DU USG Elections

It’s time for University of Denver Undergraduate Student Government elections!  What a fun time.

I support Jim Francescon and Felipe Diaz for President & Vice President. Want to know why? Just ask.

Check out their platform: www.fordenver.org

More on this later…

Goldman Sachs/SEC/Congress

Just a quick note: I would prefer if Congress would focus on things other than spending days lambasting Goldman Sachs.  If they did something illegal, then hold them accountable.  Otherwise, fix the laws.  Goldman Sachs may have done something you don’t like, but that’s not illegal.  If they found ways around road blocks and they made money then good for them.  It may suck for the consumer, but then the government should fix the problems.  That would be productive and useful to the U.S. citizens the government is supposed to represent.

Apple Guide

The first computer I had was a Macintosh LC that we got from my aunt.  That was an exciting computer back then.  Apple has changed a lot.  I do not currently own any Apple products other than my iPod, although I am often told that it would be better if I did.

I am considering buying a new computer soon as my current computer is going to be four years old soon.  I’d love to get an Apple (if the rumors of better reliability and customer service are true) that could run Windows or my Windows-esque programs.  Unfortunately, the good Apple computers cost so much.

And I have yet to find a way to convince myself that the iPad could be useful to me.

If I did own more Apple products, the following would be useful (it is amusing either way):

Information Technology Strategy Class – Survey

So, I am working with a group on a project for my Information Technology Strategy Class on ink! Coffee.  If you have the urge, please take 30 seconds to fill out this survey.  Even if you have never heard of ink! Coffee, that is okay.  The more the better.  Thanks for your help!

Ben Folds: I Thought I Knew

Every once in a while I get a song stuck in my head.  One day this past week, I listened to three Ben Folds albums while working on my thesis.  The song “You Don’t Know Me” (featuring Regina Spektor) is now stuck in my head.  It has been for several days now.  Some say that listening to the song again will make it go away.  It did not.  I then looked the song up on Wikipedia and saw that it is supposed to have a cool music video.

I decided to look up the music video.  At first, I found this video on YouTube:

It’s pretty cool, but I found out it is not the official music video.  The official video was taken down to to copyright issues.  Of course.  Still, for an unofficial video, it has almost 800,000 views.   That’s impressive.

After a lot of searching (because the song is still in my head), I found the official video on Vimeo:

There are all kinds of metaphors and hidden meanings in this.  It’s kind of crazy – and much deeper than I had thought.

The Supreme Court

I try to stay up to date with current events.  As much as the news can be biased (even though most sources claim to be “objective”) and as much as the news can make me angry, it is important to understand the news to effectively interact with society.

Every time a Supreme Court Justice retires, the whole country seems to focus on the Supreme Court.  It seems as though interest in the U.S. Government can only exist when conflict is looming or ongoing.  Regardless of one’s political beliefs, any true believer in democracy and a system of checks and balances should support a President choosing a Supreme Court nominee based purely on qualifications, not based on the current congressional political situation.

Hopefully, our government can one day function as it should.  In the meantime, the public should educate ourselves on what the Supreme Court is doing.  The Wall Street Journal has put together a great page about Supreme Court cases this term.  While I do not necessarily always agree with the politics of the Wall Street Journal, they did a good job here.

Informed citizens are better citizens.  Even if we disagree, we can do so intelligently.

Quote #2

“It was one of those March April days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold:  when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.”

– Charles Dickens

I like the weather.  I am happy that it is finally getting warmer.  Unfortunately, my life outside of class and work involves the indoors – thesis, group meetings, homework, etc.

South Korean R&B

I was recently introduced to the song “Wedding Dress” by Taeyang, a South Korean R&B artist.  It’s fantastic.  Check it out.

Religion Cannot Be Used to Spew Hate

The Westboro Baptist Church is coming to Denver for three days.

These people spew hate and use religion to justify their utter contempt, non-understanding, and violent decrees for other people.  With a website called “God Hates Fags“, it is clear that they focus on propaganda and not religion or religious principles.

I support freedom of religion but not the freedom to call hatred religion, especially not any derivative of a major world religion, as the Westboro Baptist Church claims.  They say they are “old school Baptists”.  The Bible has always said to love your neighbor as yourself.  That has not changed.

The Westboro Baptists Church has published a picket schedule that includes where they will be on their visit to Denver and their reasoning.  It is full of hate and lies and is difficult to read at times.

Many Denver groups are planning counter-protest.  The Anti-Defamation League has published a guide for dealing with the Westboro Baptist Church and recommends not directly engaging them.  This hate group is looking for attention.

I do not know if I will counter-protest.  They may not be worth my time.

The Tel Aviv Cluster

The New York Times had a great article from January 2010 about Jewish success and Israeli success.  It describes the development of Israel’s economy in recent years and how the economy may develop inversely from Israeli politics.  The NY Times article shows how this success has benefited Israel, but has the potential to be a problem if Israel’s security situation deteriorates.  We can hope that such a scenario does not occur.

I have come across this article multiple times.  It is definitely worth checking out.