Friday, August 20, 2010

BIG BEN, WE KNOW WHAT YOU DID DURING THE OFFSEASON





TERROR BABIES!!!!




Texas State Rep. Debbie Riddle (R-HD 150) and Congressman Louie Gohmert (R- TX 1) have perpetuated the myth of “Terror Babies.” In their warped logic women are coming into the United States, having children, and taking them back to their country of origin to raise them to be terrorists.
I know… absurd.
Actually, absurd does not begin to describe this.
These people make me embarrassed to be a Texan.
Just watch…

THREE STORIES




I am going to share with you three stories.

THE MOSQUE IN MANHATTAN





There has been a lot of controversy brewing about the proposed Islamic Cultural Center in Manhattan, 5 blocks away from the site where the World Trade Center once stood.

PERRY v. SCHWARZENEGGER: WHAT’S NEXT





I was hoping to report that marriage equality was resuming in California, but the opposition was able to file an appeal with the Ninth Circuit.
Also, there was the report about the last combat unit leaving Iraq on August 18 and I had to comment on that as a Veteran.
Hey, remember, I wear different hats.
On to what took place in California earlier this month.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

PHILOSOPHY 2500 PAPER (or How To Write A Major Paper 36 Hours Before It Is Due)




Wow.

Not my best work, but I am satisfied with the grade.

I got a B overall for the class. The paper: 86.

Prof's comments on the paper:

"Michael, interesting discussion, I enjoyed reading it. The paper could be improved by working on your argument more. While the paper flows well and is generally well written, it's not entirely clear what you want to argue through this paper. You need to make your thesis more explicit and argue for it more firmly, and return to it in your conclusion. Your conclusion, which I mentioned in a note, takes the reader by surprise, it doesn't seem like the whole paper was leading up that point. The conclusion seems to be that it is difficult to come to rational conclusions through philosophy because it is theoretical. However, if I retrace your paper and try to tease out an argument through the introduction, it seems to be that philosophy is well suited to come to rational conclusions about environmental issues. So there seems to be some tension in the intro and conclusion."

The important thing is that I am through with the Philosophy requirement for my degree.

On to something more enjoyable, like math.


COMBAT TROOPS LEAVE IRAQ



On 18 August 2010 at 7:53 PM CT the 4th Stryker Brigade assigned to the 2nd Infantry of the US Army entered Kuwait. They are the last combat unit to leave Iraq. All combat troops have left Iraq after a 7-1/2 year war that cost 4,415 American service members lives, $3 trillion to the American economy, and impacted the lives of the citizens of Iraq.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

8: THE MORMON PROPOSITION




“Only a marriage between a man and a woman is valid and recognized in California.”- Proposition 8
Struck down as unconstitutional on August 4, 2010.

WELCOME TO TEXAS, MR. PRESIDENT



 




I'M BACK!

THE RETURN




-General Douglas MacArthur, 1944

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

ON SABBATICAL




Michael’s Rant will return after a sabbatical on August 18.

PERRY v. SCHWARZENEGGER RULING




I am temporarily breaking my sabbatical to comment about the Proposition 8 Ruling. I had this posting written up awaiting the announcement of this decision.
I made a promise to the LGBT Community that I would release a statement about this decision. That promise supersedes any sabbatical.
Upon conclusion of this posting, Michael’s Rant will return to its sabbatical. Barring any other major events (ex: World War III breaks out), I will have new postings up after August 16.


Monday, August 2, 2010

ON SABBATICAL


Michael's Rant will return after a sabbatical on August 16.

IT’S TIME







AFGHANISTAN


This is a difficult topic to comment about because I am a Veteran, and I know people that are still serving. I am proud that I wore the uniform of my country. I have a lot of respect for them because they are some of hardest working, take names, and biggest ass kickers that I know.
I do not want to convey the message that I am anti-troops. I am commenting about what has taken place and will offer my opinion about what should happen next.
However given the recent events of WikiLeaks (which some have compared to the biggest intelligence leak since The Pentagon Papers), the General Stanley McChrystal report in Rolling Stone, the opening story on NBC News last Thursday night, and the lack of entries about it in my blog, I feel like I cannot remain silent on this topic.

A REVIEW OF PRIMARY SEASON 2010



The 2010 Primary Season is winding down. We are now inside 100 days to Election Night in America 2010 (and for the gubernatorial race: Election Night in Texas 2010).

A REVIEW OF PRIMARY SEASON 2010 (CONCLUSION)





CONCLUSION
I am now well aware that there are still Primary Races still to be determined thanks to a vigilant reader. The last one will take place in Hawaii on September 18, 2010.
My focus in this series was to focus on some of the races taking place across the nation. A couple of big name stories and some that I find interesting.
So, what does this all mean so far?

A REVIEW OF PRIMARY SEASON (PART 4)





WILL TOM TANCREDO PLEASE GO AWAY?!
Even though this is not a national primary election, I feel I must comment on the Colorado’s gubernatorial race in part due to I know people that live in that state to provide my perspective on the race.