But I’m skeptical. Who exactly are these people — who need to be encouraged by MTV and YouTube — voting for? On what basis are they actually making their decisions? Does it even matter? I suppose some could argue that it’s your right, and that’s all there is to it. But I am afraid that an uninformed vote is more dangerous than no vote at all. I remember back when I was taking US History in high school; one of the big controversies at the time was the discussion around providing the option to vote for “None of the above” on the election ballot. I always thought and still believe it would be a GREAT idea. This would at least allow people who have no idea who to vote for, and have no real business in helping shape our future, go out and make their contribution to society without dangerously impairing it.

I am being dead serious. This is akin to having a leak in your house and instead of asking a series of experts; collectively prodding your neighbors to suggest what to do. Sure this may not be an entirely bad idea. Your neighbor might be a plumber or Bob Vila. Or maybe they had the same problem not too long ago and could share their experiences. But what if your questions are much more important? Say you’re remodeling and you need to know whether the structural beam in your living room could support that new game room you’ve always dreamed of upstairs? What if you get sick? Do you want expert medical advice? Or do you just want to Twitter about it and see what the masses say?

This is why the political landscape of the United States is a glorified marketing campaign. Nobody really cares about issues or ideologies. It’s just a popularity contest at this point. People who are still swayed between Obama/Biden vs. McCain/Palin probably shouldn’t even be voting. These are radically different platforms with radically different agendas. You can’t just watch some debates and decide who you are going to vote for. That’s nonsensical. In fact, these people aren’t even watching the debates. They’re reading US Weekly and listening to Fox News to tell them how to think. It’s a sad state of affairs.

If you’ve read this far then maybe there’s hope after all. I’ll leave some parting remarks. In essence, Obama is probably one of the best Presidential candidates that the United States has seen since JFK. We are in an era where we need Obama. As much as I would have loved to see a woman in the oval office (it’s about damn time, no?); the past eight years have brought more shame, embarrassment and general malaise to the United States of America than anyone could have imagined back in 2000. Electing Obama would be the most redeeming action that we could portray to the rest of the world. It would be one big, subtle yet effective apology. In fact, simply electing Obama will do more good for the United States than any policy McCain and his imbecile hand puppet could ever come up with in the next four years.

So go out there and vote. I predict a turn out of about 57%. Everyone will be so proud of the improvement. We’ll give each other a big pat on the back and smile because we’ll just know it was our social network marketing that helped make it all a reality. And those celebrations will hopefully numb us just enough to forget about the 100,000 Iraqi civilians whom have been killed since 2003 or the thousands more in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Israel or Kenya. But who cares. Those places aren’t here, right? And who cares about welfare? I make good money. National healthcare? Fuck it, I’m young. I just don’t want to pay more taxes. Potential medical breakthroughs? Not if it’s killing an embryo! Or against my faith. Forget the fact that I happen to sin, steal and squander in every other facet of my life. But if it’s other people’s lives? Nope, they can’t get married. It hurts my belief system. Some people have got it all figured out, I guess.

I guess what I am trying to say is that if you are going to vote for Obama: thank you. If not, I’d love to know why. Not that I could, want or even care to persuade you otherwise but, you know, for shits and giggles.

Adieu. Navid.

Politics or Religion: Choose One.

You must choose to either participate in the political arena or the religious plight. If you choose one, you may not participate in the other. I think this makes perfect sense and holds even more true to the United States and it’s constitution. Separation of Church and State has been a very important, if not most important, aspect of America’s success. It is however now apparent that the separation is not strong enough — we must force all peoples of the great nation to decide where to place their faith: in logic and science or in hoopla and religion. The choice is yours.

Adieu. Navid.

Exhibit A: Maine only has two registered voters.

Exhibit B: Mathematics for ABC News Employees; 33% is a majority.

Regardless, they are addictive and I am wearing out my F5 key.

Adieu. Navid.

As of noon, Bush: 0 / Kerry: 0.
As of 4:00pm, Bush: 34 / Kerry: 3.
As of 5:00pm, Bush: 66 / Kerry: 77.
As of 6:00pm, Bush: 155 / Kerry: 112.
As of midnight, Bush: 249 / Kerry: 242.
As of 3:00am, Bush: 254 / Kerry: 252.

It’s official, whoever wins Ohio wins Presidency.

Adieu. Navid.

the greatest americans have not yet been born,
they are patiently waiting for the past to die.

American Recordings boasts, “Never before has the power of word and our ability to dictate our reality been expressed so clearly and creatively, at once. Saul’s poetry represents an evolution of thought, artistry and spiritual consciousness delivered with the lyrical fervor of hip hop and the grace and linguistic mastery of Shakespeare. Saul channels the voice of the New Age, yet, allows a wide ranging stream of consciousness to distort the melody like some sort of lyrical Hendrix. Saul’s love of language which is rooted in his love of hip hop has come full circle as he now takes his lyricism back to it’s musical roots. Songwriting has become Saul’s latest endeavor. He envisions a hip hop that is as musically evolved as his lyricism.”

I feel as though I identify with Saul Williams a lot more than I could ever articulate here. And though I admire his work passionately, I secretly romanticize the notion that I too one day will be remotely close to his divine level… at least in writing ability.

We are all here for a reason on a particular path
You don’t need a curriculum to know that you are part of the math
Cats think I’m delirious, but I’m so damn serious
That’s why I expose my soul to the globe, the world
I’m trying to make it better for these little boys and girls
I’m not just another individual, my spirit is a part of this
That’s why I get spiritual, but I get my hymns from Him
So it’s not me, it’s He that’s lyrical
I’m not a miracle, I’m a heaven-sent instrument
My rhythmatic regimen navigates melodic notes for your soul and your mental
That’s why I’m instrumental
Vibrations is what I’m into
Yeah, I need my loot by rent day
But that is not what gives me the heart of Kunte Kinte
I’m tryina give us “us free” like Cinque
I can’t stop, that’s why I’m hot
Determination, dedication, motivation
I’m talking to you, my many inspirations
When I say I can’t, let you or self down
If I were of the highest cliff, on the highest riff
And you slipped down the side and clinched on to your life in my grip
I would never, ever let you down
And when these words are found
Let it been known that God’s penmanship has been signed with a language called love
That’s why my breath is felt by the deaf
And why my words are heard and confined to the ears of the blind
I, too, dream in color and in rhyme
So I guess I’m one of a kind in a full house
Cause whenever I open my heart, my soul, or my mouth
A touch of God reigns out

Adieu. Navid.

I can distinctly recall the day; the day I had my epiphany which led me to comprehend and understand modern day politics enough, such that I too began to develop my own educated and well worth opinions. I sat and reviewed the United States’ political situation. To this day, I cannot remember a time where I had been more disappointed… except perhaps the time I found out that M&Ms really do melt in your hand.

So anyway, we have two main parties: Democrats & Republicans. I, personally, identify with neither. I consider myself a Libertarian. To those unfamiliar, it basically means Financially Republican and Socially Democratic. What does this mean specifically? Let me outline the major issues and my stance on each one.

Welfare: I am against welfare in it’s current state. I feel that it should be rearranged to help families manage the money they have and not simply write them bigger and bigger checks. It helps no one and causes true poverty. If families learn to spend their money adequately they won’t need the government as their sole provider and can takes steps to progress their situation … not just push the inevitable behind.

Taxes: I hate taxes. I understand that taxes are necessary but I hate taxes. If anything I believe that a government should be capable of functioning while gradually reducing taxes and becoming more efficient. I don’t like big bloated government. I like small, efficient and effect government. Something I believe is feasible.

Military: I do not like the notion of having a nation with a round-the-clock Army. I feel that it’s disgustingly over the top and the primary cause of all these sense-less wars. The fact remains that if you have missles, or armies that have been training and preparing themselves… and nothing happens …. you’re going to have many bored and worthless citizens. To offset this economic catastrophe, the United States much consistantly wage wars for unjustifiable reasons in order to keep many employed or purposeful. This need would vanish if more regular citizens trained over time with the intention of defense. This brings about two benefits: (1) the sense of patriotism would increase and (2) you would have a much larger and more capable army.

Abortion: I believe abortion should certainly be legal. The womans’ right to choose reigns over all. However, there should be certain limitations that I agree with. Primarily, the date cut off, third trimester, ensures that no-real-live babies are killed. Anything before that really is just like scraping-off cells. I have no problem with that.

Marijuana: Legalize It. Standardize It. Cash In. Reduce Taxes. I have never smoked marijuana.

Same-Sex Marriages: I cannot believe that most States have actually taken the liberty of making this illegal. I think it should most definitely be legalized and encouraged. Homosexuality is not a disease, it’s just a lifestyle. I do not have any gay friends that I know of personally, however, those I have come in contact with are in fact HUMAN and GOOD people. Those Bible toding bastards can go shove ……..

Religion: As you may probably have guessed, I am not one to believe in religion. I feel that religion has been outgrown and is no longer necessary. However, I am all for tradition. I do not believe in organised religion and their stories. I do concede that the stories probably did take place and that for the most part the all characters are real, however, similar to modern day fantasies such as Star Trek and Matrix were simply depictions of idealized (or sometimes tradgic, possible events).

The point of the matter is that anything taken to any extreme is wrong. May it be the strong left-wing Christians, the Orthodox Jews or Fundamentalist Muslims. The interpretations of their justifications should have been left behind with the 19th century. We are slowly galloping forth as a nation and as a race. So please part with our archaic, unfashionable and plainly over-aged extremist views. People tend to forget about what life’s true purpose is, and why government and laws exist in the first place. They take these politcal stances completely unaware of or interesting in, what it really can or cannot do. Just remember one thing about life: the idea is to die young as late as possible.

Disclaimer: Any resemblance between the above views and those of my employer, my terminal, or the view out my window are purely coincidental. Any resemblance between the above and my own views is non-deterministic. The question of the existence of views in the absence of anyone to hold them is left as an exercise for the reader. The question of the existence of the reader is left as an exercise for the second god coefficient. (The discussion of non-orthogonal, non-integral polytheism is beyond the scope of this article.)

Adieu. Navid.

It’s a perfect economic system as long as the circle has momentum. If it loses it’s momentum, you need to start over.. slowly. It’s like riding a bike, as the cliché goes, however, the analogy seems to work nonetheless in this scenario. At higher speeds, it’s much easier to maneuver your bike. You can weave and turn as you please; but, try having that same versatility and stability while biking next to a pedestrian. It makes for a very tricky balancing act. As so is with our economy.

How do we keep this nation’s economy in continuous momentum? As Michael Moore so eloquently pointed out in his Bowling for Columbine film: FEAR. Yes, that’s right — the absolute most primitive emotion of mankind feeds our yearning desire to buy. It’s interesting how marketers have been able to exploit, control and manipulate this uncontrollable human reaction to their benefit. Everyone from old to young is scared into behaving (buying) in a certain way. Now, don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a “problem” — merely something interesting to think about when you shower.

It starts early on in life and continues well past retirement. Expecting parents fear for their baby’s health, so they spend, spend and spend. Parents fear all sorts of things for their toddlers, so they spend, spend and spend. Young boys and girls fear being made fun of at school, so they make their parents spend, spend and spend. Prepubescent kids must have the latest in fashion or they will be marked losers at school.. again, spend, spend and spend. Teenagers must have what’s ‘cool’ in order to attract a partner, otherwise, they fear they will die alone. Young adults must have that brand-new vehicle in competition with their friends — it’s all about fear. When you strip it cold and naked, you realize it’s nothing but fear.

Fear’s ability to force us to behave in a certain way is modern time’s version of CTRL-ALT-DELETE. It served as a final warning that you must precipitate in this certain way, otherwise, you’ve historically understood that it is not for your well being. We don’t tell our boss or co-workers what we really think of them because we fear losing our job. And losing our job would mean lack of income and therefore we couldn’t buy all the things we’re afraid of not having. Basically, we live in fear to ensure we don’t have to be afraid. What a circular argument, eh? Interesting, seems a lot like our economy… wait… no… are you serious? There’s a correlation? GET OUT! I don’t believe… Well, I’m sorry, but I protest there is.

Not only is there a correlation between the two, but rather, they depend on each other. If we stopped living in fear and based ourselves around need (and some wants!)… we wouldn’t have such a thriving economy. I believe most of Europe is an example of this. Otherwise, just take my word for it. Some people will retort that everything they do is based on want and not fear. They want that new car, they want that fancy watch, they want that house on the beach. That very well may be the case. Though, I believe those true people are definitely a handful and the exception and certainly not the rule. There are many things that we do for unknown reasons. Rationale is lacking, but desire is present. This is not the work of the devil; this is the lifetime achievement of marketers; though some may think two in the same.

We’ve all been conditioned in some extent. We’ve all be desensitized and desensitized to different things to varying degrees. I believe it’s time we stopped ruining our lives and made progress in human kind. I think I could not have ever said it better than Dr. Moorehead, former pastor of Seattle’s Overlake Christian Church:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve added years to life not life to years. We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We’ve done larger things, but not better things.

We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes.

These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom.

I am not a religious man, but this man speaks with a sort of divinity and truth that I can only admire from afar. Sit back and really think about what he says. It’s time we simplified life. It’s time we began to enjoy ourselves and help each other. Sometimes I feel humanity is so far beyond repair that we require a certain catastrophe to put us back into shape. Maybe an alien attack would help unite mankind under one strong umbrella? It’s time love one another. Throw that other junk away.

Adieu. Navid.

If your biggest problem each day is ‘Ferrari’ or ‘Porsche’ then, really, by anyone’s count — you don’t have a problem. Let’s not mistake mere inconvieniences as problems. That’s a life lesson. I read that in a book.

However, the lines blur when your problem is ‘laker tickets’ or ‘math book’, or better yet, ‘digital cable’ or ‘dinner’. Granted in today’s society, many deem cable (or any other form of electronic communication) as a necessity and yes, we all need to have some sort of recreation and entertainment, but for the love of Jesus, understand priorities. Everyone and anyone reading this will say “Well, we know that if it came down to it, food is more important than television.” Yeah, uhh huh? You know this. You know this because it seems that it’s utterly apparent and self-evident. And to many it is, but the reality of it is, that poverty is a prelevant issue in today’s American society.

A nation full of fat fathers, lazy mothers and undisciplined children. A nation of excessive pride, expendable income and inexcusable stupidity. But to blame an entire nation or an entire government is equally unflattering. The burden of blame and prerequisite of change lies purely on the shoulders of the People. The war cry ‘Power to the People’ works both ways.

I have had the pleasure and unmistakable misfortune of dealing with many American (and Canadian) low-income and very-high-income families. I, and I’m sure many of you, have seen both sides of the spectrum. Now, I’m not sure if many of you have had the desire or time to actually observe but there are some very distinct observations that can or rather should be made.

If you have a difficult time paying your mortgage, rent or bills… it’s time for you to prioritize your expenses and desires. You can always increase your money if you increase your income, but why do people not understand that you can have the exact same effect, by reducing your expenses? Surely it must be easier to contain yourself rather than convince your employer?

It’s time parents and children, alike, got their act together. You do not need that name brand dishwashing liquid, you don’t need 300 channels of premium cable, you don’t need that cell phone, or organic shampoo. But you want it. And that’s okay. I’m not here to stop you from doing what you love nor want, I am merely trying to educate those who put their WANTs before their NEEDs. And yes, it is your own goddamn life, but alas, ultimately it’s my tax dollars paying for your welfare, for your healthcare and for YOUR broke ass.

Except, you’re not really broke, you just suck at money management. You SUCK at it. And when I say SUCK, I mean you SUCK so bad I have to pay for it! Why should my tax dollars go towards your aid, and your inability to budget, finance or be barely smart? I think there should be a minimum level of intelligence and common sense required to operate one’s life. You would think that instincts and primal fear would kick in and be like “Gee, Bob, you don’t have any money for rent… but that $6 burger from Carls sure as hell sounds good.” Despite the joy of biting down on that fresh cheeseburger, someone with a tight budget should know, that in the least… $6 can buy 7 boxes of Mac & Cheese which can, ultimately make 7 meals. You need to think and sacrifice some pleasure for your own damn survival. Don’t rely on the government, but rather, let government help you… if you even need it. I’m willing to bet that at least 50% of people on welfare, really don’t need to be. And 50% is my conservative estimate.

I explicitly REFUSE to believe that paying your fixed costs is such an impossible burden. “Life’s hard, life’s a bitch, yada yada yada.” If you’re so into popular phrases how about trying on “Life’s what you make of it” for size.

I don’t care about the taxes, fuck taxes. I just wish our government would deploy a plan to educate rather than compensate the needy. It helps everyone in the long run. The needy don’t want to be needy, the greedy don’t want to help the needy and the government just wants to be loved.

[Those whom are poor due to health care bills or unfortunate lay offs (or untimed expenses, such as weddings or funerals) -- you are only partially exempt from my sharp tone and demeaner.]

Money is a tricky topic. Whether you have it or your don’t, you can never have enough. So if our thirst for cold hard cash is so unsatiable, maybe it’s time we gave up the notion of being big and living large. Right? No. I don’t agree. I think ambitions are good. I think they are healthy and competition is required for our economy to thrive. Having said that, it’s important to note that living beyond your means is sinful, wasteful, stupid and completely irrational. It burdens all those around you and makes you feel like shit. So don’t do it. Get educated. Learn about government programs, read up about how you get do so much with so little.

Knowing you made yourself is one of life’s greatest accomplishments. That way, you can look back on life, and enjoy it a second time.

Adieu. Navid.