11/04/2008

I'm a Conservative...

As a Conservative, I'm voting for...

... the one man who has the necessary character to do the job, to take on the responsibilities of the office of the 44th President of the United States. As an American citizen, I would like to say that voters should pay less attention to a candidate's party and more to what they are saying and doing. Our first president, George Washington, warned against political parties and I see a lot of people strictly voting a certain way like lemmings, because that is the way their party chooses.

I'm a Conservative...

I'm a veteran, and having served proudly as a US Marine in the service of my country, I'm voting for the man who has a record of standing up for veterans and their rights, and a man who makes no excuses about where he stands on those issues. I'm voting for the man who will restore our nation's sacred trust with my fellow veterans, who is committed to creating a 21st Century Department of Veterans' Affairs that provides the care and benefits my fellow veterans and I deserve. I'm voting for the man who will help returning service members, who will will improve the quality of health care for veterans, rebuild the VA's broken benefits system, and combat homelessness among veterans.

I'm a Conservative...

I'm voting for the man who will protect the openness of the 'Net, and understands its power as a medium of free speech. I'm voting for the man who strongly supports the principle of network neutrality to preserve the benefits of open competition on the Internet.

I'm a Conservative...

I'm voting for the man who understands real family values, who will restore work-family balance to our nation, who will double funding for after-school programs. I'm voting for the man who will expand the Family Medical Leave Act, and will encourage flexible work schedules.

I'm a Conservative...

As a Conservative, I defend your right to get out and vote on November 4th. It doesn't matter whether you are a Democrat, a Republican or an Independent, you owe it to yourself, your family and your country to vote your conscience. Whether your leanings are Liberal, Conservative or towards Libertarian, don't allow your judgment to be clouded by ideology or partisanship. Instead, make the choice that is right for your country.

Despite all of its its problems and crises, the United States of America is the most powerful and best country in the world. America has always been a beacon of hope and opportunity, but for some time now, its light has been dimmed somewhat. It's up to you, my fellow American voters, to make the right choice on November 4th. Get out and vote: vote for change, vote for hope, vote for a better America and vote for a better world for all of us and for our children.

I'm a Conservative...

As a true Conservative, I have one clear choice, and that choice is Barack Obama.

There is no doubt whatsoever in my mind, heart or soul that in Barack Obama, there's a real opportunity to turn the best country in the world into an even better country. Opportunities like these don't come around every four or eight years; they present themselves once every several hundred years.

I respect the opinions of former Secretary of State Colin Powell, political satirist and author Christopher Buckley ( son of the late William F. Buckley Jr.) and Alison Goldwater Ross (the granddaughter of the late Senator Barry Goldwater). All of these people are Republicans and true Conservatives, and each of them has endorsed Barack Obama and not John McCain.

Candidly speaking, neither Barack Obama nor John McCain has real experience that's applicable to being President of the United States, with the exception that both of them have run large, multimillion-dollar political campaigns. The main difference is that John McCain's has been disorganized, quite confused and quite ineffective. On the other hand, Barack Obama has run a smooth operation, and done it with little of the commotion and mindless cacophony that so often shows in these campaigns. And Obama looked directly at McCain during the debates, though that simple mark of respect was rarely returned.

In Barack Obama, we will have a president that is as normal, ordinary and human as all of us. He won't forget about what real life is like for all of us as individuals and as a nation.

2/14/2008

Happy Valentine's Day... Busted!

Love is in the air...

PHILADELPHIA Feb 14, 2008 ― The Philadelphia Sheriff's Office showed their love and support for victims of domestic violence during an early morning Valentine's Day roundup Thursday. An nice, shiny Valentine's Day bracelet for domestic violence offenders!Sheriff's deputies led an early morning sweep in the pre-dawn hours to capture wanted domestic abuse as well as child support offenders.

In 2007, there were 109 domestic abuse warrants issued in Philadelphia and in the surrounding counties. There were also 126 warrants issued for those who had neglected child-support responsibilities. They were presented with a special Valentine's Day gift by the deputies... a pair of shiny new bracelets, one for each wrist. See the video here.

A unit of seven men participated in the sweep that began in Northeast Philadelphia and ended at South 11th Street. There were news reporters and their camera crews out in force along with the deputies as they rounded up the offenders, and many in our area woke up to this welcome news. 

Kudos to the deputies from of the Philadelphia Sheriff's Office, the news reporters and the camera crews who made this such a worthwhile event to wake up to! 

It just goes to show that sometimes there really is justice... and on Valentine's Day, too!

Also published here on Buzznet.

12/30/2007

Best Present of All...

This was my best Christmas present!

There are many kinds of presents that one can receive over the holidays, and I'll touch on this in a journal later, but the best present that I received this year was the look on my son's face when he opened his "big present" from me this year, one that he had really wanted.

He had already received a bunch of presents, including a very cool multi-function watch that he had really wanted, and thought that it had been his big present. But then I told him to open an unwrapped plain cardboard box.

Do you remember the movie "A Christmas Story" where Ralphie's dad told told him to check behind the couch for another present?

Could this be it?

This bewcame a Featured Photo on Buzznet! Looking in the box... could it be?

This was something that he really wanted, but I held back on it, saving it for last... a new FujiFilm FinePix S700 digital camera.

I had already figured out that he would be right out the door, taking photos of everything in sight... and that's exactly what happened, as you can see in the sequence of photos in the link.

As noted before, it was the best present that I received this year!

12/24/2007

Have a Splendid Holiday!

Wishing you Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

  • Afrikaans - Geseende Kerfees en 'n gelukkige nuwe jaar
  • Albanian - Gëzuar Krishlindjet Vitin e Ri!
  • Aleut - Kamgan Ukudigaa
  • Alsatian - E gueti Wïnâchte & E glecklichs Nej Johr!
  • Andalusian - Felíce Pahjcua y Felí Año, or Felí Navidá y Próhjpero Año Nuevo
  • Apache (Western) - Gozhqq Keshmish
  • Arabic - I'D Miilad Said ous Sana Saida
  • Aramaic - Edo bri'cho o rish d'shato brich'to!
  • Arawak - Aba satho niw jari da'wisida bon
  • Armenian - Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Soorp Janunt
  • Bafut - Mboni Chrismen & Mboni Alooyefee
  • Bahasa/Malaysia - Selamat Hari Natal dan Tahun Baru
  • Bandang - Mbung Mbung Krismie & Mbung Mbung Ngouh Suiie
  • Basque - Zorionak eta Urte Berri On!
  • Belorussian - Winshuyu sa Svyatkami i z Novym godam!
  • Bengali - Shuvo Baro Din - Shuvo Nabo Barsho
  • Blackfoot - I'Taamomohkatoyiiksistsikomi
  • Bohemian/Czech - Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a Stastny
    novy rok
  • Breton - Nedeleg laouen na bloav ezh mat
  • Bulgarian - Chestita Koleda i Shtastliva Nova Godina
  • Catalan - Bon Nadal i feliç any nou!
  • Cantonese - Seng Dan Fai Lok, Sang Nian Fai Lok
  • Carib - Sirito kypoton ra'a
  • Carolinian - Ameseighil ubwutiiwel Layi Luugh me raagh fee
  • Cebuano - Malipayong Pasko ug Bulahang Bag-ong Tuig!
  • Chavacano - Felices Pascua y Prospero Anyo Nuevo
  • Cherokee - Danistayohihv & Aliheli'sdi Itse Udetiyvsadisv
  • Cheyenne - Hoesenestotse & Aa'e Emona'e
  • Choctaw - Yukpa, Nitak Hollo Chito
  • Cornish - Nadelik looan na looan blethen noweth
  • Corsican - Bon Natale e Bon capu d' annu
  • Cree - Mitho Makosi Kesikansi
  • Creek - Afvcke Nettvcakorakko
  • Creole/Seychelles - Bonn e Erez Ane
  • Croatian - Sretan Bozic
  • Danish - Glædelig Jul og godt nytår
  • Dutch - Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!
  • Egyptian - Colo sana wintom tiebeen
    English - Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
  • Eritrean - Rehus-Beal-Ledeat
  • Esperanto - Gajan Kristnaskon & Bonan Novjaron
  • Estonian - Rõõmsaid Jõulupühi ja Head uut aastat
  • Ethiopian - enkuan le berhane ledtu adrswo
  • Éwé - Blunya na wo
  • Ewondo - Mbemde abog abyali nti! Mbembe Mbu!
  • Faroese - gleðilig jól og eydnuríkt nýggjár!
  • Farsi - Sal-e no mubarak
  • Fijian - Me Nomuni na marau ni siga ni sucu dei na yabaki vou
  • Finnish - Hyvää Joulua or Hauskaa Joulua - 0nnellista uutta vuotta
  • Flemish - Zalig Kerstfeest en Gelukkig nieuw jaar
  • French - Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année!
  • Frisian - Noflike Krystdagen en in protte Lok en Seine yn it Nije Jier!
  • Gaddang - Mangamgam Bawa a dawun sikua diaw amin
  • Galician - Bon Nadal e Bo Ani Novo
  • Georgian - Gilotsavt Krist'es Shobas & Gilosavt akhal ts'els
  • German - Fröhliche Weihnachten und ein glückliches Neues Jahr!
  • Greek - Kala Christougenna Ki'eftihismenos O Kenourios Chronos
  • Greenlandic - Juullimi Ukiortaassamilu Pilluarit
  • Guarani - Avyaitete ahi ko Tupa ray arape qyrai Yy Kapyryin rira
  • Han - Drin tsul zhit sho ahlay & Drin Cho zhit sho ahlay
  • Hausa - Barka da Kirsimatikuma Barka da Sabuwar Shekara!
  • Hawaiian - Mele Kalikimaka & Hauoli Makahiki Hou
  • Hebrew - Mo'adim Lesimkha. Shanah Tova
  • Hindi - Shubh Naya Baras
  • Hungarian - Kellemes karácsonyi ünnepeket és Boldog újévet!
  • Icelandic - Gleðileg Jól og Farsaelt Komandi ár!
  • Indonesian - Selamat Hari Natal & Selamat Tahun Baru
  • Iraqi - Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah
  • Irish - Nollaig Shona Dhuit
  • Iroquois - Ojenyunyat Sungwiyadeson homungradon nagwutut & Ojenyunyat osrasay
  • Italian - Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo
  • Japanese - Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto
  • Javanese - Sugeng Natal lan warsa enggal
  • Kashmiri - Christmas Id Mubarak
  • Kom - Isangle Krismen & Isangle beng i fue
  • Korean - Sung Tan Chuk Ha
  • Kurdish - Seva piroz sahibe u sersala te piroz be
  • Kwangali - Kerekemisa zongwa & Erago moMumvho gomupe
  • Ladin - Bon Nadel y Bon Ann Nuef
  • Lakota - Wanikiya tonpi wowiyuskin & Omaka teca oiyokipi
  • Latin - Pax hominibus bonae voluntatis
  • Latvian - Prieci'gus Ziemsve'tkus un Laimi'gu Jauno Gadu!
  • Lausitzian - Wjesole hody a strowe nowe leto
  • Lebanese - Milad Saeed wa Sanaa Mubarakah
  • Lithuanian - Linksmu Kaledu ir laimingu Nauju metu
  • Luxembourgeois - Schéi Krëschtdeeg an e Schéint Néi Joer
  • Macedonian - Srekan Bozik I Nova Godina
  • Malagasy - Arahaba tratry ny Krismasy
  • Malayan - Selamat Hari Natal
  • Maltese - Nixtieqlek Milied Tajjeb u Sena Tajba
  • Mandarin - Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan
  • Manx - Nollick ghennal as blein vie noa
  • Maya/Yucateco - Utzul mank'inal
  • Mongolian - Zul saryn bolon shine ony mend devshuulye
  • Moro - Nidli pred naborete nano
  • Norweigan/Nynorsk - eg ynskjer hermed dykk alle ein god jul og godt nyttår 
  • Norweigan/Bokmål -  God Jul og Godt Nyttår
  • Ojibwe (Chippewa) - Niibaa' anami'egiizhigad & Aabita Biboon
  • Pompangan - Malugud Pascu at saca Masayang Bayung Banua!
  • Pennsylvania German - En frehlicher Grischtdaag unen hallich Nei Yaahr!
  • Polish - Wesolych Swiat i Szczesliwego Nowego Roku.
  • Portuguese - Boas Festas e um feliz Ano Novo
  • Punjabi - Nave sal di mubaraka
  • Q'anjob'al - chi woche swatx'ilal hak'ul yet yalji Komami'
  • Quiche' - Dioa kkje' awuk'
  • Romani - Bachtalo krecunu Thaj Bachtalo Nevo Bers
  • Romanian - Craciun fericit si un An Nou fericit!
  • Russian - Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva i s Novim Godom
  • Samoan - Ia manuia le Kilisimasi ma le tausaga fou
  • Sardinian -  Bonu nadale e prosperu annu nou
  • Scots Gaelic - Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ur!
  • Serbian -  Sretan Bozic. Vesela Nova Godine
  • Sicilian - Bon Natali e Prosperu Annu Novu!
  • Sorbian - Wjesole hody a strowe Nowe leto.
  • Slovakian - Vesele Vianoce a stastny novy rok
  • Slovene - Vesele bozicne praznike in srecno novo leto
  • Spanish - Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo
  • Sudanese - Wilujeng Natal Sareng Warsa Enggal
  • Swedish - God Jul och Gott Nytt År
  • Tagalog - Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon
    Tahitian - Ia ora i te Noere e ia ora na i te matahiti 'api
  • Tamil - Nathar Puthu Varuda Valthukkal
  • Thai - Suksan Wan Christmas lae Sawadee Pee Mai
  • Tlingit - Xristos Khuwdziti kax sh kaxtoolxetl
  • Tonga - Kristo abe anduwe muciindo ca Christmas
  • Turkish - Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
  • Ukrainian - Veseloho Vam Rizdva i Shchastlyvoho Novoho Roku!
  • Urdu - Naya Saal Mubarak Ho
  • Valencian - Bon Nadal i millor any nou
  • Welsh - Nadolig LLawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda
  • Xhosa - Siniqwenelela Ikrisimesi EmnandI Nonyaka Omtsha Ozele Iintsikelelo Namathamsanqa
  • Yiddish - Gute Vaynakhtn un a Gut Nay Yor
  • Yoruba - E ku odun, e ku iye' dun!
  • Zulu - Sinifesela Ukhisimusi Omuhle Nonyaka Omusha Onempumelelo

There are so many ways to say it, but the meaning is still the same. This wonderful season also celebrates three other holidays: Chanukah, Eid and Kwanzaa.

So to everyone, regardless of your national, ethnic or religious affiliation, please accept sincere wishes that we may all experience peace and hope during this season and throughout the coming year.

 

12/17/2007

Happy Christmas!

This is a still from my new Happy Christmas video, just in time for the holidays. I've been secretly taking singing and performing lessons from the new British Ska group Tygorz, which is headed by none other than British music and animation legend Joel Veitch, and backed up by his band 7 Seconds of Love, along with the world-famous Ninja Kittens!

They're even trying to teach me the proper accents to use to create an authentic British punk/ska sound. You're probably more familiar with Joel Veitch than you realize, as he's also the creator of the Ninja Kittens and the moon-obsessed Spongmonkeys.

This is the first public airing of this video, so please be kind with your criticism. And before I forget, let me dedicate this one to my special UK friend Kassady.

So settle back and enjoy yourselves while I make a complete effing fool of myself... and have a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays or whatever you feel like celebrating!

Click here to see my Happy Christmas video - it opens in a new window.