I Didn't Know that Romney Could Rap!

Comical Rights

Look at the graphic. Need I say more?

Censorship

Well-known and well-beloved author Ray Bradbury passed away this week at the age of 91. His name has become synonymous with readable, enjoyable, yet thought-provoking literature- a defining voice in SciFi. Who can forget "The Martian Chronicles?"

Or, better yet, who can forget the following:

A book so iconic that it has become standardized literature in many public schools?

I certainly haven't, and it's been a little over 10 years since I read it in my Honors English class... which was in a private Christian school.

For those who haven't read the book, or who need somewhat of a refresher, the synopsis is this:  "Set in the 24th century, Fahrenheit 451 tells the story of the protagonist, Guy Montag. At first, Montag takes pleasure in his profession as a fireman, burning illegally owned books and the homes of their owners. However, Montag soon begins to question the value of his profession and, in turn, his life. Throughout the novel Montag struggles with his existence, eventually fleeing his oppressive, censored society and joining an underground network of intellectuals. With his newfound friends, Montag witnesses the atomic destruction if his former city and dedicates himself to rebuilding a literate and cultural society."

Bradbury tackled on the banning (and burning) of books, the pitfalls of adopting technological advancement in a society in such a way that the mind is no longer stimulated, intellectually-sound, the type becoming numb (perhaps by too many episodes of watching the Kardashians and re-runs of "Teen Mom").  But most importantly, Bradbury took on Censorship.

The Book has since turned into an e-Book, or a Kindle and a Nook. The Book is more accessible on the internet. Major bookstores, such as Border's Books and Music, have become defunct, and Barnes and Noble is losing money. This is just the tip of the iceberg.

In terms of censorship, First Amendment Rights have come under fire in 2012. On January 18, 2012, a series of websites "blacked out" their own words in lieu of SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (Protect IP Act). ACTA (Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement) has gained attention and controversy as well. The NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act) was signed by President Obama last January, and appeared to be a worsened version of the USA Patriot Act. It appeared to restrict free speech and automatically view any citizen as a terrorist- that is, until a federal judge suspended the NDAA provisions attacking free speech.

Memorizing all these restrictive acronyms can be a pain, but for your reference these links can help:

1) SOPA Explained: What It Is and Why It Matters

2) PIPA is the New SOPA

3) What is ACTA?

4) NDAA

5) Federal Judge Suspends NDAA Detention Provision 

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In the midst of all this First Amendment-Attacking Chaos, I would like to end with this quote:

"The sun burnt every day. It burnt Time. The world rushed in a circle and turned on its axis and time was busy burning the years and the people anyway, without any help from him. So if he burnt things with the firemen and the sun burnt Time, that meant that everything burnt!"
- Guy Montag, Fahrenheit 451, pg. 141

Information Junkie

I live in an area that is otherwise political... and unsurprisingly, even admitted by The LA Times, there was less voter turn-out this year. Where I live, I don't see any posters or pins or brochures around election time, although I did bump into some rare Ron Paul supporters two months ago.

We live in a time in which people are questioning politics and the "1%" more than ever, and the World Wide Web has made it easier and harder at the same time. Virtually all of us can access revealing information but also be tracked for doing so. We can automatically look up Romney's past (er, flip-flopping) views at the touch of a button. We can easily watch the 2008 Vice Presidential debates so that we can remind ourselves of how Palin is like. We can look at old birth documents to determine for ourselves whether the ad nauseum"Birther" movement is even worth it. And while we can access this information, it isn't something we do in secret.

 

(Photo Courtesy of "Being Liberal" on Facebook)

Where's the "I Voted" Pin?

Today is the 2012 California Primary. Need I say more?

On my vote-by-mail ballot, I still saw names such as Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich on the list. If only they had stayed for this make-it-or-break-it, climactic type of primary- after all, California has always been a major deciding factor, especially in delegates. But save for the 2008 fiasco on Proposition 8, California has always been one of the most progressive states, and attempting to make it backwards in terms of a Bachmann- or Santorum-esque agenda would be nothing more than a laugh.

On a more serious note, there have been rumors of a Romney-Paul ticket... not of former Governor Mitt Romney and Representative Ron Paul, but of Romney and Senator Rand Paul. While this is not confirmed, I don't understand how such a combination could work together. The Libertarian ideal would want significantly smaller government, elimination of the Federal Reserve, encouragement of the free market, the legalization / regulation of drugs, legalization of marijuana, legalized gay marriage, and smaller (if not zero) taxes. How would Romney be able to work with such as ideas, and especially the other way around when he is still a part of the system?

In another world, candidates would be vying for votes by simply doing some dances, or at least having their campaign do a dance. 

The Other Woman

"The Other Woman" is an archetype that has been around, since, well, the beginning of time! She is feared, hated, seen as a seductress, homewrecker, manipulative witch behind the curtain waiting for the opportunity to ruin an "innocent man" and his family. The media loves it, and human nature brings upon that "Love to Hate" characteristic, with the tabloids often attempting to still pitt Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Aniston against each other over 7 years after the fact, assuming that Jolie was truly The Other Woman.

Marilyn Monroe is an icon of many facets, including that of "The Other Woman" although her overall persona and depression appear to give her that image of redemption. JFK was a great leader, inspirational speaker, Pulitzer-prize winning writer and beloved President- yet, no one can dispute his infidelities. I recently went to a bookstore in Los Angeles in which I found a book entitled, "Are You a Jackie or Marilyn?" and while this book was more of a coffee table / gift book full of style and tips, I felt like it was also insulting because it put together The Wife and The Other Woman next to each other, comparing and contrasting in the same realm. Would they have published such a book if Jackie O. was also alive?

I don't think so.

But it cannot be denied that society has a fascination with The Other Woman, especially when she is involved with a powerful figure. Just what is it about her that helped bring down a mini-political kingdom? Ashley Dupree was known for hooking up with Eliot Spitzer as an escort, and yet she was able to start a writing career, be featured in The New York Post, and hob-knob with famous people such as PR trailblazer Kelly Cutrone. Monica Lewinsky, the former intern of President Bill Clinton, was sometimes sympathized with in the public, with her Club Monaco lipstick flying off shelves after her 20/20 interview and Gap dress becoming notorious.

Maybe it does pay to be The Other Woman.

Maybe Rielle Hunter will let you know that.

This week, news broke out that John Edwards was acquitted on one count while the rest was deemed a mistrial; just today, it has been announced that Rielle Hunter's tell-all book will be released on June 26, just in time to keep the case fresh in the public's mind before it reaches the bookshelves in the 99 Cents Store a year or so later.

It might just be the antidote to Jay McInerny's 1980's novel in which he portrays Hunter as an obnoxious young woman in New York City, the type who would exchange physical favors for some free time in the tanning salon. While the main character's name was changed from Lisa Jo Druck (Hunter's original name) to Alison Poole, Hunter was clearly the direct muse for an unstable, annoying, self-absorbed, yet extremely intriguing young woman.

Intriguing or not, in the end, John Edwards confessed his sins, although it seemed very easy to do given that he is literally freed from prison and fines, but not public scrutiny and embarrassment. 

Why does The Other Woman get most of the blame? It takes two to tango.

May Elizabeth Anania Edwards rest in peace.

Rise and Fall

Former Vice Presidential Candidate John Edwards received an acquittal on one count, and a mistrial on others. Does this mean that he got away with what he did? At the same time, cheating on one's wife, especially when she is literally dying of terminal illness... is not a judicial crime (of course, the issue here was the illegal usage of campaign funds in order to cover up the affair, etc.).

Edwards is reported as saying, "None of the people who came to court and testified are responsible. Nobody working for the government is responsible...I am responsible, and if I want to find the person who should be held accountable for my sins, honestly, I don't have to go any further than the mirror."

At least he admits it.

But the damage has already been done.