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madlawstudent. So yeah...I am really going to do my best to keep the majority of this journal friends only...of course this means that you 1) must have a journal to get access to all the yummy content (like damn it's cold in Madrid in Autumn) and 2) you must be friended. I am extremely friendly and usually happily friend people and friend people back. Also, I don't get bent out of shape about being defriended. It's only the internets, right.
Friends filters...I will be using them...and I am also going to be trying to use tags...
Here are some ideas for content related friends filters
- General (which will include total bullshit, travel, daily quips as well as political rambling...ranting)
- Relationships (I really dont want anyone to have to read my bitching if they dont want to)
- School/Work (again, not the most exciting stuff in the world)
- Spanish (I sometimes try to write in Spanish)
- Unfiltered (highly restricted access)
I am really not a heavy commenter and I am sorry for that. I do avidly read my friends page. I do not expect you to comment on my journal, I assume that if you still got me friended then you are reading...or not...it doesn't really matter.
The only thing I do ask is that we all play nice...this means please do not make personal attacks, personal insults, or derogatory language. Obviously, in this little corner of the web, I am the sole arbiter of what is derogatory.
Finally, a warning....like many people my age, I type fast. Also, I type what I hear in my head. As such I am prone to making stupid errors that occasionally make me look like a high school drop-out. I will write do instead of due, their instead of there or they're, and now because I am so immersed in Spanish I will occasionally type "cion" instead of "tion." You just got to bear with me here people.
- Location:Madrid, España
- Mood:
exhausted - Music:Young Folks, Peter Bjorn and John
More importantly, I have a number of friends who were either born or born and raised in Iran. I had dinner with my friend, Mitra and her husband on Friday. Her husband is Scottish, but converted to Islam and has traveled to Iran a lot of the last few years.
Foreign Policy magazine is reporting that before the election, Obama had written to Khamenei because he wanted to deepen diplomatic ties. That was clear from the Roxana Siberi situation that both Iran and the US were warming to initiating greater diplomatic relations.
Now, someone on my friend's list actually suggested that we have some sort of moral duty to invade Iran to help the people.
Are you fucking kidding me?????
Some Americans have this idea that we are the world police and have a responsiblity to use military force at every injustice in the world. Well, were should we start? It seems to me that every time we look around there is more injustice than we could ever possible counter?
Iran is remarkable because it is a democratic movement started and led by the people. That is what leads to democracy. Foreign force does not work. We don't even have to look that far into history to see multiple examples. Have we forgotten about our attempt to liberate the Iraqi people?? Afghanistan???
Ridiculous.
Anywho, Craig and I are going out to eat Senegalese food tonight and watch Spain kick USA's ass.
I'm living Madrid in 6 days now. I can't believe it. As for Craig and me, who knows what is going to happen.
This is so awesome to me on so many levels. 1) I was raised Episcopalian and I think it is the warmest, most open-minded Christian denomination and 2) He is setting an example for other Catholics. You do not have to live in hypocrisy. You can change faiths. The Epsicopal Church is Catholice-lite in that it has all the riturals, spirtuality and meaning, but without the hate. Obviously there is a schism in the church over gay priests, but it looks like the homophobes will have to starte their own damn denomination.
Uh huh.
Except that is not how life works. Discrimination is a part of life. Not everyone gets what they want. There is a difference between "discrimination" and "illegal discrimination." Airlines are businesses. They are in their right to have two different classes of seats. They are in their right to make their seats smaller and smaller. They are in their right to charge a person who does not fit into one seat, the price of two (except in Canada). If you do not like it, then vote with your dollar. Don't fly United or any other airline with similar policies. But as for me, I think the policy is the only fair solution and I think it is perfectly justified.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8
I think she will eventually be freed. I think if it wasn't for Obama's change in tone with Iran she would be spending 8 years in jail. It is yet to be seen how this will turn out, but I am really hopeful.
If you have ever sat next to someone who spills over into your seat, you know that this is a good idea. http://consumerist.com/5213249/united-if-y
I'm glad the commenters seem to support the move. I
http://feministlawprofessors.com/?p=9510
MEXICO CITY, March 25 -- Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton traveled to Mexico on Wednesday with a blunt mea culpa, saying that decades of U.S. anti-narcotics policies have been a failure and have contributed to the explosion of drug violence south of the border.
(...)
In comments to U.S. reporters, Clinton called for a new approach to tackling the drug problem, noting that "we have been pursuing these strategies for 30 years."
"Neither interdiction [of drugs] nor reducing demand have been successful," she said.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con
We are so lucky to have someone as Secretary of State who actually recognizes our own contributions to the problem. Now, what I want to know is what will be the "new strategy". We know that reducing demand doesn't work. We cannot create a police state along the border and in Mexico. So, more equipment and more troops are only going to have a temporary effect. We need a real, long-term solution to 1) prevent more tragic deaths in Mexico, 2) Reduce corruption in Mexico, 3) Prevent spillover violence in the United States, and 3) a compassionate way to deal with users in our own country.
Well, it is becoming increasingly more accepted that prohibition does more harm than good. I don't exactly agree with this guy, http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/2
It is really time that we come up with a sane, effective drug policy. I am really heartened to see that the Obama administration is going to stop federal raids on medical marijana establishments that are duly authorized by California law.
I am going to talk about this and talk about this and talk about this until it happens. Those of us who believe in legalization/decriminalization should not be afraid of being branded "hippies, stoners, or low-lifes."
I'm no longer teaching on Mondays on my lunch break. Instead, I am going to be using those two hours to do Spanish exercises at my desk. This is the very definition of "esforzarme."
The weather is perfect in Madrid. 70s and sunny all weekend. I am reminded why I love Madrid so much.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/arti
Basically, this dude is saying that the Brazilian Archbishop shouldn't have brought publcity to the case because the Catholic Church could only lose credibility. After, excommunication for abortion is automatic. Hmm....SOMEONE IS MISSING THE POINT.
So many people are really questioning the Catholic Church over this and I am so glad for it.
I don't actually have much to update from the last four days other than to say:
1) The turbulence we experienced as we ascended was the worst I have ever experience. I cried and was shaking for a while after the worst was over. Yes, I forgot my pills. However, everyone else was shitting themselves as well.
2) The wedding was absolutely lovely.
3) Craig's friends are really great people
4) I'm not a fan of Portsmouth, but South England is very green.
5) Overall the weather was awful, but that was to be expected.
6) I ate the best fish and chips every as well as two curries from the same place. It was awesome and you just can't get Indian food that good in Madrid.
7) I got a huge package from my mom including MAC Hello Kitty stuff!
