Rants, Raves, and Random Thoughts

I live in California. You might have certain ideas about California and people from California (whether you live here or not). I wrote a paper in college on how the Beach Boys (as much as I love them) created this false image of California. By the way, Brian Wilson was deathly afraid of the ocean, so how much surfing do you think he did? However, that's neither here nor there. Also, you could consider us a large liberal state (I live in the state, and I am not significantly liberal). That might be true, we tend to vote blue and I'm really not a fan of a donkey, but once again, neither here nor there.

I love California; for the most part. I lived in Maryland for a year, and although it had its perks, I am a California girl at heart.

Here are two things that I did not grow up with, but one could argue are the best things about Maryland: in the fall, the leaves change colors:

Others might argue that having snow in the winter, whether a lot or a little, makes Maryland the preferred state:

I however, much prefer this version of California: (Carlsbad, Northern San Diego County)

Anyway, this post does not really have anything to do with these photos. If you've been watching the news, although it is hard to get past all the terrible storms, the Supreme Court told California that they have release 33,000 inmates. I am a firm believer, in you do the crime, you do the time. I also am a death penalty supporter. I know that seems callous, but I believe in an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for an eye, and tooth for tooth.'" - Matthew 5:38

Anyway, back to where I was headed. My coworkers and I were having a discussion on this topic. How are they going to decide what inmates to release? Violent criminals? No. Drug related offenses? Only if it was marijuana. Fraud, embezzlement, identity theft? Definitely not, they ruined people's lives. Rapists, child molesters, sex offenders? No, maybe, yes, no. It really is not going to be that easy. Now here is my opinion on the issue with the California prison system.

1. We are a HUGE state. Of course we will have more crime and more criminals; it is how it will work. You can characterize it to illegal immigrants or not; Hispanics or whites; blacks or Asians. I am not even going to go there. It does not matter. Clearly we have more of it all. That's all there is to it.

2. With all these people, or criminals as they are known, they do some particular crime. Let's being with possession with intent to sell cocaine. Maybe you only had a small amount, but enough to show you were dealing. Perhaps you're not a drug addict. Maybe you are. For now, we punish you, you're put in jail, but it is a felony, so you are in jail and you parole. You don't get in trouble, you lay low, and you're out on parole. Well, since California does not REHABILITATE its prisoners, you might still be a drug addict, or you might not have proper skills because you were only in the system so long and can't find a job. Say it's been a few years and you decide, I need a gun for protection. Well, you're a felon, that's not really an option, you break parole and they bust you for felon in possession. Well, now you're stuck. Depending on any other mitigating factors, maybe you have 3 strikes and now you're in prison for a determinate amount of time, maybe for your life. Realistically, you're not a violent criminal. You had the gun, you didn't use it, that anyone knows of. So, we can't let you go, or can we?

3. We're overcrowded and we don't rehabilitate people? Great, what else is the problem. Look, I am not a sympathizer to any criminal, BUT we put some of them in positions to fail and end up back in jail. It might not be their "direct" fault, but it is still so unfortunate. So Jim molests his neighbor's daughter. Wrong, very, very wrong. It happens once, and never again. He goes to prison. Since it only happened once, he is paroled; no rehabilitation, but as a parolee he has responsibilities. To register as a sex offender, he can not live or work so many miles from a school, and his work has to be so far from work when he first paroles and is on probation. Okay, great. Jim finds a job, not the greatest, but one that is willing to look past his sketchy decisions from before. He registers as a sex offender each year. He tries to find a home (he began living with his mom and then moved on his own once he found a job). Mom lived by work, but nowhere near a school, but he could only stay for so long. Ok, he is ready. Well, he tries to find an apartment; nope too many kids in the building. Down the street is an elementary school. He tries, so what does he do? He lives 5 miles over the distance from work he is allowed. He doesn't know if he should ask for special permission. He then violates his parole/probation and ends up back in prison. Now, did he really, truly do anything wrong this time? Some say yes, some say no. I say both. Yes, he should have spoken with his probation officer or someone, but, sometimes, as we know with any job, they are no help. He was stuck. Should he be let go? I say yes. My coworkers say no.

4. Remember when that one woman from the "Manson Family" asked for clemency because she was dying of brain cancer and was denied? How about others in a similar position? Say they did not do quite what she did and the rest did, but they shot someone. I say no they should not be let out, but I know there are people who would say, oh they are just going to die, who cares? What if they don't and they are young (this woman was old) and they continue to do such bad things? I still say no.

5. Another kind of inmate. You were convicted of a DUI and gross involuntary vehicular manslaughter. You did not purposely kill someone; you made a poor choice (having one too many drinks), and you hit someone. Yes, wrong, but not the same as choosing to shoot someone. Say you're serving a 15 year sentence of some sort and maybe it is determinate, maybe it isn't, and you could be let out on good behavior. If it is determinate, and you've served 13 of the 15 with no risk to society, should they be let out? I think probably, more so than a truly violent criminal. And if you have an indeterminate sentence, and you could be paroled after 10 of the 15, and its been 8 years. I still think you're a better candidate than a violent criminal. However, the options have to be weighed as they would be for any parole considerations.

I believe they have 2 years to figure it out. That's really not that long. I'm not sure, I just think I'm going to lock my doors and hope for the best. I hope that they are able to make the best choices. I know they'll have to be fair, but focus on the safety of those who they will be moving into the neighborhoods of. And maybe we wouldn't have these problems if we properly rehabilitated our parolees. Maybe we'd have less 3 strike inmates and less death row inmates.

hair, hair, everywhere

I'm trying to grow my hair out.

It is so frustrating.... I know it is not short or anything, but it is so blah.

I don't want to color it and I don't want to cut it short. I just want it to grow.

My bangs are awkward. I wish I could do the bangs braid thing, but I can't.

I have done it once, and it just does not work for me.

This is short, and sweet, and to the point. I might update it later, or tomorrow.

black.and.white.

I remember when I was a kid, since Nickelodeon does not do this anymore, watching Nick at Nite and seeing all the old shows from way before I was born. Many were in black and white; others were those that started when tv sets actually had color and were played in color. Examples: I Love Lucy, Leave It to Beaver, Dick Van Dyke Show, Bewitched, etc. etc. As well as movies and all kinds of stuff. Anyway, when the world revolved around black and white tv shows and movies, I think, we were happier people in general. And in many ways, I think I would have preferred living then. Here are my reasons for why I feel this way:

1. In the present, we want everything faster, louder, stronger, quicker, smarter, better looking, more of it, more expensive, top of the line, high quality, and as soon as possible. We don't even stop to think about what it is. Does this tv show provoke anything? Is this movie even funny to me or do I only laugh because everyone else is?
2. Back then, things were original. It is nearly as creative or interesting to remake things. Yes, covering a song is the finest form of flattery, and I'm all for that, when you make it your own but give credit to where it is due. But really, don't remake old movies and tv shows. It won't be as good, ever. I mean, think about it, could anyone but Lucille Ball be Lucy Ricardo? I don't think so. I rest my case.
3. People always seemed to live in the moment. This definitely relates to my first point, but families enjoyed time spent with each other. They did things together, besides watch tv. Yes, back then it was common for mom to stay home and dad to work and with the cost of things that is not quite possibly, but sometimes it seems as though family comes second or third or fourth to everything else in the world. That is so terribly wrong in so many ways.
4. It was embarrassing to have children before you were married or where short skirts or certain hairstyles. I am all for freedoms and for women to be treated equally to men, but newsflash, if you wear a short skirt and low cut shirt, a size too small, with high heels it is quite obvious you aren't dressing for your own enjoyment, fashion, or comfort, but as a sex object. Thanks for making it okay to stare at my chest because you like the attention. I don't. What happened to looking pretty and sophisticated, if not simply prim and proper? And when has casual Friday become the uniform for life? We shouldn't judge by appearance, but sometimes, it happens and I would rather come off as sophisticated that trashy.
5. Finally, politeness. I don't know if that's a word, but it seems, or maybe I'm incorrect, as I wasn't there. People were more polite. I don't know why I feel that way, but I do.

Anyway, those are my reasons for preferring the black and white era to my super technological world. I'm really into retro things these days and I'm totally digging old movies. I really want to watch a whole bunch. Hmm... Maybe I will. :)

eh

I'm addicted to Kit Kats. Are they my new replacement for Diet Coke? I hope so.

I have nothing to really blog about today.

My legs are sore, I'm thankful that they can carry my body through a million activities BUT, they are still sore.

I'm pretty sleepy.

I'm also sick and tired of people ranting and raving about this whole "Asians in the Library" thing. Yeah, she made a video that she probably regrets making. She isn't the first, she won't be the last. Stop being so jealous of her because she has something you don't. Accept her apology and move on. She's a 20 year old girl, who now has a ruined life. Is that what you wanted? Well, it is what she'll get. She can not do any more than just apologize. And if you won't accept that, then I feel bad for you, not her. She will always remember this mistake, but she will move on. Just leave her alone. I'm not in the mood to continue with this rant, so there you go.

Did I mention my legs are sore? Oh, ok, I did. That's great. :)

tough

Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred is totally kicking my butt. It feels so good. I don't care what I weigh exactly, I know that I have a lot of muscle already, or I did. I was very small but I didn't lose many pounds before. That's what I'm hoping for. I want to wear a size 8 and stay there. None of this 12, 14, 10 back to a 12 scenario. I am eating lots of fruits and vegetables, because I know they are better to eat than anything else. I always have a fruit and a vegetable with my lunch (berries or an apple and carrots). I've been buying smaller apples so that I'm not gorging myself with a huge piece of fruit, but I'm able to enjoy it. I really need to get more veggies though. I just think that fruits are so much easier to grab and go. There aren't really any veggies other than washed baby carrots that you don't have to cut up or anything. I'm going to really incorporate more into my life.

I also need to give up or pick up a habit for Lent. I already gave up Diet Coke, and I think I've survived so far. I don't miss it as much as I used to. I'm also going to treat myself to a weekly Dr. Pepper so that I get the craving for soda out of my system. I was thinking of reading the Bible more, but I don't know if that will work to just out right read the Bible. I'm starting to help in church, simply by assisting with the LWA Spring Brunch, but I don't really know of any habits that I should pick up or any that I should quit. I can't give up junk food because I really don't eat that much... I think it would be way too hard with the limited amount that I eat. I already drink more water than most people. Hmmph... Maybe it will come to me in a dream tonight.

I want this blog to become more thought provoking for me, but we will see if in my desk job anything crosses my path that is thought provoking and educational.

Things that make me mad

Apparently, this is one thing that really gets my goat. Lame phrase, but definitely how I feel on a certain subject.

I am not a prude, and what other people do in their own homes is none of my business. Yet, some things still upset me so much that I have to rant it out, a lot. People can tell me that I am old-fashioned, or that I can't possibly be a girl my age and feel this way.

There is a reason that in the United States there are so many teen pregnancies, unwanted pregnancies in general, abortions, etc. I am not socially inept and therefore I also know there are truths and although this is my opinion, you have to ponder and realize, it does make sense. We all know that girls generally go through puberty first (usually before high school, around junior high, or slightly earlier) and that boys go through it later (during junior high and high school) and I also think they take longer to get through it, but it is beyond that. Out society tells girls and boys, yes they are still girls and boys, especially if they are 15, that it is okay to "feel good" and "enjoy pleasure." There are things that can make you feel good and are pleasurable and don't involve sex. This is not about abstinence, this is about making people realize that every action you take has a consequence. Some negative, others are positive, but we all face consequences. Example of something that someone has said, "well I've paid for plenty of abortions, I just don't want children." Which, look, if you don't want children, that is fine, however, are you proud of continually enjoying this pleasurable act and having to decide with a woman to have an abortion? And then you tell me, "well her 15-year-old boyfriend might want it from her," which yes, I am sure might be true. We teach our boys that you can have as much sex as you want because it feels good and there is no responsibility. If a girl gets pregnant it is her fault; she should be on the pill, she should be making sure to not get pregnant. It takes TWO people to make a baby. Therefore, sex, whether you do it for a pleasure reason all the time, you do it on occasion, or you rarely do it, it is more than just an act. It is procreation. It is not okay to tell boys, you can have sex because it feels good, and leave a girl to do one of three things: 1) have a baby and be a teen mom, 2) have a baby and give it up for adoption, or 3) have an abortion. But remember, it is her fault.

Do you wonder why girls are pregnant so often? Do you wonder why boys expect girls to put out? Do you wonder why STDs are rampaging our world? Which brings me to part 2 of this lovely rant.

Do we wonder why there are so many pedophiles in this world? That is because there is this huge focus on looking young, and having the "baby sitter" or the "young girl" to be with. Make her a woman, by having the middle aged man have sex with her. So, if you're taught or shown that these things are okay, then of course you see the 16-year-old girl who looks like she is 20, you want that. It is understandable. It is not right. A 16-year-old girl may physically look as though she is an adult and should be having an adult sexual relationship, with a 16-year-old or a 50-year-old. It is wrong. Yet, TV and movies and magazines put so much focus on being a little girl, and being cute, yet sexy; young, but mature; a girl, but making her a woman. It is so frustrating. Yet, we ask ourselves, this is so absurd. Not it is not. Just open your eyes. It is clear.