So Rod Blagojevich was finally impeached by the Illinois state senate with the vote of 59-0. Hm, can't say I'm terribly surprised.
It seems strange that he can keep on saying that he's innocent of all crimes. I wonder, is he lying, or does he really think that he's innocent? I mean, does he seriously think that he's done nothing wrong as he keeps insisting? That would be really weird. But I could see how it could come about if he has a huge, ginormous ego and thinks that he can't possibly do anything wrong.
That would have to be a really, really big head.
If I were a member of the Illinois government, I would be very happy that this trial is now over.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
The Culinary Olympics returns!
This international cooking competition is actually known as the Bocuse d'Or and takes place every two years in Lyon, France. There was an article about the U.S.'s hopes in the Star Tribune. The U.S. has a history of so-so performances, but this year they are hoping to medal with chef Timothy Hollingsworth. Who is only 28. Is that young for an internationaly competing chef? I have no clue. He must be very good to be selected as the U.S. representitive though.
The website is interesting: http://www.bocusedor.com/2009/en/index.php
There's information about the different teams from different countries, theme of the competition etc.
I must admit, cooking and competition go together.
The website is interesting: http://www.bocusedor.com/2009/en/index.php
There's information about the different teams from different countries, theme of the competition etc.
I must admit, cooking and competition go together.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Overnight Change?
I feel sort of strange. What, there're no elections coming up in a month or two? What? The Presidential Election is over?
Yes.
Barack Obama and his administration are already working on how to solve the nation's many problems. But just because they've started doesn't mean all problems will magically vanish overnight. If he had some sort of magic problem-vanishing power, he'd've been elected by a landslide. No, he's human and so are the people who work with him. So that means, it'll take a while before the promised change spreads across the country. It would be foolish to get mad at the new administration just because the economy did not leap out of its slump the minute Obama was sworn in as president. Things will take time.
The world has sped up, with credit cards and internet shopping, people are used to instant gratification. Slow down world, enjoy the breeze, and glory in the sunset.
Yes.
Barack Obama and his administration are already working on how to solve the nation's many problems. But just because they've started doesn't mean all problems will magically vanish overnight. If he had some sort of magic problem-vanishing power, he'd've been elected by a landslide. No, he's human and so are the people who work with him. So that means, it'll take a while before the promised change spreads across the country. It would be foolish to get mad at the new administration just because the economy did not leap out of its slump the minute Obama was sworn in as president. Things will take time.
The world has sped up, with credit cards and internet shopping, people are used to instant gratification. Slow down world, enjoy the breeze, and glory in the sunset.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
The Inauguration of the 44th President
Barack Obama is now the 44th President of the United States of America. He was sworn in around 11:00 o'clock Central Time.
Lol, right now we're watching him sign his name on some documents and the CNN people are complimenting his penmanship.
Previous to the compliments on penmanship, both Joe Biden and Barack Obama were sworn in, and Obama gave his speech. It was a more, let's say, harder speech than I've heard him give before. There were a couple moments when he got very, hmm, not really passionate, but sort of. Stern but passionate? Well, his voice got louder anyway.
As always, I really liked watching the people in the crowd. It was funny watching their reactions to the speakers.
At the start of the National Anthem, Joe Biden was taking pictures for one of Obama's daughters.
During the speech of one of the reverends, there was one guy sitting behind Obama whose eyebrow was jumping up and down.
After Obama's speech, one of the reporters was saying how she saw people crying and hugging each other, then they went to a shot of a scowling woman before quickly switching to a scene of cheering crowds.
Yeah, it's an exciting day, but you've got to find humor in everything.
Lol, right now we're watching him sign his name on some documents and the CNN people are complimenting his penmanship.
Previous to the compliments on penmanship, both Joe Biden and Barack Obama were sworn in, and Obama gave his speech. It was a more, let's say, harder speech than I've heard him give before. There were a couple moments when he got very, hmm, not really passionate, but sort of. Stern but passionate? Well, his voice got louder anyway.
As always, I really liked watching the people in the crowd. It was funny watching their reactions to the speakers.
At the start of the National Anthem, Joe Biden was taking pictures for one of Obama's daughters.
During the speech of one of the reverends, there was one guy sitting behind Obama whose eyebrow was jumping up and down.
After Obama's speech, one of the reporters was saying how she saw people crying and hugging each other, then they went to a shot of a scowling woman before quickly switching to a scene of cheering crowds.
Yeah, it's an exciting day, but you've got to find humor in everything.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Engineering on a trapeze
A group of engineering students from the University of St. Thomas, MN, are learning about forces and movement by going to a circus and playing with trapezes, German wheels, human pyramids, and a trampoline. Instead of swinging a pendulum in a lab, the students are the pendulums as they swing through the air on a trapeze.
I think that's a pretty cool way to get your college credits. I actually took classes at this circus before (Circus Juventas, a youth circus in St. Paul), though I was a globes person (the picture is me :) not aerial. It's pretty fun, and if you get to learn about physics and dynamics while you're at it, even better.
Yup, that'd been a really cool class.
I think that's a pretty cool way to get your college credits. I actually took classes at this circus before (Circus Juventas, a youth circus in St. Paul), though I was a globes person (the picture is me :) not aerial. It's pretty fun, and if you get to learn about physics and dynamics while you're at it, even better.
Yup, that'd been a really cool class.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
A word if you please, Mr. President?
Today I filled out a survey to send to Barack Obama's new administration. It was about education. The survey question was, If you were the new president and education was your number one priority, what is one thing you would change in the current school system? (not that exact wording but I can't remember exactly how it went)
I didn't know exactly what to say. There's a lot of stuff that the school system could do better. Perhaps the first thing though would be to get people to stop dropping out of high school. It's going to be harder and harder to get a job if you don't have a high school diploma. Right now it's hard for people with a college degree to get jobs.
It would also be nice if the school system was more flexable. I like the school I'm in because it's project based and I can work towards my strengths and interests. I don't think I would do well in a traditional school setting and I'm sure there are a lot of students like me.
There's a lot of stuff to work on, lots of stuff to fix, but also lots of new and exciting ideas to play with. I don't envy the people in charge of education, but I'm sure their jobs will be 'interesting'.
I didn't know exactly what to say. There's a lot of stuff that the school system could do better. Perhaps the first thing though would be to get people to stop dropping out of high school. It's going to be harder and harder to get a job if you don't have a high school diploma. Right now it's hard for people with a college degree to get jobs.
It would also be nice if the school system was more flexable. I like the school I'm in because it's project based and I can work towards my strengths and interests. I don't think I would do well in a traditional school setting and I'm sure there are a lot of students like me.
There's a lot of stuff to work on, lots of stuff to fix, but also lots of new and exciting ideas to play with. I don't envy the people in charge of education, but I'm sure their jobs will be 'interesting'.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Senators or lack thereof
Roland Burris is the new senator for Illinois. After he was selected by soon-to-be-impeached governor Rod Blagojevich there was controversy about whether he should be allowed to serve as senator or not. However, after much argument, a statement from the senate majority leader and assistant majority leader stated that Burris, "is now the senator-designate from Illinois and as such will be accorded all the rights and privileges of a senator-elect."
So now Illinois knows who its two senators are going to be, unlike some other state *cough* *minnesota* *cough*
I can see why some people would be reluctant to appoint Burris because of the man who nominated him. Blagojevich was accused of trying to sell the seat to the highest bidder, who knows, perhaps Burris was that highest bidder. In Burris's defense, he could also just be the person the governor decided to appoint. He has had a low profile career so far, and he's a democrat (as is the governor) so why not?
I don't know. It's very likely that Burris is just another politician who happened to be caught in the media's net and everything is getting jumbled out of porportion.
These days it seems like the senate is getting more attention than the president, or the president-elect. I wish them luck, they'll need it.
So now Illinois knows who its two senators are going to be, unlike some other state *cough* *minnesota* *cough*
I can see why some people would be reluctant to appoint Burris because of the man who nominated him. Blagojevich was accused of trying to sell the seat to the highest bidder, who knows, perhaps Burris was that highest bidder. In Burris's defense, he could also just be the person the governor decided to appoint. He has had a low profile career so far, and he's a democrat (as is the governor) so why not?
I don't know. It's very likely that Burris is just another politician who happened to be caught in the media's net and everything is getting jumbled out of porportion.
These days it seems like the senate is getting more attention than the president, or the president-elect. I wish them luck, they'll need it.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Holographic parents?
While parents are on duty with the military, touring in Iraq, Afghanistan, or any other part of the world, would their young children benefit from talking to a hologram of mom or dad? Not a high tech version of webcams but an artificial intelligence that responds to voice cues. The child would start up the hologram like program on the computer and have simulated conversations about everyday things.
I think it's sort of freaky. Mind you, this isn't set up yet, the Pentagon is still looking for the right technology and stuff like that. However, it seems sort of strange to have a simulated parent. It seems different from recordings in a way, though I can see some similarities. But a recording or video is made by an actual person, and an AI is just a fancy computer program.
If a child is too young to understand why their parent or parents are gone, aren't they also too young to understand that the computer image they are talking to is not their parent? Isn't that sort of misleading for them? Or is that the point?
Ethical issues can be confusing and they are almost always controversial.
I think it's sort of freaky. Mind you, this isn't set up yet, the Pentagon is still looking for the right technology and stuff like that. However, it seems sort of strange to have a simulated parent. It seems different from recordings in a way, though I can see some similarities. But a recording or video is made by an actual person, and an AI is just a fancy computer program.
If a child is too young to understand why their parent or parents are gone, aren't they also too young to understand that the computer image they are talking to is not their parent? Isn't that sort of misleading for them? Or is that the point?
Ethical issues can be confusing and they are almost always controversial.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Ah, there's a catch
The final results from the senate recount are in. Franken has 225 more votes than Coleman. But wait! That doesn't mean he won. It sounds like he won, because whoever gets more votes wins right? But apparently Coleman has gone to court and filed a lawsuit to contest the results. Franken can't take up office while there is a lawsuit about his appointment so Minnesota is still with only one senator.
Yeesh.
Personally, I think it's a good thing senate terms are six years long or else whoever is finally appointed won't have any time to actually do anything in Washington.
Yeesh.
Personally, I think it's a good thing senate terms are six years long or else whoever is finally appointed won't have any time to actually do anything in Washington.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Poor Vikings
The Vikings got into the playoffs!! And lost in the first game. Ah well. Up and down, great to horrible, would be a good way to describe the Viking's season this year.
I feel sort of sorry form them because they worked really hard to get so far. I imagine that Gus Frerotte is not very happy right now. And probably the person I feel most sorry for is Tarvaris Jackson. He gets yelled at a lot by the media. What they say isn't wrong, he didn't play very well, but I'm sure it's not very fun being him right now.
*sigh* It's been a up and down year for football in Minnesota. But at least we're not in Detroit. Vikings fans have something to be thankful for afterall.
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