Farwell Blogs

Blogging. How to express my love hatred joy endearment excitement stress content-ness for thee? At times you were such the perfect remedy to a cruddy day, allowing me to escape into a world of my own, able to write my feelings and express my ideas without being judged. At others, you were the annoying little sibling and developed into the thorn in my side on Sunday nights trying to type all 1,200 words of you out. But what I have come to develop just recently actually, was the feeling of openness you allow me to express.

 From the beginning with my crazy idea of exploring every country to ranting about music to describing America's impractical beliefs; you have always stuck by me. Through thick and thin; from horrid posts about eating dogs, to padded underwear; from owning the sun to depicting a travel to Turkey's Hagia Sophia; from my Halloween poems to my coverage of the Japanese Earthquake and nuclear plant meltdowns. You've always provided me a place to allow my thoughts flow freely, regardless of your annoying due date every Monday and requirement of 3 posts per week.

Admittedly, yes, you were a pain. But a good one, and beneficial in many, many ways. I want to take this opportunity to say my goodbyes, and thank you for all that you have done for me this past year: forcing me to research the rain forests of Brazil and consequently learning facts about endangered species there; looking up the random new stories of the day which helped me to look into online newspapers and become a frequent reader; or just making me stay up late on a Sunday night drilling me on writing my best under pressure and a time constraint. You've helped me organize my schedule and manage my time in order to get you done, which will definitely help me in the future.

 Plus, you've helped me see how great of writers I can proudly call my peers. Reading everyone else's blogs has been an extremely entertaining experience, and one that will be greatly missed this summer.

So again, blogs, thank you for all the good harm lack-of-sleep inspiration  great times you have provided for me. I think I can speak for all of us in Mr. Ayers's class when I say, SO LONG SUCKAH!! And hope to never maybe see you soon.

Love, for the final time,
Ninja surfer

Dear America 2: It's not me, It's you (-_-)

Summary of this post:

Dear America,

YOU. MAKE. ME. SICK.

Yours truly,

Iman Kashmola

Actual post:

Dear America,

I've been thinking lately, and you know, I just think that things aren't working out between us. And it's not me, it's you. I mean, you're a great country; $5.00 a gallon for gas, $14+ trillion dollar deficit and counting, near-government shutdowns, finical and credit crisis sweeping the nation, involvement in 3 different un-winnable wars; but you've gone too far this time. Why can't you just accept that your president is a legally-born citizen? Why do you have to prod over every detail of his legitimacy? Why is this a problem now? I think we should just take a break, see new people. Really it's not me, it's you. 

Undeniably, the elephant in the room is going to have to be addressed in this post at some point so might as well get it out of the way....RACE. There. I said it. Go ahead and start freaking out that I brought the president's ethnicity out onto the playing field. Go and call me racist, get it out of your system. Go on. I'm waiting... Done? Good? Okay. Now. A big part of this issue is indeed race, and I hope that many Americans do understand that they wouldn't be scouring the president's birth records to test their legitimacy if he were Caucasian. Come on now, America, let's be real. John McPain (no pun intended) was born in Panama on an American military base that is no longer in service anymore. President Obama was born in a state. Which seems more legitimate to you? If you answered McPain, then yes, according to America, you are right. Why would you be right? Because he's white. And there ain't no denyin' that Americans are alllllways right.

So disregarding race here for a moment, please, PLEASE answer me this: why is this coming up now? How come, America, this wasn't an issue for you 3 years ago when Obama was running for president? Why is it all of a sudden vital to double-check the legitimacy of our president? AFTER 3 WHOLE YEARS IN OFFICE........(I am extremely tempted to insert one of those annoyed looking Japanese emoticons; but I've vowed not to give in. We'll see how long this will power lasts..). Plus, wouldn't you think that, gosh I don't know, maybe federal government agencies have run, perhaps if they were feelin' spunky, extensive background checks on any person entering United States politics? Or on any person being put into a place of power? THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT STUPID, AMERICA. Granted it can be dysfunctional, BUT IT IS NOT STUPID.

Of course there would be verification done on Obama's birth. Of course there would be extensive research about his family's history; maybe a little more research..for precaution...cuz ya know, he's black and all. Of course they wouldn't let Obama become president if he was not a citizen of the United States. COME OOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN AMERICA (ex. Trump, McPain, Palin *shudder shudder*, etc.). There are more important issues on hand! Wait, THIS SHOULDN'T EVEN BE AN ISSUE! America, you have forced me to give in -->  (-_-)

We just killed Osama Bin Laden! International officials and governators states have been involved in sex scandals! There are still Middle Eastern uprisings! There is major flooding in the southeast United States! Israeli Palestinian conflicts have emerged once more! Gas prices are up, up, up! China has just given fighter jets to Pakistan! Japan is still in ruins! There are massive tornadoes in the southern part of United States!The deterioration of the earth has just begun! The end is near! WE ARE ALL STRESSING THIS LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL TO STUDY FOR FINALS AND GET OUR BAJILLION PROJECTS TURNED IN AND DONE! There are much greater issues at hand America! QUIT. WORRYING. ABOUT. A. LIE.

What next thing you know, we'll be questioning Obama's SAT entrance scores to Harvard..

So America: it's not me, it's you. I need a break from 'us', time to see other people. I hope you understand. We can still be close friends. Just, first fix your problems, and call me in +20 years. I'll be...not here, if you need me.
All my love (not really),
Iman Kashmola

Doggone Menu

As I was browsing through CNN's website in search of something to blog about this week, the headline "Saving Dogs from Chinese Menu" caught my eye as i began to chew and swallow the Chinese meal that I was eating. A sense of guilt seemed to find it's way down my esophagus as well; even though I was not consuming dog (or at least I hope not) I did begin to remember the major cultural differences shared between the United States and Asia. I believe my father did eat dog at one point during a business trip to Korea... But regardless, the article about the puppies grasped my attention better than all the bloodshed and political wars that have been going on in the world so, I read on.

According to Erica Ho of CNN online, last Friday afternoon saw a standoff between animal rights activists and a determined truck driver in China's capital city, Beijing. While driving by the truck loaded with +100 dogs inside, a nearby driver pulled out in front of the truck to stop it and eventually held it there while he contacted local animal rights associations to come and remove all the eager cargo to safety. By buying the animals for almost $18,000, over 500 dogs were saved from being on the dinner menu.

It was also observed that most dogs were collared with name tags, sadly indicating that many could have been and or were abducted from their rightful owners, stowed away to become tomorrow's lunch special. Especially in season now, dog meat is said to "promote bodily warmth" in colder seasons and to be extremely healthy. Crocodile meat is extremely healthy too but you don't see truck loads of them being shipped around China now do ya?

Anywho, Local news reported that the truck transporters wouldn't be facing any charges because they were licenced and and legally permitted with all the right paper work. In addition to there being little to no Animal rights protection laws in China, I guess it'd be safe to say "don't shoot the messenger."

Alien President

Dear America,

Politics. They get gritty and grimy all the time. But to question the President's legitimacy? Come on America, there are others issues at bay! We are still in Iraq, loosing grip on Afghanistan, 6 weeks into the Libyan intervention, dealing with an exponentially growing deficit, dealing with a potential political shut down, a failing housing and credit crisis, and you guys in Washington have to concern yourselves with OBAMA'S LEGITIMACY? Goodness gracious people! He has been holding this country together since the last (failed) presidency, and granted sure some of his policies weren't the most effective, but at least he is getting things done in Washington while the opposing Republicans are constantly bickering over every minute detail that comes out of Obama's mouth!

 Please, please, please. Stop. Just stop. Both sides. Both of you. Just stop and sit down. Sit and talk like men and COMPROMISE. Please. I will move out of the country within the next 5 years if this constant battle keeps reoccurring. Understandably, there are two political parties for a reason, people disagree on different terms. However, to maintain a functioning and workable and effective government, it's gonna take some more morale in your systems to step up your game. DROP THE SUBJECT. Regardless if he is a U.S. Citizen or not, his term is almost over! And who in their right MIND would not do a background check on a person who is about to become president?

Let us take a moment to close our eyes, and relax. Breathe. Take a moment, and go to your happy place. Oh wait, you can't because the republicans have taxed you out the wazoo so going to your happy place won't be possible. So, thank you.

Now, back to Obama's birth. Please look below and study the document. Now, look back to me, in the eyes, and tell me, STRAIGHT to my face, that this is NOT legitimate. Just because he has a Middle Eastern name and has a Kenyan-born father doesn't mean that he is not a U.S. citizen. So please, if you are reading this now America, please. Just stop and think and think some more about your choices and ideals. Please.

Wedding of the Millenimum

Kate and Will. Prince William and Kate Middleton. William and Katherine. Kate and William. The Prince and his Princess. Such a fairytale story! But does it need to be this publicized? For real, there are a billion blogs out there about the wedding, a million more about her dress, 500,000 about the guest list, over 6 trillion about how they first met, and 1 about how overplayed it all is. Wanna know who's blog that is? Mine.

Now before you read on, you should know that I am a MAJOR royality/ monarchy/ European/ Ruling family, fan. MAJOR fan. I love all the history and drama behind each marriage and how it effects historical events. I know, history nerd alert. So when I heard that Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton, I was estatic! My friends and I would e-mail each other different links and sites dealing with the upcomming wedding; daydreaming about replacing Kate and marrying William all for ourselves.

But more recently, I've been comming across less and less about the genuine wedding and event and more about the commercial aspect of the big day on April 29. Souviner plates? Mugs with Kate and William on them? Stamps? Already?? Let's wait until AFTER she becomes a princess to dolly up all of London's currecny with her face! Understandably, the past few months have been undoubtably remarkable for the marketing buisness in Britain, but do we all really need to own a t-shirt with Kate and William on it?

Can't we just celebrate the love between two people? Regardless of social standings? I also do recognize that since the wedding of William's father to Diana, his wedding to Kate will be the next biggest thing. Just, lay off the tacky key-chains, kay?

Hosni Mubarak Hospitalized

 

It seems as though the egyptian uprisings have been too much for former president Hosni Mubarak. CNN online reports that Mubarak was recently hospitalized at harm el-Sheikh International Hospital in Egypt after suffering a heart attack during a news report earlier this week.

Supposedly after being questioned about corruption charges by journalists, Mubarak started to feel unwell and as the world saw, suffer a minor heart flub.

"Egypt's health minister, Ashraf Hatem, later said that Mubarak's condition was stable enough to allow prosecutors to resume questioning at the hospital, according to the state-owned Al Ahram newspaper," as stated on CNN online.

In defense of himself and his family, Mubarak was noted to have denied all accusations and attacks on his personal life, attempting to keep all questions and threats strictly political-based. Go so far as to allow investagators into his homes and federal documents in order to scan for corruption, Mubarak has tried to prove his innocence in more ways than one to the rest of the world.

It makes you wonder, Mubarak was obviously doing something wrong, otherwise there would have been no uprising January 25. However did he do anything directly  wrong? In no way am I supporting the three decade rule of Mubarak and his policies, but could he have helped how his country was run? Well, yes, because he is the President, but the same goes with President Obama now in America. It wasn't HIS fault we were involved in Iraq. Or HIS fault we were stuck in a massive economic slump. Or HIS fault that the BP Oil Spill happened. Or HIS fault that republicans and democrats cant get along... See where I'm going with this? Perhaps 30 years of that was too much for the Egyptians (or anyone else for that matter), but come on people, let the guy at least take a breather from his recent health scare.

Musically Diverted

So to take a break from the current actrocties of the world, other things have been on my mind: State Solo contest. Each year, all the musicians from all over the state meet in Cedar Rapids to perform for judges and to have their performaces rated. Each person can perform a solo, in a duet, trio, quartet, vocal or chamber group, select strings, brass emsemble, etc. Nearly any form of music is acceptable performace material, and is welcomed by all the judges.

This year I am in 3 events: a quartet, our school's chamber group, and my solo. I am writing this right after my solo (which I got a 1 on! But more on the scoring system later) which went pretty well and am about to be off to perform with my chamber group.

It becomes nervewracking not before you perform or when you warm up, but when you walk into the room and are followed by 8 of your friends and your parents as they all settle into the desks and chairs and wait for the judge to get situated. THAT'S when you start to feel butterflies, during the awkward moments before you begin playing. The minute after you introduce yourself and look to your piano accompaniast to begin, you feel nothing. You feel like time has stopped and nothing is around you or inside of you. But the moment you take that 1st breath to start your song, you get a sense of warmth and feeling that progressivly builds and encompasses your mind as you read the notes on the page.

Then you just play and pray that you sound decently okay.

After your performace, the awkward moment strikes again as you finish your last note, with your bow in the air, and everyone looking at you, while trying not to burst out laughing at how bad you just thought you did. But in reality, you proabably just did so much better than you thought. That is always the case with contest.

Regardless, you find out your scores later in the day. The scoring system is on a 5 point scale, with 5 being the worst and a 1+ being the best (and only attainable through playing a solo; the highest you can get for an ensemble is a 1). And it was weird, a friend of mine last night brought up the point that the AP exams are graded in the exact opposite manner which I found interesting. I remember I was thinking about what he had said before I began my first note during the begining awkward moments of my solo an hour ago. I remember thinking it was funny how two different competitive situations could grade so oppositly.

After that random thought, I began to play and all went well.

Fukushima Daiichi Spewing Radioactive Water 1,000,000 Times over Limit

"Another attempt by Japanese officials to stop the leaking of highly radioactive water from a nuclear reactor into the ocean failed Tuesday, the country's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said," Courtstey of CNN World reports on Tuesday.

Awesome.

 A liquid, sillica-based filler was injected into the damaged plant early Tuedsay morning in hopes of sealing the radioactive leake before things got too out of hand at the nucelar plant. This wasn't the case. The "No. 2 reactor -- one of six at the crisis-plagued plant -- had radiation 7.5 million times the legal limits," stated an official with the Tokyo Electric Power Company who owns the plant. In the words of Ray William Johnson, "GEEZUS!"

"To put this in perspective, the Pacific Ocean holds about 300 trillion swimming pools full of water, and they are going to release about five swimming pools full," said the chair of the radiation safety committee at Georgetown University Medical Center,Timothy Jorgensen. "So hopefully the churning of the ocean and the currents will quickly disperse this so that it gets to very dilute concentrations relatively quickly."

Hopefully. HOPEFULLY. HOPEFULLY?? not good enough kid.

With the delicate balance of the ocean's ecosystems in line, I'm not too sure if the owners of the Fukushima plant were well aware of the actrocitiets that nuclear radiation could have on the deliacte ecosystem balance of the Pacific ocean. With the harmful effects of radiation evident among humans, wouldn't there be a same effect on the ocean life; more even, since the radiation is directly in the waters they live?

It seems that humans will not be the only organisms that will feel the effects of Japan's earthquake for many many years to come.

Okay, let's use our heads here Libya...

NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO.....NO. For real? You've got to be kidding me right now. Please tell me April Fool's day in Libya is on April 4th. Please. Gadhafi's SON will be (rumored to) take power from his father? .....NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO.

Not the point of Libya's massive state of rebellion. Not the point of loosing countless civilian lives in this bloody political battle. Not the point of responding to rebel requests for deeming Lybia a no fly zone. Not the point of American and NATO ally bombings on Gadhafi's forces. Not the point of stimulating economic fears felt here and around the world.

Come on guys. Let's think here.

Understandably, it makes sense to tell the people that "yes! we ARE listening to your wants! we are taking Gadhafi out!"

'Cept no, you really aren't.

Like any father-son bond between a leader and his heir, support for the "throne" and ruling standards are a common feat; which seems to be the case of 38 year old Saif al-Islam Gadhafi and his public support of his father's hold on power ever since the Libyan rebellion has taken forth. By just switching out one family member for another, isn't really going to be doing much good, no matter the claims you make.

However, government officials claim that the change in power from Gadhafi to his son would be a "...take over from his father and help to usher in swift reform" in order "...to avoid instability, the transition must be a gradual handover of power.'"

Well dam* right it had better be.

The source given to CNN online also stressed the a need to negotiate a "respectful solution" so that the elder Gadhafi is not seen as being forced out should be planned.

yeeeeah. The minute Gadhafi started attacking his own people, all credibility and respect went down the drain. So....a "respectful" and/or a "not-forced-out-of-power" deal, in my opinion, would not go down too well with the enraged Libyan rebels; let alone the world.

Commuter Jet Flies into Massive Flock of Birds

 This Picture says it all.

Blood stained sides? No wait, blood SPLATTERED sides? Ouch. The Atlantic South East Airlines had to deviate from their oirginal flight path after runing into a head-on collision with a flock of cranes abou the skies in Arkansas yesterday. With 49 passanges on board, it seemed safe to assume that no amount of crane blood would stop the piolit from making sure he landed the plane safely at an emergency landing sight at the Little Rock National Airport last friday. SIGNIFICANT damage to the nose of the plane is evidnet; a sign of the poweres of physics. A hole was reported as well as parts of dead cranes still lodged inbeween the crushed metal edges of the collasped nose.

No humans were harmed in the duration of this flight. But cranes were.

30 Foot Tsunami Wall Failed to Protect Village

Okay people, If a 30 foot wall can't protect you from a tsunami, I don't know what can (well I do, but not the point of this post).

The small fishing village of Ryoishi, Japan was relying on the 9.3 meter wall encircling their village to protect them against the massive tsunami a few weeks back. They were relying on it with their lives; literally. Also noted, the same village was wiped 90% out by a tsunami over 100 years ago. Ohhhh the irony.

As local residents try to pick up the washed up remains of their past lives, many find nothing more than a few fishing supplies that were once used in their booming and bustling businesses. A clock found belonging to a local fisherman of Ryoishi is discovered; stopped at the final time of the massive wave of water that overcame the wall and drowned the small fishing village.

Now onto the nitty-gritty. Why in the name of all that is good would building a massive encircled wall be a good idea? Let's discuss the benefits of that. oh yeah, none. Well yes, it adds moral security to the minds of the residents on the other side of the wall, but come on let's be real here.  A 30-ish foot high wall will protect you from a tsunami that has been formed by a 9.0 earthquake mere miles from your village? Japanese government! Hello!

But in reality, I do understand why people were so devastated at the failure of the "water wall" and how much of a life saver they were relying on it to be. My condolences still each out the the millions affected directly, and the thousands more world-wide. 

Iraq in the News?

Wait, I though we were done. Weren't we out? I was hoping I wouldn't hear this again.

"Six Iraqi security forces were killed and eight others were wounded in two separate attacks on police and army on Saturday morning, police and health officials tell CNN. Four Iraqi soldiers and a police officer were killed and four soldiers and a police officer were wounded.

In Baghdad, an Iraqi soldier was killed and four people, including three soldiers, were wounded when a roadside bomb exploded near an army patrol."

This was definitely something i had heard before. Something familiar; an unwelcome friend.

After 9 years of hearing the same thing nearly everyday, the anxiousness of the situation dies down, but the concern continues to grow.

 "...Car bomb in Iraq today..." "14 civilians were killed, others wounded in Iraq this past weekend..." "...a suicide bomber killed 6 police men and wounded many others in a Mosque bombing today..." "two American soldiers were wounded today after a roadside bomb killed 8 others..."

You just fall into a numb lull when you hear the same words being tossed around day after day about the war. About death.

The first few news reports of the imminent effects of assassination, roadside bombing, and suicide bomber attacks in Iraq were very un-nerving. Feelings of disgust, hatred, and disbelief were common to experience. 

After the years continued to pass, the same effects of assassination, roadside bombing, and suicide bomber attacks in Iraq stirred up different emotions; a lack of emotions.

Hearing Brian Williams report a new car bomb or gun fight against innocent Iraqi civilians and American troops is unsettling. Hearing Brian Williams report a new car bomb or gun fight against innocent Iraqi civilians and American troops everyday, is exhausting. By no means am I requesting that the news of our Soldiers dying for what we believe in is a wrong thing, it is a right of the people to know what is going on to their fellow Americans on the battlefields.

However the idea of hearing troop, police, and civilian death everyday during the course of a 9 year war begins to get progressively old.

Are we doing anything to prevent this? Why is this still happening after we declare we are leaving the country, and putting it in the hands of the people? Isn't this what they wanted all along? Why am I even writing this? Really, the news about our war in the country has dwindled down so much, I would not be surprised if some Americans forgot we were even there. But to hear another attack in Iraq? A recollection of a lack of emotion plagues me as I brush this occurrence off as a tragic, yet daily, endeavor.