Ironically Miss CA’s best answer would have been “World Peace”

Miss California - Carrie Prejean

So by now everyone has heard about the Perez Hilton/Carrie Prejean scandal.  There are three issues at work here.

1. Asking the question.
2. The answer.
3. The response to the answer.

Firstly, asking this question.  Let’s say Perez Hilton asked this “what are your personal beliefs on abortion?”  I think we would all agree that question is in appropriate.  Simularly, asking if same sex marriage should be legalized in all 50 states is also a very polorizing, highly opinion based question.  If I was Miss CA, I would have smiled, waived, and said “world peace.”

Second, the answer was actually pretty good.  She said she loves that we live in a land where people can choose.  Ok, I guess people can sort of choose because they could move to one of the states that allow same sex marriage… I do agree that same sex couples really don’t have much of a right to choose right now.  I personally think that’s a shame as we live in a country that really is supposed to be free.  Please see my previous posts on same sex marriage. So granted, that part of the answer was not spot on since the freedom for same sex couples is pretty limited right now.  None the less, she at least aknowledged that there are some options.

Then, since it was an opinion question, she gave her opinion: that marriage in her opinion was between a

Some guy... blogger I think.

man and a woman.  She did even say “I don’t want to offend anyone out there.”  She did not say anything negative about homosexual people, for all we know she has many homosexual friends.  She just commented on her personal opinion regarding marriage (which is the same opinion of Barack Obama, by the way) as she was requested to do.  I don’t see any fault there.

Thirdly the response.  This is where everyone finally is beginning to see what I have been saying for years.  Perez Hilton is nuts, crude, rude, and worse for society than MTV (and that’s saying a lot).  KEEP IN MIND, MY OPINION OF PEREZ HILTON HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HIS SEXUAL ORIENTATION.  If he was straight, or asexual I would think exactly the same of him.  He’s a blog version of the worst types of tabloid magazine.  I think his site is a plague on culture in the same way celebrity magazines are, and in the same way MTV is.  His actions are not shocking to me at all, unfortunately.

I say this – for every minute that people want to spend reading tabloid blogs or magazines, remember the people who are dying of thirst in other countries and spend some time thinking about them, perhaps donating some money.  I’m telling you, these celebrities are a terrible distraction from very significant things that are happening in the world.  Real people need our help.

-dm

Equality is not hard, just provide freedom!

I’m sort of surprised the same sex marriage conversations are not evolving more quickly.  The long and short of it (to me) is this:

1. We still (sort of) live in a free country.  Government should not be denying anyone rights; we all agree on that.
2. Marriage is a sticky word – lots of religious folks want to protect it’s definition.

To me, the solution is so obvious I’m surprised we’re still talking about it.  I would love for someone to give me some real reasons with my solution explained in detail here (link) does not work for both sides.

In summary, here’s the solution: Privitise Marriage.  Get the government out of the conversation all together (State and Federal).  This would restore freedom to marriage.  This can be done a number of ways; here are two suggestions.

• Re-write the current government marriage documents and exclude the word marriage.  Write them so that they can be used in any combination.
• Remove the current marriage documents and don’t replace them with anything – get the government away from marriage.  We really should not need the government’s permission to get married.  I understand marriage is related to property but there are other, smarter ways around that.

IT WOULD WORK, RIGHT?

For the folks in favor of same sex marriage:

• Equality is achieved.
• Federal and State documents ether don’t exist, or are identical regardless if the union is same sex, or opposite sex.  The word “marriage” does not exist in government documents.
• Religious organizations have the freedom (regardless of what state they are in) to perform same sex marriages, or not perform same sex marriages thus respecting their religious freedom.
• Same sex couples can choose to get married at the places that choose to perform the ceremony.  It can be called anything in the world.  Party, marriage, celebration, union, lemon, whatever.

For the folks who do not support same sex marriage:

• Marriage is protected, and can be defined by your specific religious organization.
• Marriage is no longer a government word, and it’s name or definition will not be changed by the government.
• Religious organizations exist that do not allow same sex marriages which are an option for membership.

BUT WHAT WOULD SCHOOLS TEACH?

Because marraige would no longer be a federal or state issue, marriage would not come up in the classroom at all.  The only thing they could really teach would be the legal documents that replace the old marriage documents (if they even need to exist) but I don’t think schools would waste valuable time teaching that.  What would they teach… where to fill in the names?  As there is no lesson on W-10’s or other government forms I’m sure the new union documents would be left out of the classroom.

OK folks, so let me have it.  How does this not resolve the issue…?

-dm

Government Programs V.S. Private Charity – what works better? (part 1)

I’m working on a blog that compares the success of government programs as compared to private charities.  I do frequently compliment the left about having their heart in the right place as far as helping the poor and disadvantaged.  However, I believe there are plenty of folks on the right that are just as compassionate – perhaps more compassionate than the folks on the left.  I emailed a friend of mine and he said something very insightful that I wanted to share.

I’m not aware of any charts like you are looking for – but I will say that that is kind of the point. The government is more likely to see it as a top-down stats driven mission because they are primarily concerned with numbers. Private charity organizations, on the other hand, care less about the numbers and more about actually helping people. So their results will tend to be less quantifiable (in my opinion).

What it comes down to is you simply cannot do charity work at the point of a gun, it’s an oxymoron. Charity means love, not force.

–Brandon

I feel this way: paying taxes is not helping the poor – at least not directly.  Before that money makes it to the poor, it first has to pass through the hands of greedy politicians and I’m sure in many cases their special interest groups.  By the time it actually gets to the poor (if it ever actually does) who knows how much is left.

Would it not make more sense to simply give money directly to the poor?  Could we create incentive for private giving with more tax breaks for charitable donations?  Would the poor not get more direct help that way?  Think beyond money – would the poor and disadvantaged not be better helped if YOU actually went down and got YOUR hands dirty?

This blog was inspired because I had a public verses private sector debate with a close friend of mine.  His goal seemed to be to make me feel as though I was selfish.  I donate on a regular basis, and am part of a non-profit organization.  I’m on mailing lists for a few others.  Some friends and I are currently raising money for a water well to be built in Africa for a village whose inhabitants do not have the basics of life – clean drinking water.  I am beginning to be annoyed by folks on the other side of the isle who don’t really participate in charity at all but feel that paying taxes excuses them from that social responsibility.

Paying taxes is not charity – let’s face it.  If hearts on the left really bleed for the poor, they should stop lining the pockets of the politicians and begin their charitable work themselves.

As I’m still researching this topic, if anyone has any statistics on this topic or articles/books I should read, please post them below.  As always, I am interested in hearing from both sides.  Thanks!

-dm

Health Care – Who do you want in charge of your health… yourself… or some politicians you never met?

I came across a blog that was about a topic of endless controversy: American Health Care.  The long and short of it seems to be this:

1. Folks who want socialized health care want equal health care options for everyone (struggle for a Utopian society).
2. Folks who want privatized health care want the best health system possible for as many people as possible (short wait times, freedom to see whomever you want, etc).

To me, this boils down to the classic Churchill quote – “Show me a young Conservative and I’ll show you someone with no heart. Show me an old Liberal and I’ll show you someone with no brains.”  A Utopia (like perfection) is impossible.  People who want socialized medicine do have their heart in the right place but unfortunately their brains are not.

For me, the bottom line is this:  Only about 13% of Americans are without health care – TOPS.  Within that 13% there are people who CHOOSE not to have it, but could if they wanted to.  A friend of mine for example does not justify the $160 a month for health care, but does justify about that amount of money for their iPhone…

That means that 87% have health care.  Folks on the left think that socialized medicine is better because it will serve ‘everyone.’  They do however admit that it will be a step down from what the private sector is currently able to provide (wait times, treatments, types of medicine, etc).

In other words, the left is willing to (at least partially) destroy health care for 87% of Americans to attempt to get it for 13% of Americans – some of whom have decided not to have it in the first place (remember my old roommate).

Let’s cut it up a different way.  According to an article written by Steve Bierfeldt, after you subtract illegal aliens and people who could afford health care if they made responsible life choices, the amount of people who can’t get health care is down to 2.6%.  That means the left would want to destroy a health care system that works for 97.4% of legal Americans to try and help a 2.6% who don’t have it.

This argument boils down to responsibility.  It is irresponsible for a government to destry what works for the overwhelming majority of Americans.  The obvious answer is to find a way to help the 2.6%-13% of unisured citizens find private health care so that they can enjoy the benefits that 97.4%-87% who do have organized, working, and in fact luxurious health care.

The current proposals for reform are cloaked as big changes, but as it turns out, they are actually more of the same. They can be summed up in this way: turn more control over to the government and insurance companies while politicians and special interests jockey for credit and work behind the scenes to benefit — at the expense of individual Americans. – David McKalip, M.D.

In closing, let me put it like this.  Think of the Post Office… then FedEx Kinkos or UPS.  Now think of the DMV… then AAA.  Do you really want your health care run like the DMV or the Post office?  No thank you.

-David May
(for more information, please read this: http://www.campaignforliberty.com/article.php?view=33 and this: http://www.campaignforliberty.com/article.php?view=45)

2008 DM-Blog recap

Here’s a recap of this blog in 2008.

1. Liking “There Will Be Blood” was like the fable “The Emperor’s New Suit.”
2. The phrase “Separation of Church and State” is not in the U.S. constitution.
3. I look like Donny Osmond
4. Christopher Nolan’s Joker is the greatest villain in Cinema History
5. Marriage should be (in essence) privatized.  The government (heterosexual or homosexual) will destroy marriage.  The definition of Marriage should not be determined by our government, but by individuals and religious organizations (more to come on this in 2009).
6. Celebrities do not deserve our love or money (more to come on this in 2009).
7. Lack of clean drinking water kills more people than anything else worldwide.

Keep an eye on this blog, and on these other blogs in 2009.

• www.davidmay.name
• http://debrainwashing.wordpress.com/
• http://admissioncounselors.wordpress.com/
• http://simplesacrifice.wordpress.com/

De-brainwashing: Cleansing the minds of the brainwashed.

De-brainwashing will examine the brainwashing of the powerful over the minds of the citizens and offer prospectives and solutions to reclaim our freedom of thought.

I for one am tired of the hand of the powerful holding down the common man/woman.  The older I get the more I realize how being exposed to 5,000 ads a day is affecting all of us.  We’ve been brainwashed to give our hard earned money to people who already have way too much money.  It’s time the average citizens take their Country back from the rich – and I don’t want the government’s help.

For more information, click here.
-dm

Where is all of our money?

It is true – the rich are getting rich and the poor are falling into greater poverty. This, however, is no fault of the government. Guess who is to blame.

Us.

That’s right, you and me. After all, who goes to see expensive concerts? Who continues to pay overpriced movie tickets? Who pays an arm and a leg for season tickets to athletic events? It’s not the government, it’s the consumers.

There is also a terrible misconception in this country that it’s always the government’s responsibility to fix our problems. I challenge that thinking – keep in mind the government is responsible for most of our problems. This topic however will be reserved for a future rant.

In a small survey I did with some close friends, here’s how our money usage is spent.

• A little less than a third spent in taxes
• A little more than a third spent in bills including shelter
• A little less than a third spent in “entertainment” and food.

Ok, so let’s take a closer look at the “entertainment” section. For most Americans that means
movies, compact disks of some kind (DVD/CD), concerts, comedians, restaurants, etc.

If I go and see a mainstream artist in concert (depending on my income and the quality of the seat I paid for) I just gave this already ridiculously rich person MORE of my hard earned cash. In my specific example, a good seat at a mainstream concert probably cost me %10-%15 of my disposable income (the money left over after bills/taxes/etc). Sure, I might like the artist, but do I REALLY need to give them that much of my money?

The answer is no. Anyone who complains that we don’t tax the rich enough but goes supports these rich people with their personal funds are hypocrites. How ridiculous is it to say “Ok, I’ll give you my hard earned money” and then come tax season say “Hey, give that back to us!”

Music is a classic example – see my previous blog by clicking here.  I talk about MIDI files and how mainstream musicians do not deserve our love or money.  Music is an industry where one attractive person has a good to wonderful singing voice… that’s it.  They have entire staffs of people to write their lyrics, write their songs, and technology to make these processes flawless.  The technology utilized in concerts is dishonest and contrived.  The end result is this: Consumers think they are supporting an artist.  The fact is that every dollar spent in that artist’s name is a waste.  The artist (who is already rich) didn’t do nearly the amount of work that you did for that money.  Remember how hard you worked for that $75 concert ticket?  Say the concert had 3,000 attendees.  That artist just raised $225000 and did little to no work whatsoever.  Come on folks – our money is worth more than that.  I’d rather not have to remind people about impoverished people in our country and other parts of the world; I’ll save that for another post.

The bottom line here is this:  If you feel like athletes are overpaid and more money should be spent on cancer research, then don’t go to sporting events and donate more money for cancer research.  If you think the money in the pockets of the Hollywood types would be better spent in the pockets of those in poverty, don’t go to Hollywood films.

I understand as well as anyone else the value of entertainment.  We’ve all been brainwashed into thinking we can only get entertainment from big companies.  THAT IS COMPLETELY RIDICULOUS.  You like sports?  How about PLAYING them with your family or friends?  You like movies?  Hit up the independent movie theater or local film festival.  Remember Memento? Pans Labyrinth? These were at one point film festival movies that were so successful they were mass produced.  Independent films are great – do not believe the stereotype fed to you by the big studios leading you to believe that anything that does not come from them is crap.  Remember Speed Racer?  Pearl Harbor?  Superman Returns?  Valentine?  These were studio pictures and they were TERRIBLE!  How about music – do you really need to go to a concert and hear music (that is probably pre-recorded) when you already have the Mp3 files and/or the radio?  How about the local coffee shop that features talented folks in your community – don’t they need your support more than the mega-artists?  The answer is obviously YES!  Again, it is propaganda that only the big guns are talented.  At least the local kid who is getting NO CORPORATE HELP probably wrote his or her own songs for goodness sake.  We should definitely be supporting them and I’m telling you the music is just as good.  I’ve been to local coffee shops and small venues and I know it can be just as good.

In conclusion, think about this.  If you think the rich in America are too rich, you’ve got to stop supporting them.  WE are the reason they are getting richer and richer.  No matter poor we get – even if we can barley support ourselves, we STILL give these ultra rich people MORE of our money.  We’ve got to wake up.

The only thing more terrifying than being exposed to 5,000 ads a day (which we are) is realizing that IT IS WORKING.

Just think about it.

Film Studies – Career of the Future?

As the entire world moves more and more toward moving images, is a career in film studies the way of the future?  The internet is taking over for newspapers and magazines, and advertisements on hand held/mobile devices are certainty right around the corner.  The visual language seems to be the voice of the future – what say you?

http://www.uncwil.edu/stuaff/career/Majors/filmstudies.htm

-David May

Everything I need to know I learned from America’s Funniest Home Videos.

Let’s face it… America’s Funniest Home Videos it the best show on TV. Everyone seems to be going to youtube for their short clips of funny things happening when they could just watch AFV. Naturally, the hosts are not that great but the new guy… Tom… he’s pretty good. Besides, if you have DVR you can fast forward through the host anyway.

AFV is not just good for entertainment – it’s practically virtual life experience. As they say, anyone can learn from their own mistakes, but truly wise people learn from the mistakes of others. Here are a few things I’ve learned.

TEN AFV LESSONS:

1. If a squirrel gets into your house and you try to catch it (or chase it out) your house will end up in shambles. It seems that the best thing to do is learn how to co-exist with the squirrel. This is particularly difficult to explain to your pets.
2. If you have a baby, and you are laying on your back, don’t hold the baby above your face. It will definitely puke in your mouth.
3. Geese know exactly where your nuts are, and they will attack you there upon purpose.
4. If you are going to have children, keep paint and chocolate far out of reach.
5. Cats are the weirdest of God’s creations. Yes, I know about the duck billed platypus. I stand by it; cats are completely insane. If they are not chasing bags that are attached to their feet, squeezing under doors, or darting at full speed into walls, they are making strange noises that sound like a human drowning or performing seemingly impossible acrobatic tricks. If that is not enough to convince you, ponder this: I have seen a cat chase a bear away (on AFV). Think about it. They’re probably aliens.
6. Kangaroos are not cute, and the danger they can cause to people is almost always severely under estimated.
7. Elephants are not afraid of mice in real life… women truly are.
8. If you film your wife drooling and then wake her up, she will probably divorce you. If your wife is filming you drool and you wake up and are anything but happy about it, she will probably divorce you.
9. When you buy a new car MAKE SURE you know how to park it so that it won’t roll down your driveway and into a lake, someone’s house, or oncoming traffic. It’s called an emergency break people… just like your old car.
10. Dogs are worth every penny. They will probably break something at some point but they’re worth it because they’re just so happy all the time!

TEN THINGS NEVER TO BUY UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES:

1. Pinatas - one way or another, you will get hit in the crotch or face. The same warning applies with T-Ball sets for your children.
2. Trampolines – Make a list of “ways to have fun on the trampoline” then make a list of “ways to get hurt on a trampoline.” If the “ways to get hurt” list is longer than the “ways to have fun” list (it will be), don’t buy the trampoline. In fact, trampolines aside, this is a pretty good test for almost anything.
3. Tickets to a drive-through safari – It’s just not worth it – monkeys will probably rip your windshield wipers off. If you MUST do go to one of these safaris, please don’t roll your windows down. If you MUST roll your windows down, please don’t encourage giraffes or elephants or any other animals to eat right off of your hands. They are wild animals folks – I have never seen more drool – not even in the movies.
4. ATVs or Snowmobiles – Enough said.
5. Those big Styrofoam airplanes – actually, you can buy those if you want but DEFINITELY film the results, post the video on-line somewhere, and let me know where to find it. I can always watch more people getting smacked with those things.
6. Those little airplanes with a string attached that fly around the operator in circles – those videos are almost not funny – I think I almost watched someone die of strangulation on National TV.
7. Gymnastics lessons – and give Karate some very careful thought. Don’t just sign up on a whim.
8. Macintosh Products – this has nothing to do with AFV but… don’t believe their marketing lies, people. They did not invent the smart phone. Macs crash too! Honest – I had one!
9. Baby Alligators – just trust me on this one.
10. Above Ground Swimming Pools – It will break. There will be a mini-flash flood that (depending on where the water goes) could cause substantial damage to your home and/or loved ones. If you have a dog, this warning is ten fold.

TEN THINGS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN OBVIOUS TO PEOPLE, BUT APPARENTLY ARE NOT.

1. Don’t snowboard off of your roof. Just because it’s covered with snow does not make it safe.
2. If you’re going to cut a tree down, make sure you are not tied to the part that is going to fall.
3. If you weigh 300 pounds and you are going to try to swing into a lake – that’s fine – just make sure that both the rope, and the tree branch that the rope is attached to can support you. I’m not trying to offend anyone, I’m just looking out for you. You could end upside down in the mud, or worse.
4. Bears will kill you. I’m not kidding.
5. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES – I MEAN NO CIRCUMSTANCES try to bench twice your body weight WITH NO SPOTTER. I can’t stress that enough people.
6. Don’t film your family or loved ones in the shower. How would you feel? I mean, come on.
7. Don’t go para-sailing in Mexico – particularly if you are over the weight limit. Again, I’m not picking on anyone. It just looks really painful. Actually, it’s probably a good idea to just stay away from para-sailing all together, regardless of your weight or where you do it.
8. Keep silly string away from birthday candles… or any open flame for that matter.
9. Please do not get in a tractor tire and roll yourself down a hill. Parents, if you encourage your children to do this, you are bad parents. I don’t want to hear excuses. In fact, any parent who decides it’s a better idea to keep filming their children doing wild and dangerous things needs to get their priorities straight. PUT THE CAMERA DOWN AND STOP THE WILD AND DANGEROUS THINGS FROM HAPPENING. YOUR CHILD COULD BE IN SERIOUS DANGER!
10. On a camcorder, look through the EYEPIECE, not the lens. Otherwise we just get lots of footage of your eye.

ULTIMATE RECIPE FOR DISASTER
If you want a solid AFV experience, just do the following and make sure to have a video camera ready:

Your wedding reception must be outside. Definitely have alcohol, and an expensive cake. At some point in the evening, make sure to break a pinata (blindfolded). For some extra excitement, do this on a trampoline. Tell everyone to bring all of their children, as well as their dogs and cats. When opening the champagne, NEVER point it away from anyone. Lock your knees at all times no matter what. Invite LOTS AND LOTS of old people and tell them they can’t wear belts, then play catch with them. If you don’t know lots of old people it wouldn’t be a bad idea to invite a local retirement village just for fun. I’m sure they’d appreciate it anyway.

The real lesson here is to watch AFV not only for entertianment, but also for good life lessons. I’m telling you, it’s changed my life and I think it would change yours as well.

-David May

p.s. This post is dedicated to two of my old roommates.  One of our rituals was watching AFV together.  I miss that, and I miss them.  Here’s to you A.T. and Kev.

Daylight Savings – Stop the Madness

Daylight Savings is stupid.  It’s allegedly around because a guy by the name of William Willett wanted to ride his horse in the morning and play golf at night (read details here).  Here’s an idea, William Willett, wake up with the sun regardless of what time it is and ride your horse.  Fine.  If you want to play golf around sunset, start your game accordingly.

Below are some words of support for Daylight Savings, and my responses to each.  Now let’s take these one by one.

1)    Adding daylight to afternoons generally benefits retailing, sports, and other activities that exploit sunlight after working hours.

D1)   Don’t retailers want to make money year round?  Why choose half of the year to keep the sun out longer?  Don’t athletes want to be active all year, or do they just have enough energy for half of the year?

2)    It can cause problems for farmers and others whose hours depend on the sun.

D2)   What?  Farmers should just wake up whenever they have to – who cares what time it is.  Some people have to be at work at 10:00am, some at 7:00am, etc.  None of us change other people’s universe to appease when we need to be at work, farmers should be no different.

3)    Extra afternoon daylight appears to cut traffic fatalities. 

3D)   Let me get this straight, we only want to protect people from fatalities half the year?  What… is winter our “survival of the fittest” season?

4)    An early goal was to reduce evening usage of incandescent lighting, formerly a primary use of electricity.

4D)   Again, why do we want to save electricity only half the year?

Here’s what I suggest we do. Survey America and find out when most people get up for work. Say we discover that most Americans get up at 6:30am.  Let’s set sunrise at approximately 6:30 so as to not waste daylight.  Let’s do this year round!  Where am I going wrong here?

-dm