Why I voted.....

I voted not only because I am 18 now, but also because this is the most significant election ever. I had a very pleasant voting experience here on campus. The lines weren't too terrribly long, and everyone working there was very nice. It's amazing to know that I took part in a historical event. I feel like I really accomplished something after I voted, eventhough I was only one out of millions of voters. EVERY vote counts and my vote counted towards something I belive in. My parents always said... "If you don't vote, then you can't complain." I totally agree with this, but due to the outcome of the election I don't think I'll have much to be complaining about.

Trick or Treat.

A 12 year boy was shot and fatally wounded while tricker treating with his parents and siblings. The South Carolina youth was killed when they knocked on the door and the occupants of the house opened fire with an AK-47. The shooter was arrested at the scene. The boy's father and another child were also struck by bullets through the door. The man responsible for the shooting told police that he had been robbed before and was afraid that is was another robbery attempt...on Halloween? He also had his porch light on which is usually a signal to trick or treaters to stop by. This is terrifying. The family never saw anything like that coming.. my sympathy goes to them. What started as a fun night of trick or treating with the family turned out to be a horrifying tragedy that will change their lives forever. It's so scary to think that something like this could happen anywhere... even in Durango. Nobody expected that man to do anything like that. You shouldn't have to be afraid to go trick or treating in the neighborhood you live in....

Obama is my prediction

After going to the McCain rally and listening to him talk, I have decided that I will be voting for Obama as President. I share many of the same views as Obama does which makes sense considering the fact that he is a democrat. There were quite a few McCain supporters at the rally and I was somewhat surprised that I didn't see more Obama supporters out and about. I wish Obama would come to Durango.

McCain Rally

I went to see John McCain speak the other day. After the rally a guy walking across the street going back to his car was hit by a car and injured. The man that was hit just happened to be holding an Obama sign and the girl that hit him with her car was wearing a McCain t-shirt. What a strange coincidence. Its upsetting that the media portrayed the rally but neglected to focus any time on the accident or the injured people. This story could have been spun in many different directions with the media and it could have been blown way out of proportion. Though I'm glad that the rally was peaceful for the most part, I still feel as though the newspaper should have published more than a couple sentences describing the accident. I was a little dissapointed. I am very interested in how the man is doing, and if there is any punishment for the driver. I believe the story should have been covered fairly from all points of view.

Bader/Snyder Parking Situation

So... I have a few things to say about the parking situation here on campus. The Bader/Snyder residents were recently told that we were no longer allowed to park behind the Bader/Snyder buildings. We have a tiny parking lot that has about 30 parking places at the most... this is a problem considering the fact that there are 6 residence halls with at least 40 students in each one. Please tell me how 240 kids are supposed to fit their cars in that parking lot... I suppose we could park down by the apartments but there are rarely any parking spots there either. Do the parking officials expect us to park all the way across campus? I think parking my car so far away from my dorm is not only inconvienient, but it is also a safety issue when I have to walk back to my dorm alone in the dark. So far this year I have paid about $200 worth of parking tickets because I haven't been able to find a place to park by my building. I already paid for a parking pass, and these tickets are getting ridiculous. Something needs to be done about this....

Evolution of Video Games

When I was kid all we had was a Nintendo 64 and a Sega Playstation. I played games like Sonic the Hedgehog and Anamaniacs. Nowadays kids have X-box 360's, Nintendo Wii's, and Playstation 3's, not to mention games for the computer. The graphics have come a long way and many of the games now follow complex story lines. Most video game controlers are now wireless so you never have to worry about annoying cords getting in your way. I personally am a fan of Guitar Hero. I even have a cousin who is so good at games he gets sponsored to play in HALO video game tournaments. Talk about having a job you love!

Super Sweet 16

MTV has a show on called "My Super Sweet 16" where rich girls throw extravagant parties for their 16th birthdays. There was one girl, Lacey, who had an entire carnival AND a dance party. She also got two cars, a jet ski, and she had a performer. It makes me sick to think that some people are THAT rich. Spending half a million dollars on a birthday party is a little out of hand. There are people who are homeless and living on the street and yet these 16 year old girls are driving around in $100,000 vehicles. Most of the sweet sixteeners don't even appreciate anything that is given to them. All I can really say is shame on the parents for raising their children this way. They need a serious reality check.

The Impossible Seach for Perfection.

Young women face more pressure now than ever in the quest for obtaining the impossible vision of perfection. Photoshop and similar photo retouching programs have warped the minds of today's generation. Magazine covers and centerfold editorials showcase women, mostly celebrities, that are nearly flawless, but what most people don't realize is that those particular models have teams of hair and make up artists, and a personal photoshop retoucher that spend hours manipulating the photo. The final product ends up looking NOTHING like the model themself. I believe that all retouched images need to be labeled so the readers are aware that the picture they are viewing has been altered. Eating disorders could be closely linked to the photoshop effect. Obsessing over body image is common in today's society. Magazines should start featuring REAL women that are true role models. Seeing average women with average body types on magazine covers could quite possibly lower depression rates as well as boost self-esteem levels. It's time to take a stand against the setreotypical image of perfection.

The Evoloution of Cinema...

Cinematics have come a long way since the time of the Lumiere brothers. Auguste and Louis Lumiere are credited with the first public film screening. The show consisted of about ten short films which equated to about twenty minutes in total. The brothers invented the cinematograph, which was a camera , a projector, and a printer- all in one. The Lumiere brothers made films that related mostly to everyday life. They have been given credit for over 1,425 different short films. They created the best films of their time. Today, the number one all-time movie is The Dark Knight. The special effects in this latest Batman film are amazingly realistic. The evolution of cinema has come such a long way- from hundreds of still picture shots to hour long blockbusters. Many thanks to the Lumiere brothers for making my Friday night entertainment possible.

In-Class Movie Madness

Wow. Today's in-class video taught me so much about the power elite in this country. It amazes me how one person, or one group of people can have so much control over the media, and over society as a whole. If you have millions and millions of dollars, shouldn't you be more educated, or at least AS educated as the rest of America? Rupert Murdoch and Bill O'Reilly just come off as being arrogant uneducated idiots. What grown man tells someone to "shut up"? AND on NATIONAL television none the less (and then threatens his guest's life... c'mon!) No offense, but who could really take someone like that seriously? Bill and Rupert, it time to retire. Do us all a favor and take a permanent vacation somewhere FAR FAR away. It's people like you who have corrupted society.

Lindsay Lohan's Latest

Celebrity relationships come and go with the seasons, but this time there's a new twist in the plot. Lindsay Lohan has been seen with female DJ Samantha Ronson. Rumors fly left and right about this hollywood duo, but the latest gossip is that Lindsay and Samantha have now moved in together. Eventhough they haven't admitted to any relationship, they still face harsh criticism from the media. Despite Lindsay's troubled past, she seems happier now than ever.

Drugs in Drinking Water

Recent tests of drinking water have uncovered scary evidence. Many cities have detected pharmeceutical drugs in the main water sources. These drugs include cholesterol medication, nicotine derivitives, tranqulizers, and hormones. Think we're safe from harm? Think again. Cities as close as Colorado Springs have reported contamination. This epidemic has affected at least 46 million people and countless fish, frogs, and other various aquatic creatures. Tests are being performed to determine the risks of consuming these drugs, although it's been proven that diluted concentrations of the prescription drugs impair the functioning of human cells. For more information on this matter visit Yahoo NEWS.