not cold, bitter Scrooges. December 3, 2007
Posted by NettyD in Philosophy, Religion, Sociology, Theories and Thoughts.2 comments
This December I have been invited to five different holiday parties. It has made me take an honest and in-depth look at who I am and what I believe. The dilemma I have is that although I don’t celebrate any of these holidays personally, I see nothing wrong with celebrating life through the festivity of the season. I’m not religious, I am not African-American, and winter is my least favorite season. But please trust me -I’m not a Scrooge! It bothers me when agnostics and atheists are classified as cold, hard, and arrogant. I don’t understand why these adjectives are so easily placed on us!To not believe in religion is not to be heartless. We feel the same way everyone else does when our relative dies, or when a child’s face lights up. We need hugs and kisses too, and we have positive ideas about the direction of the world. Emotions are still a part of our basic human function, and our not sticking them in a box and labeling them doesn’t mean we are less spiritual.That’s why when deciding on whether or not I would participate in these upcoming functions, I decided to rely on my instinct. And my instinct told me that disassociating myself from others during the season would be rude and selfish, and would undoubtedly strain personal relationships. It does more good when we get out of our comfort zones and try to relate to others we are different from, than when we shelter ourselves from a false fear. The next time you speak or interact with an agnostic or atheist, I beg of you to not write this person off as a pompous, heartless bastard.And my wish for this season is for everyone to close their stomachs and open their minds.Cheers!
A self-discovery moment… December 2, 2007
Posted by NettyD in Lifestyle, Sociology.1 comment so far
I don’t like small talk. I am the most uncomfortable person when it comes to small talk. Small talk is a way to be “nice,” but it’s so fake! Sometimes it feels like small talk is scripted and robotic (listen for it at your next holiday office party,) and therefore none of us really listen, instead we buy the time to unconsciously assess the surface of the individual- looks, style and presentation. It makes me feel like a stained glass window. I prefer the meat and potatoes, the mud, the shot of tequila at 3a.m. Let’s just get straight to it, okay?
Saturday Night Fever December 2, 2007
Posted by NettyD in Lifestyle, Sociology.2 comments
I’m finding that as I get older, my weekends are less about all-night parties and all-day hangovers. I’m more accepting of a Saturday night at home than I was about 4 years ago. I enjoy playing two person board games with my man, or reading, or dancing around the house by myself. Besides partying, what are your other favorite weekend night activities?
How are we going to pay for this!? November 29, 2007
Posted by NettyD in Sociology, U.S. and World News.2 comments
Immigration over the past seven years was the highest for any seven-year period in U.S. history, bringing 10.3 million new immigrants, more than half of them without legal status, according to an analysis of census data released by the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington.
How is our system going to pay for social services for these illegals? We can’t even afford to build levees or new bridges, or even fund the senseless war!
Black-American men – Who are you, really? November 27, 2007
Posted by NettyD in Sociology, Theories and Thoughts.add a comment
If you haven’t heard yet, NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams is running a VERY interesting series this week profiling Black-American women. Each night this week, the last 5 minutes of the show will be dedicated to discussing different topics associated with this demographic. Monday night’s show talked about Black-American women in business. The statistics given were both encouraging and insightful. 75% of businesses started by blacks in the last year were by women, and seven black women to every 1 black male have obtained a college degree in this country. But what does this say about our Black-American men? The gender gap in the black community is wide. What is to blame? One theory I have is what I call the “50 Cent Mentality.” Our society may be feeding young black men the message that a college education isn’t needed, and that real power is to be the resident gangster on the block. Incidentally, I saw another program this evening on PBS about home-grown terrorism, and the infiltration of Islam into the Southern black community. Apparently, many Southern jails are harboring large populations of convicts who have converted to Islam as a means toward personal reformation. Like the radical jihadists of the Middle East, I believe the target recruitment demographic lies in young men with no direction, and who want to feel like they are a part of something bigger. Perhaps our society has pushed Black-American men to the fringes of our society, therefore making them more likely to join a cause that gives them a sense of power they may not ever experience otherwise. Whose responsibility is it to make sure our citizens don’t fall down the cracks, or worse yet, turn their backs on us? Will these men find it within themselves to overcome the pressure of who society tells them they should be? Is it up to the widely successful Black-American female to support their brothers? Or does our government need to make changes to level the playing field?
Half of the United States suffers from a sleep disorder! October 25, 2007
Posted by NettyD in Health and Well-Being, Lifestyle, Sociology.2 comments
[Image courtesy of Avalon5.com]
A new study by the American Pyschological Association reveals that 48% of Americans complain about not being able to sleep at night. The ADA says the most prevelant causes are stress about 1.Money and 2. Work. (New York Post)
What’s more, another study performed by Travelodge (at 310 of their locations) found an increase of sleepwalkers roaming their hotels. There had been more than 400 cases in the past year, almost all involving men. A number had walked into the reception area asking for a newspaper or saying they wanted to check out. Again, sleep experts blame stress, alcohol abuse and lack of sleep for the disorder. (news.sky.com)
Do you not sleep? Could you be a sleepwalker and not even know it?
Are we all just crazy zombies? I think so.
The best movie I’ve seen this year is … October 24, 2007
Posted by NettyD in Arts & Entertainment, Reviews, Sociology.add a comment
INTO THE WILD – In theaters now!
In January of 2004, when I was making my way across this great country, my traveling partner Christina was plowing her way through the book that this film is now based on. She would read while I drove, and then she’d update me after her sessions. The premise of the book sort of matched our own adventure at the time, and it produced lots of exciting energy between the two of us.
Now, nearly four years later, Sean Penn has written the screenplay and directed the movie based on Christopher McCandless’ real-life journey across North America and his attempt to survive in the wilderness of Alaska.
What is so gripping about this story is that it really happened, and it was well documented by McCandless himself. He is played by Emile Hirsch (Alpha Dog), who reminds me of Leonardo DiCaprio circa Romeo and Juliet. The rest of the cast is outstanding in their supporting roles, but Hirsch is who really stands out here. As was true about the book, the film tugs at an inner dilemma most people have when discussing McCandless – is he a thoughtful rebel, or a selfish moron?
The film is 140 minutes, so eat, piss, and stretch before you go see it. While you’re watching it though, you don’t really feel like you’re waiting for it to be over. It’s hard to peel your eyes away, and you might catch yourself reflecting on your own path to self-discovery.
This is an essential movie for EVERYONE to watch. Look for it at your local indpendent theater – I don’t think it’s real big in the commercial movie stadiums.
INTO THE WILD gets 5 out of 5 popcorn tubs from me!
Barack I love you, but quit the religion crap! October 22, 2007
Posted by NettyD in Campaign '08, Religion, Sociology, Theories and Thoughts.2 comments
[Image courtesy of telegraph.co.uk]
Hmmmm. Though I still feel very strongly about my choice for the Democratic presidential nomination, I sometimes feel a little bothered by Mr. Obama.
He’s been hanging out in South Carolina lately, and doing lots to garner the black evangelical vote. It’s been said that Obama has made an effort to tout his religion more than any other Democratic candidate before and during this campaign year.
It concerns me because I believe in the total separation of church and state. That line gets blurry every time an election cycle rolls around, and it’s to our country’s detriment. We are supposedly fighting governments around the world who don’t make the distinction between the two, yet we are the same kind of offenders. The Evangelical Christian movement seems a lot like the radical Islamic movements who infuse their beliefs into public policy. (and for those of you who think Christians are non-violent, let me remind you that sometimes the pen is mighter than the sword). The hypocrisy runneth over.
Barack better realize that by trying to get certain votes, he could lose many others in the process. You’re a smart dude Barack, so quit hangin’ around the Christian Fiction Club!
Double standards in how to show school spirit. October 16, 2007
Posted by NettyD in Lifestyle, Sociology.3 comments
[Image courtesy of local6.com]
Two girls at a Florida high school were kicked out of a football game in the first quarter because they painted their bodies to show school spirit. People complained about them, but not about the boys who were shirtless and painted. The boys were allowed to stay.
Is there a double-standard here?
