Emuers,
And you thought I wouldn't get this out on Monday!I have been without Internet for about 4 days, I am assuming because of the new Midwestern Ocean that has formed over the past week, complete with daily twisters, rivers merging with highways just for fun, and basically weather you only read about in parts of the Bible happening at all hours of the day and night. But, our basement is dry (one of only 23% of basements that are currently dry in Iowa), and since our house is for sale, I will not tell you our "dirty" little secret of how we kept it dry. But enough about the depressing weather affecting us all, how about the big news that happened last week?? I am not talking about Big Brown (who admittedly is given daily treatments of steroids) losing, the Royals splitting 4 games with the Yanks, or the fact that I survived 4 days without my friend, the Internet, I am talking about the fact that we finally have 2 candidates for our next President (sorry, Nadar...you don't count!). This email is not in support of either candidate, you can get that from me in person, but instead encouraging EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU to actually vote, but not until you have studied up on each candidate. To me, the only worse thing than not voting, is voting without any real knowledge of the candidate. Let me help you out....
1. First, visit each candidate's website. I had my students do this in order to research their views on science issues. The websites are pretty much standardized now by the political laws/rules, so they are pretty good. You will notice a similar format for both candidates. I recommend clicking on the issues and reading about each viewpoint.
http://www.johnmccain.com/
http://www.barackobama.com/index.php or go to a "neutral" site, NPR (National Public Radio)to get the candidate's views.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18437398
Disregard Hillary's views, sadly she is no longer with us. She is not dead, simply thrown onto a large heap of political hungry democrats offering anything they can to be VP. Hillary has offered both Bill and Monica for the Veep position, but Obama has asked for a politician to be named later!
2. Watch your email and research your email. Guesswhat?? I have a site for you:http://www.snopes.com/ If you have never heard of this site, you should be ashamed of yourself. My family knows that Doug and I get on people for fowarding stupid emails that are untrue or at least questionable. This site keeps track of all those forwards and the legitimacy of their claims. Guess what you can learn very quickly at this site??? Glade Plugins DO NOT CAUSE FIRES (never have), Bill Gates is not sending us all money because we email each other, your cell phone #s are not being given to telemarketers, and people are not killing you in mall parking lots after having you sample ether-laced perfume. But guess what else you can learn??? About the 2 remaining candidates! Obama has 29 different email "rumors" circulating about him, McCain 15. Let me help you out some: Obama IS NOT MUSLIM!!! This one I find funny since his "old" church that is in the news every week is definitely not Muslim. And if he was Muslim, is that such a big deal?I was born a white, male, Catholic, American....you can call me Mr. Majority. But by the time I am forty, being male will be the only thing that makes me part of the privileged or majority. Muslim is now the #1 religion, overtaking Catholicism last year. Hispanic decent will over take caucasian decent in our country by the year 2015 (according to census numbers), and if you haven't noticed, the U.S. is not really alone in world dominance anymore. One of my favorite facts: China graduates more people from college every year than our country even has ENROLLED in college! The world is changing folks, get used to it. Back to the rumors. Obama does not have plans to bring back slavery...but only for whites, his wife's thesis is not restricted until the day after the election, his occaisional absence of his hand over his heart during the National Anthem is not in protest of our country (to be honest...I always keep my hands behind my back), and he is not endorsed or funded by the KKK or Hugo Chavez. I am not sure how those two are even believable, but I know people who believe it! As for McCain, his current wife's history of addiction is true, but she has recovered and she IS NOT the candidate you are voting on. Also, why the divorce from his first wife? Well, being a POW for 5.5 years and his wife having a near fatal accident put a little strain on the marriage. (And I thought a fight over the grocery bill was bad!) He has no problem with the democratic party. (Is liking the other side such abad thing? I mean working together for one cause???) And actually, that is about all I could find on McCain. Most of his snopes.com stuff is not bad and it checks out to be true. Some people I have talked to swear he will be the oldest president ever and could die at any minute. He would be the oldest president, beating Ronald Reagan out by a few years. Old Ronny didn't do too badly now did he? Just disregard the ol' losing memory and Alzheimer's thing though...that happens! As for his health, he got a clean bill of health, as did Obama. I am a little skeptical however because I cannot remember any candidate not given this clean bill, plus I am on about 2 or 3 pills a day atage 30, I can't imagine these guys are perfect. C'mon...give us something! Acid reflux? Gout? Trouble sleeping? Something! The point is, do research when you see an ad, get an email, or hear something from somebody who heard it from someone else. Its like being in high school again...Don't spread rumors and lies, they are hurtful.
3. Yes....lastly....VOTE! I took part in my first caucus this January and man, how cool was that! Being an Iowan and getting to set the stage for the election to come. Hearing people shout and debate for their candidate instead of checking a box?! And then watching CNN for the next few hours just to see what the nation thought. Record numbers or Republicans and Democrats (and I suppose even Independents, Greenparty, Party of George Barry, etc) have voted, why should we quit now that the last vote is the one that finishes this whole process. We are at War, we are paying $4.00 for a gallon of gas (I paid 88 cents in 1997 in Cedar Falls), Global Warming is threatening our Earth (global temps went up for the 57th straight year. Notice I did not say "why", but you can't argue that the Earth is not warming. 57 straight years!), and we have so many other "minor issues": lack of health insurance and care, food costs rising, economy slumping, other countries in need of our help, my 401K. We need to vote and prove to the world and ourselves that we do care about our country. But don't just research and vote for the President, research and vote for all the races. Senate, governor, representatives, mayor. They all make decisions that affect you, so why not vote the person that would do what you want them to. And when the voting is done, unite together to support the people in charge. Thank them through emails and letters when they do things you agree with, ask them to listen and help when they disagree with you. I guess the moral of this whole Emu is not meant to be funny or make your week go any better, but to remind you of a privilege you have in this country....the privilege to vote. But you also have the privilege of information in our country that you would not get in other countries (China for example). Use this information and spread the correct information. And then vote.
Little long I know, but needed. I for one will not pay attention to much of the media ads for either side as it is just propaganda. I use the Net for my info and Imake sure its neutral or correct information. Enjoy the week...Tuesday is almost here in Central Iowa...and so is the next rainstorm.
Love&Prayers,
Ben
I will not leave you with anything this week as I think I gave enough weblinks and info to keep you busy enough already. Sorry there weren't more laughs this week.
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