Category: news

02/28/08 04:22 - 13ºF - ID#43500

american prisons

1 in 100 US Adults are currently behind bars:

That does not seem like a good thing for the most part, on many levels.

Oh, and I agree with you (e:metalpeter) about "Across the Universe". I love that movie, and thought the music and the visuals for it was awesome. They should have nominated songs from it, but I think it had to be an original song.

metalpeter writes at 09:12:25 02/28/08 - Comment #32232: I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought about that for across the universe and Now that you say it you are right that it was for best song.

In terms of the race thing. I think the numbers speak for them selves they really do. I hate to say it but race is a factor, it isn't the only factor but it is a big one. Lets face it if "Mr White boy" gets a black guy who is accused of something and a white guy accused of the same thing even if he doesn't want to he will fight harder (even if he is a shitty lawyer with shitty pay or maybe he is good) for the black guy. Deep down he doesn't care if he is innocent cause if he is locked up he can't sell drugs to his cousin or break into his house. I'm not saying that he thinks these things but they are ingrained in there. But the reason that the % is so high for blacks (when you take in there % of society it gets really scary) is because of Poverty. Then when Dad goes to jail and never see his kids guess what happens son is fucked up and becomes a criminal and the cycle continues. But you just can't say race isn't a factor it is a big one. But poverty is why most people go to jail. Oh wait I forgot they did a crime. But why most people get away or don't get away with something does have a lot to do with the legal team and if they can pay for jury experts and the poor can't.

james writes at 08:29:36 02/28/08 - Comment #32229

What amuses me about these statistics is that they always, always, always break them down by race. As if helping blacks and hispanics is suggested as the cure. They never do these stats by class.

America has been playing the race game to death and aren't getting anywhere because we refuse to talk about class.

gets off soap box*

museumchick writes at 07:44:01 02/28/08 - Comment #32221: (e:tiburon1724) -I edited the one comment I had out, because I didn't mean to make it sound the way it came out probably sounding. It really bothers me that there is such a high prison rate from a lot of perspective- a moral and ethical one, as well as a financial one. I'm also strongly against the death penalty.

tiburon1724 writes at 05:55:35 02/28/08 - Comment #32217: send 'em all to the chair...imagine the savings

ajay writes at 05:46:41 02/28/08 - Comment #32216: If we stop criminalizing marijuana possession, this number may come down dramatically.

There is *no* reason to lock up a person for possessing a piece of a plant that grows wild in some areas.

Permalink: american_prisons.html
Words: 95
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: news

02/25/08 10:34 - 26ºF - ID#43452

primaries and oscars

Thanks (e:ladycroft) and (e:leetee) for the comments from my last post. I'm doing okay. I was kind of sad for the past couple of days, and really missing somebody- but I'm feeling better today.

I actually watched the Oscars last night while I worked on some school stuff. It wasn't bad. I mostly wanted to see it because Jon Stewart was hosting the show. The Oscar Orchestra is annoying, though. I hate how they cut into people's speeches.

I think the primaries have been the real entertainment this year. It's been the most interesting primary season that I've seen in my lifetime (granted, I was born in 1982).

Permalink: primaries_and_oscars.html
Words: 109
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: poems

02/23/08 09:30 - 23ºF - ID#43440

turned to blue

"My life has turned to blue" Maya Angelou

Our summer's gone,
the golden days are through.
The rosy dawns I used to
wake with you
have turned to gray,
my life has turned to blue.

The once-green lawns
glisten now with dew.
Red robin's gone,
down to the South he flew.
Left here alone,
my life has turned to blue.

I've heard the new
that winter too will pass,
that spring's a sign
that summer's due at last.
But until I see you
lying in green grass,
my life has turned to blue.

Permalink: turned_to_blue.html
Words: 96
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: news

02/13/08 09:20 - 19ºF - ID#43317

a freeby divorce giveaway

Oh, man... a radio station in West Virginia is having a contest to give away a "free divorce" for Valentine's Day:

Because nothing says "I love you" like a divorce contest. Anyway, I hope all of you will have a nice Valentine's Day. I realize the contrived nature of the holiday, but I guess I still have a soft spot for it. I'm not really doing anything special tomorrow, but hopefully, Aaron may be able to come up on Sunday for a visit.

Permalink: a_freeby_divorce_giveaway.html
Words: 97
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: life

02/03/08 07:37 - 31ºF - ID#43162

football and politics

I guess I have to go with (e:lilho) about the whole superbowl thing. I don't really have anything against it, it's just that I'm not a football watcher in general. I never got into sports much. If I do watch sports, it will be hockey, and that's only because people in Buffalo got me into the Sabres. Either way, though, I hope it's an exciting game for anyone watching it.

I hope (e:James) won't be too appalled that I forgot to register to vote for the primary on tuesday. I'm registered in Buffalo, but I forgot to register when I moved here. I promise I will register soon!