An Uncomfortable Discussion

Regardless of the venue if they are going to display a history of the United Sates, then you show the good and the bad. So are we just going to white wash our history now?  If the stain-glass windows of the Washington National Cathedral depict the history of the United States, then they should remain, the good and the bad. The moment we start picking and choosing what part of our history to display, we lose where we came from, we lose ourselves.

 What the south tried to defend is a more complex question that one of good vs. evil. Yes, slavery was a major factor, but so was the question of states rights; which was major reason for them seceding from the Union. Plus the removal of slavery would have greatly affected their agrarian economy in a negative way. Not to defend the south, but the Civil War is far more complex war than people make it out to be, a major transitional point in the nation affect the very soul of the country.

History should be taught in a pure way, not altered to fit a political agenda. If we don't know our past, then how are we supposed to prevent the mistakes of the past from repeating themselves? American history has it's good parts and it's bad parts, and the Civil War was one of it's darker chapters. It is where the issues from the founding of this nation came to a head, and unfortunately resolved with war, but we emerged as a stronger nation.

Unfortunately racism and prejudice are still prominent in our culture today. Removing a few flags and stain-glass windows will do nothing to end it. It will only help to create more divisiveness amongst Americans. We need to face the uncomfortable discussions of our time or else we may face another unfortunate breaking point again.

Links:

https://cathedral.org/lee-jackson-windows-task-force/

Not an Easy Choice

The news over the last few days has said that Hilary Clinton will be the Democratic nominee. Many people are dishartened by this, a man of the people defeated by the system. Even though I tend not to vote that way, I could see the quality of someone like Sanders, especially on the world stage.

Hilary is decitful and a liar, she helped distablize nations and create civil war. The people of Libya have nothing to thank her for. The global situation will only get worse under her administration, and more murderus groups will come to power. I don't know what it will be like under Trump, but it can't get any worse.

I can not tell you who to vote for, I haven't even come to a decision sice Rand Paul dropped out. I want a President who will uphold the Constitution and not involve us in pointless conflict. Could that be Trump? I couldn't tell you. In the end I may end up voting for Gary Johnson. All I can say is don't give into hate, keep an open mind, and look objectively. It's hard and frustrating, but its  the right thing to do.

Dear Boston Globe

Dear Boston Globe, 

your job is to report the news or provide commentary. This is neither, this show your biased political agenda. This why the US news media should be second, to China and North Korea, in how horrible they are at reporting anything resembling news. Let people decided rather than telling them. Provide them with facts and intelligent facts rather than let your morons go wild with their biased political reactionary agenda. Plus, have you looked at Ted Cruz or Hilary Clinton, a religious zealot and a Neocon. They are going to keeping us at the status quo or make things worse. Trump is no perfect candidate, but all the good ones are are gone because people listen to the American media, and the media ignores who they think won't make a sensational candidate, and now look at what we have. Either report the news or shut your doors for good.

An annoyed American Citizen

Source:

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/04/10/473709316/boston-globe-runs-fake-front-page-detailing-a-donald-trump-world?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20160410

XBox One: A Review

I've tried to write this review a number of times, so I'm going to be blunt about it, I really don't care for the Xbox One (xbone). Most these reasons are entirely personal, central to that being I had built a gaming PC (& Hackintosh) prior to purchasing it. That, and the taint from the DRM incident (linked below).  In all honesty, it's not a terrible system, this is no "Nintendo Virtual Boy", nor is it like the "Playstation 2" and all it's glory. It does do what it was designed to do with little to no issues, though I do have a few.

For one, that is installation of games on a console. Now, I understand that games are much bigger than they used to be and the graphics are tip toeing the edge of the uncanny valley, but game consoles are supposed to be about ease of use, not waiting for a game you just bought to install. I except that this is a fact with digital copies, but not with games on a disks. At that rate, I might as well just use my gaming PC because of better graphics and more options, such as mods. It's basically a more affordable gaming PC that will be outclassed by something better in the next few years.

Basically, my complaints are just small points from my own perspective, my own pet peeves. I don't like that it the campaign for this machine was based around "TV", if I want that, I'll buy a cheaper Apple TV or a Roku. As well as the lack of front facing ports and non upgradeable storage like it's predecessor (though can hook a hard drive into it). Most games now work cross platform, consoles are now just for exclusives, cost, and convince. That, and there is a lot of social media and gaming community stuff that I wish I could just uninstall, I could care less about MLG and "twitch" (unless they are showing a marathon of Bob Ross).

I won't adamantly, not recommend that you not buy this machine, but if you ask me I'll recommend that you look else where. However, the controller is solid, the interface is good, and console looks nice. The only reason I purchased one in the first place was to play with friends, rarely much for anything else. If you want a "Halo" machine, then get one, you got games to play and plenty of multiplayer or shout obscenities at. The only part of this system that I would praise is the controller, it's better then the "360" version, just buy it for your PC.

There you have it, my thoughts on the Xbone. Not a terrible system, but buy a Playstion 4 or a gaming PC, better investment.

Thanks for reading!

A Quick Update and Thought

A Quick Update...

No, I haven't forgotten about the blog, life just likes to creep up and put a dozen items on your plate. Work, bills, life events, ect... Well, that and I have had a massive spark of inspiration for the series I'm writing. So I'm planning post a new articles that are in the works over the next couple of weeks.

I will also be setting up a second blog. Yes, one might ask why when can't update this one on a regular basis. However this one will be a more focused one, art and my work at the print shop. The the "Printed Rambler" articles will be posted there from now on. I will post a link once I get that setup. I should setup a writing one at someone point, surrounding my future novel series, but maybe later.

So... A Quick thought....

The news is reporting today that North Carolina and Georgia (USA) are putting forth LGBT discriminatory laws. Georgia is call theirs a Religious Liberty law, but in basic terms they allow business to discriminate against LGBT people, deny them business. Now, what I am going to say may not be the popular idea, but let them pass it, don't punish business for that practice. My reasoning this that they will go to businesses, like my family's, who could care less what your sexual orientation is and just want to make money. In this case, money is not the root of evil but an equalizing factor. Their discriminatory practices is a benefit to those of us who only care about the money. Let karma be the punishment. 'It's a bitch, ain't it!'

Society usually corrects it's self in one way or another, and it's really only a small amount of people who feel like their religious rights are threatened. The Constitution grants you the right to worship as you chose and speak your mind. No one, only yourself, can take away those rights. LGBT people don't threaten the foundation of this society, only people chasing make-believe phantoms do. The real threats are out there in the world, try to kill us and destroy our way of life, liberty and freedom, and we shouldn't curtail our rights to save ourselves from them. 

So, in conclusion, carry on and karma will take care of the rest.

Quick Thought: The Pope Vs. Trump

Once again an issue has developed that has everyone yelling like intwits in a burning building. The Pope, in reference to GoP candidate Trump, that those who "ONLY think about building walls, and not bridges" are unChristian. Trump has retorted by saying saying that "No leader (espcially religous) shouldn't question another man's religion." So let me put my prespctive on this.

First off, the Pope's comments probably should looked at in more of a metaphorical way. He's not against literal walls, but probably the idea of barring someone from your country because of who they are, and not extending a "bridge" of friendship. While Trump as said that he plans to build a wall on the border, but with a "large golden door".

To often we misinturrpret what people say and what they said loses it's true meaning. Take  a 7/8th's aporoach when reading thia kind of statements, bemore informed than the average blind follower.

A Conflict of Interest

The death of Supreme Court Judge Antonin Scalia has left a major political battle in it's wake, the appointment of his successor. According to the Constitution, the President appoints Supreme Court Judges and congress approves them. However, in this, the last years of Obama's administration, the Republicans have said that they will do whatever they can to block his appointment, this could potentially mean violating the Constitution, however, apparently there is no set time upon which they have to approve a successor. This had had led to a major "conflict of interest" in  the government.

For myself, this is also a "conflict of interest." On one hand I want them to follow the  Constitution as it is written, as it is the source of our rights and the foundation of our government. It provides checks and balances in the government to prevent any one organization or person from taking to much power. But I also have no faith or trust that President Obama will place a judge who is Constitutional, and merits the appointment. His last few seemed to be based more on race and gender than anything else, and the same goes for his appointments to other government positions. I almost support what the Republicans are doing in the interest of the Constitution, "the enemy of my enemy is my friend."

 I'm no supporter of the Republican party, however I do tend to vote their way because they field more candidates that have a grasp on reality. I can only hope that Obama's appointment is thought out carefully and with care, and Congress does what it can, Constitutionally, to make sure that happens.