I hate people that say, "Run Forrest, Run!"

Have you ever gone on a run out on a road? If so, have you ever been honked at or yelled at, or even almost hit? Has someone ever yelled at you, “Run Forrest, run!”? If this has ever happened to you, I am almost certain that it annoys you. This is going be my thoughts on those jerks that like to yell things at us runners, try to hit us and barely miss, and honk their horns at us.

Being a runner who wears running shorts I have heard absolutely everything from the quote above to, “who wears short shorts!?” Some runners, not myself, run with music just so they won’t hear these obscenities and “jokes.” But it is about time that someone takes a stance against these people who are trying to impress their friends, or think they are the best thing since sliced bread by yelling at the runner on the road or honking at them.

Let me first state that if you have a problem with runners or people out for some exercise, yelling out the window or honking the horn does not actually make us annoyed because we have heard it before. Instead of annoying us, it actually starts to make us mad. I understand if maybe you are trying to get our attention because you know who we are, but most likely, you’re just being an ass.

Do you want to know why we run? Well, most of us run because we actually enjoy it! I know, crazy concept. Some of us like to get up wicked early and get a nice little run in. And you want to know what else; it makes us feel pretty damn good about ourselves. While you are sleeping or sitting on the couch we are doing something beneficial for our body. Do you ever wonder why runners tend to be so thin? It’s because we run! So, if you are unhappy with yourself and make yourself feel better by sitting on the couch, or every time you see a runner while you’re driving you yell or honk at them, go ahead, we are actually happy with ourselves.

Are runners crazy? This really depends on who you ask. Any person that does not run on a regular basis might truly believe that runners are 100% crazy. However, most are not crazy; we are just dedicated and really enjoy what we do. I am not saying that all runners are crazy because some really are. I would like to describe us as living on the brink of insanity. Honestly, who gets up at 6 a.m. to go for a morning run and then later in the day goes for another five or six miles?

I am also sure that if you have ever talked to a dedicated/serious runner, you are probably totally confused about running terminology. We use terms like: Fartlick, VO2 max, tempo, threshold, and my personal favorite, intervals. Again, this kind of talk gets people to think we are truly crazy. However, when we talk about running and use these words we give each other high-fives and talk about what we want to do for our next workout. Sometimes, we even talk about crazy new techniques or workouts, or we talk about whom the best runners in the world are and what their PR’s are. It’s crazy that we can rattle off the world records of the 100 meter but we could care less about what the latest football score is.

But to get back to my main argument, the people who are an ass to runners and people who are trying to get a little exercise in just do not realize how dedicated or how much we love what we do. May I add, we do more in the 45 minutes (or however long we are out there) than you will do all day, which makes us a better person in the long run (not morally or ethically, just better fit).

Now to get to the best part, some classic stories of you jerks and me running. My favorite drives in the whole world are old ladies, you know, the ones that can’t see over the steering wheel. I was running down a road, on the sidewalk, and there are side-streets. Well, at this one side street a little old lady was pulling up to the stop sign but I am more than sure she saw me because we made eye contact and she waved me on. So I went, but just as I got into the road to cross she starts going and almost hits me. Shocked and a bit scared, I slammed my hands on the hood of her car and yelled at her because she almost killed me (I may have exaggerated the killing thing). Let’s just say, she was not happy that I slammed on her car.

Another good running story from this summer; I was down a fairly busy road, again on the sidewalk, and there are these teenage girls with those stupid huge sunglasses. Well of course they thought they were funny and started honking the horn at me and yelling at me out the window about my short shorts. I was having a rough day as it was and I was not happy about these girls because they almost killed me as I was crossing a street when the cross-walk said “walk.” They passed me and I caught up to them at a traffic light. I slammed my fist on their window and they rolled it down to my surprise. I proceeded to tell them both that they were fat and they should go out for a run sometime. Again, they weren’t happy but they deserved it.

I have numerous stories about running incidents and this post could go on for a really long time. However, due to space I will call it quits. But, if you would like to hear more stories I will be more than happy to share them with you! Just remember, if you see me running, don’t try to make me mad because if I catch you at a light, I will hit your car!

If I promised people money, I would become President too.

One of the biggest organizations in the country that supports lower and moderate income people is called ACORN. According to their website, “ACORN helps those who have historically been locked out become powerful players in our democratic system.” Also, “ACORN members across the country work to raise the minimum wage or enact living wage policies; eliminating predatory financial practices by mortgage lenders, payday lenders, and tax preparation companies… improve the quality of and funding for urban public schools; rebuild New Orleans; and pass a federal and state ACORN Working Families Agenda, including paid sick leave for all full time workers.” Including all of this, ACORN also helps register thousands of people to vote.

Essentially, this organization is supposed to be very helpful to those in need. Am I opposed to this, not at all. However, in recent news there has been many allegations against ACORN on election frauds, and filing fraudulent forms to federal and state regulatory agencies. With these allegations, the House and congress have been thinking about cutting federal funds to ACORN. Obviously, ACORN is not too happy about this, go check their website.

One may be wondering why I am taking the time to write about this situation. Personally, I feel that a lobbyist organization should not be funded by the American tax payer. Therefore, funds from the federal government should be taken away from this group. Secondly, there have been many accusations about fraudulent voter registration. ACORN has repeatedly denied these allegations but refuses to allow any governmental agency to review their record books. If that is not sketchy, then I am not sure what is.

Another problem is ACORN is their persistence on getting the minimum wage raised. Since when is a lobby group so influential to get a federally mandate thing such as minimum wage, raised? Raising minimum wage sounds fantastic to college age and part-time workers. However, when the minimum wage raises people tend to forget that the amount of hours that one works gets cut and the chances of getting a promotion are slimmer. Better yet, the raising of minimum wage means the taxes also gets raised so more money comes out of your pay check.

There are numerous things wrong with this organization. Because of the recent allegations, several employees have lost their jobs because they have “wronged” the company. Stealing from the government and using fraudulent voting registrations is a good way to get shut down. There are other organizations that like to help the lower and middle income people that do not lie, cheat, and steal. Someone in this organization needs to step up and really explain what is going on. As for the House and Congress, please stop using my tax payer dollars to fund these crooks.

*GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE: www.acron.org

Also, if you are interested in seeing videos of the allegations or getting more in depth about this topic, do not hesitate to ask and I will post them!

What if an athlete is not 100% male or female: the Caster Semenya debate.

Caster Semenya: a name most of you may or may not know. For those of you who have no idea who this is I will enlighten you. Caster is a world class track athlete from South Africa. The reason I do not say if Caster is a man or a women is the simple fact that she is neither. That’s right, she is a hermaphrodite.

One may be wondering why I would bother with such a topic? Well, to answer this, those of you that are not familiar with Caster and what has happened in the track world I feel like there is a legitimate reason for writing about this issue. During the World Championships in Berlin in August, Caster Semenya ran in the women’s 800 meter race. Caster won the race with ease which got her the gold medal. Getting a gold medal at the World Championships is the next best thing to a gold medal at the Olympics. As fast as Caster ran the 800 meter race, news about “her” not having all female parts spread like wild fire. The debate of whether or not Caster was a female or not began, and whether or not she should be allowed to retain the gold medal.

The definition of a hermaphrodite is: something that is a combination of disparate or contradictory parts. Simply put, something has parts that is should not have and in Caster’s problem, having male and female parts would qualify as being a hermaphrodite. Now I must state here that I have absolutely no problem with hermaphrodites when it was a biological problem and not a choice. In Caster’s case, it was a biological problem.

How does an organization such as the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federation) go about a situation such as Caster Semenya. First off, I think the IAAF should have already had an official, clear rule saying that all athletes must be 100% male or female at birth. Why should this be a rule? Well, would it be fair for a really talented male athlete that isn’t quite good enough to win on the big stage to decide to get a sex change and win on the female side? Most likely not, because as we have seen, not that this is an anti-female argument, most male athletes can run, throw, jump, or whatever more than females (at the professional level). In Caster’s case, there was found to be more testosterone then estrogen in Caster’s body which makes her more like a male on the playing field (even though there were female attributes).

Now, since there was no such rule and Caster was allowed to run in the female race, the next question is: is Caster Semenya allowed to keep the gold medal? I feel really bad for Caster because this is not an easy question to answer. Regardless of being male or female, to get to that level of competition, it takes time and dedication (and occasionally some good drugs). However, I feel that since there is this un-written rule about being 100% male or female in whichever side one is on, Caster should be stripped of her gold medal. My reasoning is simple, she is not 100% female and she was racing against females that are 100% female and it is not fair to them because they put in the hard work to get there too only to be cheated out of a medal.

The final question is: Should Caster or other hermaphrodites be allowed to participate at the highest level of competition? The IAAF has a real problem on their hands because the side that would want hermaphrodites to compete would say, “at least they are not taking performance enhancing drugs.” They have a case, however, as I have stated before, female athletes at the world class level would not want to be facing males at the world class level, that got a sex change, or females that have mostly male qualities. Therefore, to play it safe, the IAAF should now make a rule saying there needs to be proof that the athletes are 100% either male or female at birth. I am glad that they have stepped up their game on the performance enhancing drugs, now it is time to take a stance here. Of course there are going to be people unhappy with the decision, but to ensure good, fair competition, this is the way it needs to be.

If you are interested in reading more about the Caster Semenya case check this out: http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_News&set_id=1&click_id=79&art_id=vn20090914040154714C773187

Put your hand down, it's a lecture!

With it being so early in the semester, one would think I would have patience for the new students (freshman). We were all freshman at one point- nervous, anxious, and annoying- but that does not mean I should be forgiving of some things that are said or done during class. Granted, this can go to anyone that is annoying in lectures.

As most of you know, my major is political science and history. With that being said, I have to take World Politics. This is my kind of stuff and I really am enjoying the class. However, this is a lower-level class (because I decided to wait and take it) and there are freshman in the class and people who just need the extra credit hours. I usually do not have a problem when someone is active in the class, simply meaning, I do not mind when other people besides myself answer questions. Now being the only political science major in the world politics class I would consider myself as the go-to-guy for answers and participation. I don’t mind this label and I also enjoy when others participate.

The one thing that really bothers me in lectures is when people speak out of turn and think they answer a question but rather just argue something off topic. There is this one girl in my class who is a freshman who does just that. I have no beef with her but as soon as there is a question she attempts to answer it but does not give a real answer. Even better, because she is now in college she was probably taught that she is really smart therefore, she deserves her chance to speak. Well freshman, I have news for you: you are not supposed to interrupt lectures unless you have a serious question or you have a real answer to the question the professor asks. You may not realize this, but you really annoy the rest of the class when you are trying to get the professors attention or when you are trying to speak over him. So do us all a favor, shut up and stop waving your hand around like you are in elementary school.

I will admit, I was once this annoying freshman except I tried not to be noticed. I answered questions with real answers but sometimes I would answer the question with a question. I thought that freshman were supposed to be timid and scared not rude and obnoxious. Personally, I feel like there is a bit of a generational gap between my class and the freshman class of 2013. To ensure that this gap does not get any bigger I believe fundamental values need to be taught again starting with manners (I am not talking about being a goody-goody either). If this was taught at a younger age, the gap would not be so bad and the freshman would have my respect. Again, I am not saying I am perfect but I feel like I had better manners at that age. I could also get into the debate of television harming the younger generation; however, that is a topic for another time.

Just remember, shut up in lectures!

The Lion of the Senate: A reflection of Ted Kenndy's life.

A few days ago, America lost a man of high importance: Ted Kennedy. The Democrat Senator from Massachusetts was a Senator for 47 long years. The reason I am writing about him to pay my respects and discuss some of the things he has done for our great country.

In the 16th United States Senate (1969-1971), Mr. Kennedy held the Majority Whip position. In both the House and Senate both the majority and minority parties get to select their go to man, or woman, which is the Whip. In 1980, Mr. Kennedy attempted to run for President but lost the Democrat nomination to incumbent Jimmy Carter, who in turn lost the Presidency to Ronald Reagan. However, he decided to continue to run for his Senate position and became known as the “Lion of the Senate.” Close to 300 bills that he and his people worked on were enacted (passed), and we will now move to some of his more important legislation.

One of the first things Kennedy worked on was the Economic Opportunity Act (1964). This acted was signed into law on August 20, 1964 and it basically made programs to directly help poor communities with maximum participation. The next year, Ted worked on his first major bill which was the Immigration Act of 1965. This was a huge turning point in immigration policy and civil rights policies because it ended discriminatory immigration quotas. In 1978, Senator Kennedy put his effort towards airline reform. He wanted airline companies to create competitive rates so consumers could afford the trip. In 1986, he sponsored the Employment Opportunities for Disabled Americans Act (he also did more for those with disabilities previously and until he passed away).

Getting into the time period of which I was born in, Senator Kennedy spent a lot of time focusing on Civil Rights; mainly that of women. In 1994, the Family Medical Leave Act and the School-to-Work Opportunities Act provided local communities with money for schools and businesses alike. Also, the Reauthorization Act of 1994 was part of the Head Start Program and helped pregnant women get ready for motherhood and helps the families with lower incomes. In 2001, Kennedy worked with President Bush on the infamous No Child Left Behind Act.

Throughout his 47 years of service, it is obvious the Ted Kennedy was a true “Lion of the Senate.” He did so much for many of the Civil Rights we have today. Along with his efforts for Civil Rights, he was a strong advocate for Education for all and did a lot for the disabled Americans. Though I do not agree with a lot of what Mr. Kennedy stood for, I do respect him as a true American Hero. Devoting one’s life to the better the country is something that I truly respect. With Ted’s passing, there are only a few more Kennedy’s left. America will miss the service of Ted and my thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.