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raishaan's LiveJournal:
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| Saturday, November 27th, 2010 | | 6:53 pm |
Following the yellow brick road
Haven't posted in a while, but I had a few thoughts I wanted to share... I’ve wondered more and more as time goes by just what the reasoning is behind what we’re doing and/or what is being done in our names to keep us safe in the world. The answer keeps revolving around something I was told once upon a time – “If you want to know why anything is done, follow the money”. Is that true? To me, the answer to that question is both yes and no. I think it has more to do with a relative few opportunists using our fear and anger to create excuses to gather power unto themselves. This is hardly a new concept. The reason it’s been repeated over and over throughout history is that it works very, very well. From schoolyard bullies to government to religion to anarchy, they’ve all been used to empower the few over the many. It’s human nature. That doesn’t make it right. Our current iteration is no better or worse in the larger scheme of things, but looked at from closer to home, it doesn’t make a lot of sense. While the precursors have been falling into place for some time, the focus of my thoughts is on the last ten years or so. 9/11 was a tragedy, no question, but our response as a nation raises a few questions in my mind: Why did we go to war in Iraq when the attack was coordinated by a small group of pathetic cowards hailing from Saudi Arabia, operating out of Afghanistan, and hiding in Syria? Who profited from this choice? The terrorists stated goals were to destroy our way of life because it didn’t agree with their views. They must be dancing with delight in their caves because we are doing a better job of destroying it ourselves than they ever could. We responded to this attack domestically with the Patriot Act and the creation of the DHS and the TSA whose ever tightening grip of rules and policies in the name of national security effectively strip us of more and more of our basic rights and freedoms while claiming to protect them. For who? From who? These agencies have yet to capture even one of the people they claim to be guarding us against. In 10 years. The shoe bomber incident resulted in all of us having to remove our shoes and put them through the x-ray to board a plane. From what I recall he was using plastic explosive. By definition, this is not metal and would not have been found by a device designed to detect metal. The underwear bomber incident resulted in the backscatter arrays and invasive pat-downs that have been the topic of so much conversation and outrage of late. Methods that the head of the TSA admitted would not have detected or prevented the bomber from passing through security( although acting on the tip provided by the man’s father might have). How does spending over $25 billion on machines that don’t even work for their stated purpose make us safer? How does feeling up children, the elderly, and the handicapped make us safer? How does treating everyone in the country like a criminal make us safer? Who profited from these measures? This doesn’t feel like security to me. This feels like the agencies in question trying to justify their existence. If the policies put in place were demonstrably effective, I might see them differently, but they are not. Now the head of DHS has been quoted as wanting to expand these same measures to other forms of public transportation. To what end? How far down this rabbit hole do we want to go? Unfortunately, there are no easy answers to this dilemma. We live in an increasingly complicated society, but we as individuals still have the same basic needs; food, warmth and shelter . We want a safe place to live and raise our families. Anything that threatens one of those things inspires an instinct to protect them. We need to be aware, however, that just because someone says that they have our best interests at heart does not mean that they do, and to blindly entrust the supplying of our basic needs to someone else is foolish. | | Saturday, April 17th, 2010 | | 5:20 pm |
Sigh....
Overheard at a teaparty pep rally in a public square in Vancouver, WA....The speaker stating that the U.S Congress was initially created to tell the Government "no"...o_O WTF? Congress "is" the Government. Please get you're facts straight before spewing your opinions all over the place, you'll make more sense... Freedom of speech is important and is one of the underlying pillars of our society. I just find I'm getting a little impatient with those who don't actually READ the documents that they're using to support their dogma/doctrine/views/etc., whatever those may be. | | Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 | | 8:45 am |
| | Sunday, October 25th, 2009 | | 1:01 am |
| | Saturday, October 24th, 2009 | | 6:08 pm |
| | Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009 | | 5:28 pm |
The perils of SWB (Shopping While Broke) :P
On my lunch break today, I wandered across the street to the Pawn Xchange in Federal Way and beheld something that made my heart go pitty-pat...a black 12-string Ovation acoustic/electric guitar with a hard case for $799...sigh. Being poor sucks :) Besides, I do already have 3 to play(of the 5 that live in this house) :P It occurs to me that guitars are a little like potato chips - it's hard to stop at one, or two, or...though a certain lack of storage does eventually come in to play. Still, it is nice. Hopefully whoever owns it next will make much beautiful music with it. Such an instrument begs to be played and enjoyed. Current Mood: wistful | | Saturday, August 1st, 2009 | | 6:42 pm |
Your result for Test yourself: What alignment are you?... Neutral Good
You scored 59% Lawful and 71% Good, which makes you Neutral Good. Chaotic-Lawful is the ethical scale, on which you scored 59%, where 0% is utter chaos and 100% is total cosmos. This Lawful scale doesn't necessarily judge how committed to the system you are, even though one could guess so from the name since the system usually holds the law, but instead it means how sorted internally you are, and how likely it is for you to choose cosmos over chaos. You are neutral, and are as such an individual who either doesn't mind one over the other of chaos and stillness, or can go both ways depending on how you feel. You don't necessarily follow laws that blindly, and you don't act too randomly. The Evil-Good scale is quite easily figured out, being the morale scale, and on this you scored 71%, where 0% is totally evil and 100% is completely good. Now, evil here on this scale doesn't necessarily mean you're out to make people suffer. It means ego-centering and glorification of one's ego. You, being good, would be likely to be compassionate and empathic to those around you. For example, a doctor who treats soldiers from both sides in a war could be considered neutral good. A character who does what his heart tells him to without really caring where it takes him, and without going into extremes, would also be neutral good.
Take Test yourself: What alignment are you? at HelloQuizzy
| | Friday, May 15th, 2009 | | 10:28 pm |
Your result for The Social Persona Test (What kind of man/woman are you?)...
The Manga Geek (QLBM)Quirky Liberal Beta Male 
First of all, we can't help but notice that you spend an awful lot of time reading Hentei. Other than that though, you have a gentleness around women they find attractive. Seek out ones as quirky as you and you're golden.
You are more QUIRKY than NORMAL. You are more LIBERAL than TRADITIONAL. You are more PASSIVE than DOMINANT. When picking a date, consider: The Rarity (QTAF), The Renaissance Faire Wench (QLAF), The Librarian (QTBF), or The Emo Girl (QLBF).
(Image from Flicker, unknown album and subject.)
Take The Social Persona Test (What kind of man/woman are you?) at HelloQuizzy
| | Thursday, May 14th, 2009 | | 9:53 pm |
Your results: You are Geordi LaForge| Geordi LaForge |
| 75% |
| An Expendable Character (Redshirt) |
| 70% |
| Uhura |
| 65% |
| Spock |
| 59% |
| Beverly Crusher |
| 55% |
| Deanna Troi |
| 55% |
| Leonard McCoy (Bones) |
| 50% |
| Worf |
| 50% |
| James T. Kirk (Captain) |
| 45% |
| Chekov |
| 45% |
| Jean-Luc Picard |
| 45% |
| Will Riker |
| 45% |
| Data |
| 36% |
| Mr. Scott |
| 35% |
| Mr. Sulu |
| 25% |
|
You work well with others and often
fix problems quickly. Your romantic
relationships are often bungled.
 |
Click here to take the Star Trek Personality Quiz | | Sunday, May 10th, 2009 | | 5:38 pm |
| | 11:38 am |
Hey Firefly fans - I have a question...:)
Having finally gotten around to watching the show, (all 14 episodes on Hulu.com) I must first say that this is a pretty good show. :D This coming from someone who cannot stand most television due to it's intelligence - or rather - lack thereof. But that is another rant for another post...:P My question is this: What is the lanquage used that is peppered throughout the English parts of the script? It sounds consistent with itself to me, but doesn't have the flavor of any language I'm familiar with. Does anyone know? Is it something created for the show? My curiousity is piqued... | | 10:10 am |
| | Sunday, May 3rd, 2009 | | 10:12 pm |
And I thought my week was tough
I, like many of you reading this, have had people that we know pass on. Never in my life has anyone's passing affected me as John's has. I feel like I lost a great friend that I was only just beginning to get to know. I've spent the weekend dazedly trying to get my head around this and not succeeding very well. Stupid SUV driving drunk person took a light away from the world and the weird and wonderful family and community that I've found a home in. My sense of loss is acute, but I can only just begin to imagine how much more magnified it is for those who had the privelege of knowing him better. My heart, broken as it is, nonetheless goes out to you. My memories of John are comparatively few, but no less treasured. His everpresent smile, the chemistry he and Brooke shared onstage, his ready willingness to lend a hand sharing his amazing talent, his ability to bring smiles to the faces of those around him, my anticipation of working with him on some of my music, hearing him play his. These are the essence of the things that drew me to filk in the first place and gave me something to reach for when my own life path was rocky and dark. Seeing the outpouring of sorrow and support for one another throughout these many posts is nothing short of amazing and shows just how special you all are as well. People like John inspire others to reach higher, myself included. I can only hope to be as fine an inspiration to those that follow after as I begin my musical journey. | | Saturday, May 2nd, 2009 | | 2:30 pm |
| | Monday, April 13th, 2009 | | 10:00 pm |
| | Sunday, April 12th, 2009 | | 11:58 pm |
Another excellent article re:Amazon
Personally, I feel that whatever your orientation or even opinion on others, what has happened here is a call to arms. We must protect our freedoms. The following link contains the contact numbers for Amazon's Board of Directors. I suggest calling them and letting them know your thoughts on this blatant censorship. Today the LGBT community is under attack. Who's next on the list? Personally I am straight. I fail to see how *any* other persons personal relationships could possibly affect mine. http://www.edrants.com/amazonfail-a-call-to-boycott-amazon/ Current Mood: determined | | Tuesday, April 7th, 2009 | | 7:34 pm |
| | Monday, April 6th, 2009 | | 7:12 am |
Thought of the moment
Ah, puberty....When ewww cooties! magically transforms into oooooo cuties ..........................:P | | Friday, March 27th, 2009 | | 10:10 pm |
| | Friday, March 13th, 2009 | | 8:00 pm |
What's Your Personality Type?
| You Are An INFJ |  The Protector
You live your life with integrity, originality, vision, and creativity.
Independent and stubborn, you rarely stray from your vision - no matter what it is.
You are an excellent listener with almost infinite patience.
You have complex feelings, and you take great care to express them.
In love, you see relationships as an opportunity to connect and grow.
You enjoy relationships when they are improving and changing. You can't stand stagnation.
At work, you stay motivated and happy... as long as you are working toward a dream you support.
You would make a great photographer, alternative medicine guru, or teacher.
How you see yourself: Hardworking, ethical, and helpful
When other people don't get you, they see you as: Manipulative, weak, and unstable |
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