LA needs a reality check

There are a lot of things you have to get used to when you move from NorCal to SoCal. And for the most part, I have adapted. I am no longer used to "cold" weather,  I understand that Safeway is Vons, I have a greater appreciation for the beach and I no longer say hella (for the most part).

However, there is one thing that I think SoCal can learn from the north, and it has to do with its broadcast reporters. I really cannot stand to watch local news here. If its not Barbie reporting to me, its an anchor with blown up lips. After interning at NBC in the Bay Area, I realized that yes, in broadcast, looks do play a part. But those people were normal and attractive. It seems like many of these SoCal blond bimbos girls should just go on a bad television drama.
 

Although some people are easy on the eyes, it really should be about the story, not the reporter.

Take a look at this interview. How can anyone stand to watch this?

Since when is this appropriate to wear to work?

Who is the most idiotic reporter you have seen?

2011 Predictions

2011
First of all, let me say that in general, it is a pretty ugly number. And along with the new year, we have a series of predictions. From applications on Facebook, such as "Who will kill you in 2011" to predictions by ABC New Anchors with topic ranging from politics to religion, everyone is wondering what can possibly happen this year.

I am part of this impatient public, hoping that some of these predictions will give insight to policy, politics, and those damn tea-bagers in Congress. I myself, went to the psychic (for the first time), to see what might be in store for me.

In growing uncertainty with regards to the job market, the economy and even the ability of our President to keep his campaign promises, it seems that people are looking more and more for answers of what they can expect. But if you look at the major stories of 2010 (the BP oil spill, the Chilean mine disaster, the earthquake in Haiti), how could any of that be predicted? For a look at the top stories (a report done by my future husband David Muir) click here.

Nevertheless we keep searching for answers that can only be answered with time. What are some of your 2011 predictions? Maybe in a year (that is, if we make it through 2012) we can revisit those and see if we were right.

My prediction?
Newly elected Tea Party members will realize not matter how many speeches they give about a "better America" they too will realize that our system (especially in the Senate, hint hint I am talking about the filibuster) will prevent any kind of significant legislation. Democrats will be even more on the defensive. Do I believe that Republicans might succeed in underfunding "Obama-care"? Yes. Will they provide their own solution for health care? Hell No.

(Went to SF for New Years this year. Hurray for actually doing something this New Years!)

New Years Resolutions

Some of you may be thinking...isnt it a little early to be talking about New Year's resolutions. Well I recently made a resolution. I was thinking about saving it until New Years, and I thought that was completely pointless. I found something about myself that I wanted to change. Why should I wait for a certain event/day to try and change myself. Why should people wait for January 1st to stop smoking? Why should change either revolved around election season or New Years. If you want to change yourself, do it. If you want to change the horrible political system we are in, grab some friends and protest, boycott, become a freegan.<---really, click on this link. Freegans are people who eat things out of dumpsters. Not my cup of tea, but you can admire it...kind of.

Oh, and I forgot to mention my resolution
1. To learn to forgive, but to never forget.

Maybe I'll be inspired to make a few more with the holiday season before me. What are some of yours?

Chi vs. the Force

Well, for those of you that haven't heard yet, I decided this Thanksgiving weekend to get some holes in my body. Yes, I got acupuncture. I have been sick since Spring semesters so since western medicine failed me, I decided to tap into my asian roots here in cupertino(land of the asians). Well I get into my acupuncterer's (correct?) office and basically he started telling me a bunch of mumbo jumbo about Chi. Yes folks the reason I am sick is because my Chi is a little disoriented so this guy will poke some needles in me and make it better. For those of you that havent visited an acupunturist, Chi is essentially life, it flows through us, it surrounds us. Hello to all those fellow Star War geeks out there! Doesnt this sound familiar. Yup, the force exists, it just has another name, Chi, and apparently the force in our bodies get confused sometimes, fucking up our stomachs. Amazing. That is my insight for today. Also, the guy that played Obi-Wan Kenobe? Well aparrently he said taking on that role was a bad decision. That is completely heart-wrenching to all those Star Wars people like me. ALSO, if you shopped on Black Friday, you must be insane.

The "Real" People who run the world

I have a friend Natasha, who is truly amazing. She seems to live to help and provide for others. She loves to cook, host parties and is always there when you need her. Her goal in life: to become a mother (of all sons mind you) and feed them. And that got me thinking. (No, I am not planning to reproduce anytime).

Natasha's goal is plain and simple; to provide for others. My goal is completely different; to become a substantial journalist working at a really cool place like the New York Times. So who's goal better? That answer is neither one. It's co-dependent relationship. I could never gain confidence in myself and my writing, if it weren't for people like Natasha pushing me and encouraging me along the way. At the same time, Natasha needs people to care for. People like Natasha are in everyone's lives in the form of friends, mothers, aunts, uncles, fathers, you name it.

So who's really running this world, those you rise to the top, or those who were there for them and helping every step of the way. The people that do best with power, often aren't the ones to seek it.  Think about that.

Change is possible, just not maybe with our current system

Over the week, I found a few different articles that I thought would be interesting to some of my blog readers and I wasn't sure which one to pick. All of that changed when I saw this....an interactive way to let you solve the deficit, by the New York Times. Basically they give you a whole bunch of choices of programs to cut, taxes to increase and not to mention, those defense decisions. The challenge is to cut the deficit for projected budget gaps in 2015 and 2030. Let me tell you...its not as easy task.

That being said, it certainly do-able. As some may know, my skills in math are nonexistent. And no, I'm not exaggerating. Okay, well maybe a little bit. But that is not the point. That point is, that solving the deficit is possible. Despite the the loss in hope in President Obama's ability to overturn Washington, change is possible. We don't have to drown in red ink. It just has to be done by us. That is what the New York Times showed us.

Now I suppose the next question we have to ask is why isn't change happening in Washington? I mean, politicians are still human. They are supposed to know the system better than us. They are supposed to know policy. But more importantly, they are supposed to vote on legislation and create laws. Well here is where we find the problem. From my perspective politicians know policy and know the system more or less. The problem is the system. How come in the last 2 years where Democrats had control over 2 branches of government, we barely have any bills passing into law? (Some of you may want to count Healthcare or Financial Reform as something, but they are so watered down, they really mean nothing anyway).

It is the damn filibuster(if you don't know what this is, go take a political science class because that is just pathetic). This is causing the shit to hit the fan every time anything comes to the Senate. We can't pass anything because the minority party sets up this block.  You know, in the good old times, the minority party got in the spirit of things and actually stood up on a podium and read from the phone book. Now, filibusters are silent. If you ask me, that is just a rip-off.

Lets make things simple here and eliminate the filibuster. If you ask me, I think we should just abolish the Senate(I will talk about this in some later post). So go out and urge your Senator to make the change we need the most (hint: it's not those Bush tax cuts).

My birthday

Today marks the end of my teenage years. Saying that just makes me feel old. I know, I'm only 20 and I feel old. I also like to knit, so before you know it, I'm totally going to be a grandma. The 20's are really a whole new decade. By society's standards I am supposed to graduate college, get my first job, find someone special and marry them. Some people argue that one should start having kids in their late twenties. That is absolutely mind blowing to me. Those are OLD people things. But now I realize, I am getting old. According to my mother, now time will just continue to speed up. Crazy.

Consequently though, birthdays always make me think of un-birthdays, from Alice in Wonderland. Part of me wishes we did celebrate those un-birthdays. A birthday makes you feel special and people and relatives take the time to say hi and wish you well. If only we could have that 364 days a year instead of 1. That is something to think about.

"At 20 years of age the will reigns; at 30 the wit; and at 40 the judgment."
- Ben Franklin