A couple questions about Obama

First--I am not a political person. I HATE listening to people argue about how this politician is a fool, and anyone who follows them is too. Mainly because someone else will come along and say the same thing right back. Politics has so little to do with goodness and real change these days, I don't find it worth the effort trying to figure out who is being the least dishonest.

Now that that's cleared up, a couple things with what Obama is doing don't make sense to me--enough so that I don't really trust him. Here they are:

1. People complain about how much money his administration is spending. There are different arguments as to why that's okay or why it isn't, but one thing stands out. Obama has seen fit to borrow millions upon millions from the People's Republic of China. China has one of the worst human rights violations records in the WORLD. They are one of the last functioning communist nations on the planet, a governmental system that goes against almost everything our governmental system espouses. Do we REALLY want these people as our creditors? If Barack's plan doesn't work--are these the type of people we want to owe money to? How is that not as scary to everyone that hears it as it is to me?

2. There are loads of arguments for & against universal healthcare. I'm not interested in debating that. But if Obama and his fellow politicians really believe in universal healthcare, why did they include something in the bill saying that they don't have to use it, when the rest of us are required to? Doesn't that sound kinda suspicious? Would you buy a car from someone who refused to ride in it? And those who believe universal healthcare 'levels the playing field' between rich and poor--shouldn't Obama and the other politicians have to play too? Why would they be exempt? Something just doesn't seem right about that, if you ask me.

So do I really want answers to these questions? Probably not. Because those will probably take the form of negativity and name-calling if anyone besides my family and friends read this. But doesn't this stuff make you think? Sure does for me.

How to ruin a beautiful spring day

So today when I got out of church it was beautiful outside. One of those early spring days where you sit near an open door and it just calls to you-- "come outside, run around, play, have some fun!" Even if you're trying to keep the sabbath and all, you at least feel like opening your windows and letting in some fresh, lukewarm air before another rain comes and makes the outdoors all soggy and unappealing again. On my way home I opened my sunroof (and any day where I can open my sunroof is a good day), and a couple of the car windows to enjoy the weather.

In the course of my travels, I got a whiff of something that reminded me why I probably wouldn't bother opening the windows at home. Cigarette smoke. Somewhere up the line of cars waiting at a stoplight was a person so enamored with their bad habit that they assumed everyone behind them would enjoy the vile aroma just as much as they do--so they opened up the car windows and let their personal pollution out for everyone to enjoy.

Now understand this--I know some great people that smoke. Smoking does not automatically make someone a selfish pig--but many smokers seem completely inconsiderate of people around them, so it's a hard habit not to hate. If I suddenly decided never to shower again, waited a month, and then went out on my apartment balcony without a shirt on, turned a big fan on behind me and raised my arms so the smell could spread on the wind, I would be just as considerate as those smokers who, without concern for those around them, light up and start blowing carcinogenic chemicals into the atmosphere. It is a disgusting and dangerous habit--so no matter how important it may be to the smoker, there needs to be a better way to make sure the smoker is the only one enjoying his/her slow-acting personal suicide method.

Do I sound bitter? Yeah, just a bit. Since moving into my apartment a year ago, I've discovered something. Smokers have more legal rights than non-smokers. My complex is very nice---lots of large trees, well kept grounds and facilities, and in a good, safe neighborhood. One thing it does not have (other than assigned parking spaces, which is a ridiculousness I won't even get into), is any rules about smoking outside. And apparently there are some hard core chain smokers in my little neighborhood. During the summer time in California's central valley, it's common (and saves a lot of electricity - that's trendy too, right?) for folks to open all the windows during the cooler evening hours. This helps the home cool down and refreshes the recirculated air your A/C has been pumping all day so you get a little more oxygen content. Sounds good right? Yeah, not so much. Apparently one or several of my neighbors are serious nicotine addicts, because about every 45 minutes, cigarette smoke starts drifting into my apartment. That wonderful, cool fresh air turns into the smell of industrial waste factories and only gets worse the longer I leave my windows open. Not only is this disgusting, it's offensive. Why should I have to put up with someone else's problem? Why should my fresh air and enjoyment of my home, MY personal space, be ruined because of someone's legalized drug addiction?

The defensive types are saying now "Just close your windows then!" "Those people have a right to enjoy their vices!" I've done that. I also tried only opening a window on the other side of my apartment. Guess what? That malodorous substance somehow finds it's way into the other side of my apartment, and my fresh air is polluted again! I was happy to be in an apartment of my own, no roomies to deal with, taking care of my self--and it was infuriating to have to deal with someone else's crap despite the high price I was paying for my peace & quiet. So I called the management office and complained, asking them to take action with this problem. First of all, they ignored me--no return call. So now, more angry, I called again and spoke with a live person, asking that something be done. I was told there is no law/rule against smoking outside, and they couldn't do anything. They told me I could move to another unit, or talk to the neighbors and ask them not to smoke outside. But they could not do anything.

Needless to say, in my natural shyness, I really didn't fancy the idea of canvassing the neighborhood asking people to stop smoking. And I had just moved into my place--so going through all the hassle of moving again because of someone else's stench didn't really appeal either. Before long, fall & winter came on, and since I didn't really want to open my windows by then, their bad habit became less of a concern. Now that Spring is again slipping in among the cold wet days, with the promise of warmth & fresh air, my frustration is returning with it.

So the irony of my discovery is on my mind. Smokers have a 'right' to their bad habit. They have a 'right' to blow out clouds of carcinogenic chemicals with a stench that sticks to clothes, hair, teeth, and just about anything else it touches. And they have a 'right' to pollute the air outside my apartment, forcing me to close my windows. So what about MY rights? Why don't I have a right to enjoy some fresh air without it being polluted by people so addicted to a substance that they have to use it every 45 minutes? Why don't I have a right to NOT be breathing in a chemical compound that has been proven to cause cancer, emphysema, and numerous other diseases? Why are my rights to a pursuit of happiness (including my own good health) less important than the same rights of someone who finds happiness by pursuing a habit that is at the least, gross and smelly, and at worst, deadly? Alanis Morrissette has nothing on this kind of irony.

I would submit the following reasons. First, as Americans, we hold personal freedoms so dear as to consider them almost sacred. We send armed troops around the world trying to protect the personal freedoms of others. And groups in our society who were once treated differently than everyone else because of race, creed or color, now enjoy a much more level playing field (it's still nowhere near perfect, but it is improving) because of the hard work and strife faced by many Americans who saw the need for change. While these are good things, they have a flip side. Where does it stop? At what point do we say "that's enough"? That has proved a problem for us as a society. We have worked so hard to make sure we're "fair" to everyone's demands that we're terrified to ever stand up and say "no." So when it comes down to taking away 'rights' from one group of people to favor another--even for the common good, we hesitate or even ignore the decision so we don't have to do that. That's why legalized drug addicts (smokers) have more rights than someone trying to live a healthy life. Their habit may be disgusting, harmful to them and even harmful to those around us, but gosh, we wouldn't want to be unfair to them. I mean, what if they sued us?

Secondly, money. If America truly has anything resembling a state religion, it is the worship of the almighty dollar. Americans in almost every line of work are taught to value and revere profits above just about all else. The race to be profitable (or ideally, more profitable than the next guy) has risen above all other concerns. And guess what? Half of this country's original economy had it's foundation in tobacco growing! While that may not be as true today, tobacco companies continue to be incredibly wealthy and influential (Guess who owns Kraft foods?). And unfortunately, the kind of people attracted to politics in our society are much more impressed with large sums of money than they are with petitions or phone calls from constituents.

So that's my theory on the matter. Smoking is not only disgusting and smelly, it's highly addictive and deadly. It's damaging to those who smoke, and damaging to those around them. If we were as educated as we claim to be, it wouldn't be part of our society at all. But that will not happen so long as we are afraid to stand up and say "no", and so long as we care more about money than about doing the right thing. So we can expect this, oh...sometime after doomsday?

One more thing (lest you think I only have negative things to say) --I do have to say that the changes to smoking laws in the last 10 years do make me proud to be a Californian. Smoking is banned in most public buildings, restaurants, etc. And many hospitals are becoming completely smoke free. In most cases, smokers are forced to conduct their stinky habit outside, which (while still disgusting for anyone who wants to enjoy the out of doors) is a huge victory for the health and well-being of everyone, smokers included. It is my hope that continued education about the damaging effects of smoking will eventually lead to it's abandonment by the overwhelming majority of the population. Let common sense prevail for a healthier and less stinky tomorrow.

Random musings...

It seems sad to me that I have this silly blog and haven't posted a darn thing in more months than I care to count. Lots of things have been on my mind lately, so here are a few.

Boxee rocks my socks. Do you like watching videos from online sites like hulu, joost, or Youtube? Do you ever miss your fav TV show and go watch it the next day on the network's website? Ever wish you could transfer all that video goodness to your TV so you could watch it on the couch, instead of hunched in front of your computer? This program is for you (granted, that's a small slice of society, most likely, but still).

Boxee is software you can install on your computer that allows you easy access to all the scattered content mentioned above. Wanna watch an episode of Lost? Type it in, and Boxee will find sites that have it, and allow you to play it right there from the program's interface. It also connects to internet radio, Netflix streaming, and lots of other stuff. Best part--FREEEEEE!

So you're saying "but Rob, that doesn't help me unless I can hook up my computer to the TV, and that's just a pain!" Well....true. But not for long! This summer the Boxee company is releasing a set-top box that will do all of the above, just by connecting to your home wireless network. It's starting out a little steep ($199), but still cheaper than building a 2nd PC to hook up to the television. So that's one thing I'm excited about. My HTPC is rockin' Boxee and I'm loving it. :)

Stuff You Missed in History Class has become a minor addiction for me lately too. This is a podcast from the website HowStuffWorks.com, and each episode is dedicated to a different historical event/person/place. Often, they address historical questions, like "Did Betsy Ross really sew the first American flag?" Having a BA in History, I quite enjoy it and it gets me thinking. Even if you're not into history, the website has articles about just about everything--so go get yer' learn on and have some fun. In the meantime I'll be working my way through about 150 back episodes of the podcast (while trying to pretend I can quit my habit any time I want to).

I also finally learned how to set up a dual boot operating system on my laptop--that took about a week of headaches, but it's finally done. 'Nuff said.

And I am loving Pandora Radio. It's a free internet application that works like this: you sign up (free), and to create a personalized "station" for yourself, you put in the name of a band you like. The new station will then start playing songs by that band as well as contemporary bands from that genre. I punched in Information Society the first time I tried it and got a slough of awesome 80's synth-pop. That was on my iPhone. I tried it on my laptop the other night, and was pleasantly surprised to find my stations had been saved to my login account, and popped right up. More classic 80's musical goodness ensued. Good times for me and my modern equivalent of those big silver "boom boxes" the breakdancers used to carry around :D

I've also developed a mild addiction to slickdeals.net and fatwallet.com. I've found so many cool things for super cheap (and even some for free), that I started checking the sites every day. Despite the fact I've probably bought a lot of junk I didn't need to, it's very fun and satisfying to get great deals on stuff you wanted anyway.

So those are a few of the things occupying my brain at the moment. That and the massive brain-imploding wonder that is the final season of LOST...

Anyway, whomever is reading--have a great few months until I feel guilty enough to post on here again.