Sagging Pants.......

I'm unsure why the fad of people pulling their pants down and showing people their underwear is still semi-acceptable in todays society.  So I'm on my way to class yesterday and noticed I had a little bit of time to spare.  Before driving onto campus, I pulled into the Burger King that's right next to my destination and began waiting in line.  I had about 20 minutes to spare so being 3 cars back from the ordering machine was 0 on my care list.  I was listening to music and enjoying my time thinking of which drink I wanted when from the parking lot, I couldn't help but see him.  This was a young guy, maybe early 20's, that had parked his car and was on his way into the fast food chain.  He was wearing a red shirt, gray sweat pants, and bright green boxers.  How did I know what color his undergarments were, you ask?  Maybe because his elastic waist was around his thighs instead of his waist and his boxers were out there for the world to see!  Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't most sweat pants not only have an elastic waist, but also usually have a draw string to assist ones need to tighten them around their waist if it's too loose?  Come on, man!!!  I remember in the 90's when this fad was in full effect, and I never understood it.  How is it still a popular thing for people to do this?  Have we not grown as a society enough to value our clothes and how to wear them?  What about being portrayed in a certain light to others?  Not only does it look ridiculous, but doesn't it make it a little harder to retrieve things from your pockets when they're down that low?  I'll never forget the time that I saw a guy that had to bend over at the waist to pull his cell phone out of his front right pocket just because his pants were that far down on his legs.  Seeing these things make me question what we see as acceptable and also people in general.  What the hell is wrong with this society?

Obama Bashes the Supreme Court

"Obamacare" is what President Barack Obama has named his new health care plan for our wonderful United States of America. The new law for health care reform was sent to the Supreme Court to debate on whether it should be mandated or shot down. When the president was asked about his thoughts on the Supreme Court's deliberation, he stated that he doesn't understand why the Supreme Court would turn down this health care reform, while calling them a bunch of "unelected officials". Mind you that Justice Sotomayer was appointed by Barack Obama himself. Here is Obama's exact quote: “I would just remind conservative commentators that for years what we’ve heard is the biggest problem on the bench was judicial activism or a lack of judicial restraint, that an unelected group of people would somehow overturn a duly constituted and — and passed law. Well, there’s a good example, and I’m pretty confident that this court will recognize that and not take that step.” In anything that is sent to the Supreme Court, the justices that are appointed are there to make sure that our constitutional rights as U.S. citizens are not messed with. For Barack Obama to say the things he said, is completely demeaning to everyone that serves as a Supreme Court Justice. Obama also stated, “The point I was making is that the Supreme Court is the final say on our Constitution and our laws, and all of us have to respect it,” he said, “but it’s precisely because of that extraordinary power that the Court has traditionally exercised significant restraint and deference to our duly elected legislature, our Congress.” Now he wants to question whether or not it would be correct to have the Supreme Court mandate what is sent??? The system that our country has survived on in upholding our rights as American citizens is being questioned by the tyrant who is in office? With every piece of legislation that Barack Obama has put forth, there has been something within them that would strip U.S. citizens of our rights. Can we as Americans sit back and let our freedoms be taken away by our president? What can we do about it? I hope these chain of events opens the eyes of Obama enthusiasts and at least makes them double check on their beliefs.

How do I say goodbye?

It seems as though someone very near and dear to me has enlisted into the Army. My 17 year old nephew Alex was sworn in yesterday at the MEPS station here in Knoxville. I cant help but think that I'm the one to blame. Sure he says it's what he wants to do and his parents and family support him, but if I hadn't been so close to him and enlisted into the Marine Corps in 2006, I don't think he would have joined. Alex and I were always very close. I moved in with my sister Leslie, her husband Paul, and Alex when I was 18. My sister offered me a place to stay after living in a drug and sex infested world that would have surely killed me. To this day I owe them for taking me in and cleaning me up. But was their sacrifice something that they would have to pay for through their son? While living in the same house, Alex and I made a bond that could never be broken. He enhanced my love for video games as I taught him the cruel but funny world of sarcasm and humor. We hang out all the time. When I was able to drive, I always asked him if he wanted to come with me on my errands. We would blast the heavy rock music and sing every verse. We were best friends. Even though he was a few years younger than me, Alex was always mature for his age. He knew his place and didn't step the bounds in certain conversations but would give his 2 cents whenever asked. I worked alongside of Leslie and Paul doing residential construction. After being there over a year, the boss told us that he was ending the company. We all were frantic in looking for work and for some reason I was lead to the local recruiters office. I had a friend join the Marine Corps and two other friends join the Army so I thought it may be the right thing for me to do. Doing JROTC while in high school always put the military in my mind but in a distant point of my mind. I decided that if I were going to join the military, I was going to join the most ruthless branch. The United States Marine Corps. I enlisted in May and was sent to Paris Island in August where hell awaited me. 13 weeks of pure mental and physical exhaustion was my life until I graduated in November. Who was the one that was running to see me on the parade deck? Alex. I had instilled something in him that I could never take back. After 4 years of being away from my family, I finally came home. Even after coming home, my sister still had her door open for me. I moved back in to find my friend had grown taller than me and was wittier than me. I loved it. This led to us having even more in common and we hung out even more. If we weren't watching TV or YOUTUBE videos, we were playing online games with one another. However, I began to see his love for the military. He was very knowledgeable in different weapons, tactics, and gear. This alarmed me, but I shoved it to the back of my mind. "He's too smart to join the military. Especially after I told him some of the horrible things that can come from it", I thought to myself. December of 2010, I became engaged to the woman I am married to today. I moved out of my sister's house and we live about 10 minutes down the road. I still think it's too far from Alex. Now that he got a job and he's in his senior year of high school, we don't always have time to see each other. It saddens me beyond measure. He has grown into a smart, and amazing man. Did I set the course for his future? Am I to blame for what he has done? I will blame myself for this. I know he's a big boy and he is aware of the decisions he is making, but would he had made these decisions if I weren't around? Now I feel as if time is running out. Once August hits, I wont be able to drive 10 minutes to see him anymore. He'll be in a different state, learning to be all that he can be. He's going to put his life on the line for a people that don't know or care for him. I hope and pray that the Lord watches over him. When the time comes for him to leave, will I be able to actually say goodbye? I don't want to. Alex has been one of my closest friends for many years and I don't want to see him go. If you don't know what kind of person I am, my sisters and friends would be able to tell you. Heartless, Fearless, Mean, Cruel, Hateful. I cried today. Something I haven't done in years. I don't want to lose my best friend. I don't want to live my life without him. But I must. I have to let him do what he wants to do with his life. But I keep asking myself one question. How do I say goodbye?

Hello friends and blog readers around the world. This is my first time doing this, so please bear with me... I'm a Marine stationed in North Carolina and I just recently returned from my first tour of duty in the wonderful armpit we like to call Iraq. I was gone for a total of about 8 months and I am stoked to be back home. The only thing that bothers me is, upon my return, I've noticed a lot more things that is different about good 'ol U.S. Quick question for whoever wants a brain teaser. Why is everything that is discussed on the news or anything that is political, always presents the race card? Just curious... Here we are telling people how wrong it is to judge someone by their color, but at the same time, making it a big argument in the headlines. I'm not a racist person by no means. In the Marine Corps, they teach us how to see the guys next to you that are fighting to save your life and for you to save theirs. It doesn't matter what race or religion he/she is. But it's understood that under a sticky situation, he has your back and you have his. I think it's great that we have have our first African American president. I personally didn't vote for him, but I think he has the potential to do a great job with leading our nation. I just wish everyone would get off the kick about him being black and just stand behind our leader in the troubling times that we face. Who cares what the other competitor could have done differently! He didn't make it to the big seat! Another thing.... Why is it so hard to see how good of a supreme court judge Mrs. Sonia Sotomayer can be? Here we go again with the ethnicity battle. Wonderful..she would be the first Latino woman to hold that position. GREAT!! But who cares!! The only thing I'm worried about is if she's going to be able to handle the job. I personnally think she can. She graduated high school at the top of her class. She graduated top of her class in college. Then was accepted into Yale law school. Not to mention that she put herself through college. If anyone wanted to be a judge bad enough, it was this lady. I guess we will see how it goes. I really hope that America can get their head out of their a*s and start looking at what we need as a country to help our economy and international situations...