last name changes

For those of us on social media, most of us have thoughts we kinda want to share, but afraid it will piss of those on our friend's list!

I'm really open with my thoughts on political & social issues, whether it's mega-divisive issues like gun control, abortion, drug policy,  police abuse, cultural "appropriation" and the like!

But for my thoughts on people changing last names when they marry?   

I hate that tradition, but  many of my facebook friends did just that!  I sure don't want to alienate at least a 1/3 of my friends on something so very personal!

Well, today, I got prompted by an article about a woman who reluctantly took her husband's last name, then went back to her maiden name.

"Why I’m Returning to My Maiden Name" by Em LaFave Olson

https://medium.com/@emlafaveolson/why-i-m-returning-to-my-maiden-name-e89eaf705d93#.n2t63txmp

How utterly dispiriting that we have created a world and naming lineage where a married woman cannot carry on her family’s name and legacy. When a girl is born, we speak, feel and act as if it’s the end of the line. That she is not equal to a man in this way. Perhaps the most ironic part is that it is the woman that physically carries and births a new generation.

more 

When the time finally arrived to make the decision for my own name, there wasn’t an easy answer. I felt personally conflicted for a while, (as I came to learn, many women do). Ten years after our first conversation about marriage I had grown up a lot and shaped my own identity.

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For the two years after our wedding day, the examples piled up. The awkward transitioning of social handles and my public identity, not being able to recognize high school friends social profiles after they’d changed their names, 

and this

After two years with my new last name, LaFave, I knew for sure it was time to turn back. I shared this with Rob, and he was understandably hurt.

But I asked him to see it from my perspective, would you ever change your name to my name? “No”, he said. “I wouldn’t”.

So together we came up with an option we hadn’t considered the first time around (inspired by our friends Ted & Fiona). A name that celebrated our individuality but also showed our shared commitment to this new family we had created by joining together in partnership. We’ll each keep our last name and take the other’s name as our middle name. 

( I do know one high school classmate who took that route, with her AND her husband combining last names)

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Here is my facebook post sharing how I related to that article

I could relate to this in some way, since I got my mom's last name! At the time of my birth, my parent's weren't officially married! After I became an adult, my parent's got officially married and my mom took my dad's last name! My reaction was "WTF you changing your name now?" I was mad my mom didn't keep her last name, but she insisted that I respect her choice!

I dont mean to offend those of you who chose to change your last name when you got married! I hope it don't piss you off to the point you expell me from your fb friends list! I'm just expressing how an article related to my life, that's all!

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Yes, I wasn't happy when my mom changed her last name! That announcement took me by surprise after they came back from a Las Vegas vacation (yeah, I know, the cliches) and said "hey, we finally married" and "mom's has dad's last name now"

This traumatized BIG TIME because for all my childhood and adolesence, I thought it was cool that my mom kept her last name! While my mother wasn't a feminist activist (or any type of activist) I just thought, hey, we're a modernized family! 

Little did I know that the only reason they didn't get officially get married (or changed last names) before I turned 18 was for .................single parent benefits! 

Yeah, I know, benefits! 

And after I told my mother my reactions to all this, she said that at the time, she didn't understood how all this would've influenced her children! 

Little did she know that by waiting until I graduated from high school before she officially married my dad was going to influence my thoughts on marriage and last names!

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But yeah, I do list her now official  name (with my dad's last name) on forms for "emergency contacts" as well as any letters I sent to her via mail!

It's her name, not mines. I just have to live with that fact!

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But as for me, I DO NOT want future wife to take my last name! I want her to keep her last name! I want her to keep her own identity! 

Because as far as I'm concerned, taking a spouse's last name is saying "I'm his property".  Well, I don't view adults as my property! Adults should keep their own identity, even if they get married!

By the way, most marriages don't last. The politically incorrect reality is that people change, relationships change, and people going their separate ways isn't some type of "liberal evil" but just reality!

So yeah, even if you find someone you love so much that you want to spend the rest of your life together ................

• don't be other people's property
• keep your own identity
• be your own person
• stay your own person
• keep your own name

If he/she loves you, then he/she will accept that!

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PS: Again, I dont mean to traumatize those who chose to take their husband's last name, Do you what you want!  I'm just stating my reasons for my thought!

PS #2: After posting my facebook post, a classmate from a Southeast Asian country stated 

" I got my own name, no affiliation with either my mom or dad. That's the culture for most back home :)" 

grin emoticon

Oscars, Hollywood, Chris Rock and diversity

Last month, we had the Oscar's Awards, a show that celebrates "the best in motion pictures." But much controversy came when all the nominees in the actors/actresses categories were of European ancestry!

Chris Rock was already scheduled to be the host before the nominees were announced.  So it was expected that Chris Rock would make fun of the whole "#OscarSoWhite" at the Oscars!

Chris Rock did validate the concerns that African-American actors get overlooked for awards & opportunities, but then mentioned that out of 80+ Oscar Award ceremonies, about 70 also had an "all-white" slate of actor/actress nominees, though for much of the time

Transcript of Chris Rock's 2016 Oscar monologue

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/29/movies/chris-rock-monologue.html?smtyp=cur&_r=0

It’s the 88th Academy Awards. It’s the 88th Academy Awards, which means this whole no black nominees thing has happened at least 71 other times. O.K.?

You gotta figure that it happened in the 50s, in the 60s — you know, in the 60s, one of those years Sidney didn’t put out a movie. I’m sure there were no black nominees some of those years. Say ‘62 or ‘63, and black people did not protest.

Why? Because we had real things to protest at the time, you know? We had real things to protest; you know, we’re too busy being raped and lynched to care about who won best cinematographer.

You know, when your grandmother’s swinging from a tree, it’s really hard to care about best documentary foreign short.

 But with much of the talk has been surrounded by the lack of diversity in Hollywood, Chris Rock only focused on  "black-white relations".

Oh, he did mentioned Asians, in a controversial  on-stage skit involving 3 Asian-American children.

http://www.upworthy.com/the-nasty-asian-jokes-at-the-oscars-highlighted-hollywoods-other-big-race-problem?c=ufb1

A couple of jokes, however, came at the expense of a group just as frequently ignored and stereotyped by Hollywood: Asian-Americans.

In one bit, Rock brought out three kids to represent "PriceWaterhouseCoopers accountants," a joke which appeared to trade on the stereotype that Asian and Asian-American kids are good at math.

"It's OK, it's OK, thanks guys, thanks a lot. If anybody is upset about that joke just tweet about it on your phone, that was also made by these guys," Rock said, apparently, jokingly, referring to the charge that iPhones are often made under poor labor conditions at the FoxCon factory in Shanghai. 

While that joke is nowhere near as brutal as other jokes about those of Asian ancestry, it did trigger some sensitivities among Asian-Americans, who felt stigmatized and ignored by the larger society.

some articles on the issue
"Asian-American jab at Oscars reveals deeper diversity woes"
http://www.staradvertiser.com/breaking-news/asian-american-jab-at-oscars-reveals-deeper-diversity-woes/

"Beyond Black and White: How the 2016 Oscars’ Treatment of Asians Undercut Its Message of Inclusion"

http://www.slashfilm.com/2016-oscars-asian/








But what about Latinos! Chris Rock totally missed an opportunity, as I noted in the following facebook post!

Many were focused on Chris Rock's joke on Asians, but very few actually question his comedy bit where he questioned African-American movie goers in "Compton". There is no movie theater in Compton ( a fact publicized when "Straight Outta Compton" hit the theaters). Actually, that theater was in Crenshaw-Baldwin Hills (ie border between "the hood" and "the burbs").

Also, if that interview actually took place in Compton, then you would've seen a lot more Latinos in the background, since Compton now has more Latinos than African-Americans. Crenshaw is still mostly African-American, which was another reason why that clip was filmed there instead of Compton!

So much for Chris Rock & celebrating diversity

The reason I mentioned this include


1) many people are under the mistaken impression that just Compton is still an "African-American majority" community, when it is now mostly Latinos! Yes, some African-Americans still live there, but they're not the majority there any more!


2) Chris Rock was fooling people not familiar with South Central Los Angeles and that there is a difference between Compton, Watts, Inglewood and Crenshaw!

3)  If Chris Rock really did the comedy skit in Compton, this could've been an opportunity to do some outreach with the Latino community! It would've been a great way to show both African-American and Latino voices in a comedy skit! Compton also has some Polynesians and other ethnicities in the mix and they could've been added to the skit!

4) again, Chris Rock is perpetuating the old image of the USA as just being "black & white" while ignoring other non-white minorities!




as for that so-called "Compton" theater that is actually in Crenshaw-Baldwin Hills area, you can learn more from the following article

"Where was Oscar host Chris Rock's 'Compton' movie theater? Not in Compton"
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/la-et-ct-oscars-2016-chris-rock-compton-movie-theater-20160229-story.html

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Enough of Chris Rock (for now), I want to share another post about Hollywood & diversity!


The post was in response to a New York Times article the difficulties non-white actors/actresses go through in in auditioning for roles


"Don't Call Me the Black 'Seth Rogan' "
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/28/opinion/sunday/dont-call-me-the-black-seth-rogen.html



And here's my  facebook post

There has been stories of non-white actors going through what they fell are auditioning for degrading roles! I understand the frustration, but really, if you're auditioning for a role in someone else's story, then you're just there to tell someone else's story! 

Better to go independent and make your own films and tell your own story!

Easier said than done, but it has been done!

Looking at my songs --- years later

Back when I was in high school (in the late 1990's) I developed a new hobby  -- writing songs.

I shared them with a few friends and a few therapists!

I even tape-recorded (with a cassette: yeah, that's how old school the times were) a demo that I never released!

However, as I got older, I gained new responsibilities and new hobbies.

I eventually faded away from writing songs, and used my blogs as a way to vent to the world!


AS I mentioned recently, I have re-gained an interest in joining the music industry, this time by make digital music on the computer.


(mentioned in
http://pablowegesend.blogspot.com/2015/12/year-in-review-part-1.html
http://pablowegesend.blogspot.com/2016/01/goals-for-2016.html


You can hear a few instrumental tracks at https://soundcloud.com/pablo-the-mad-tiger-warrior


I am also looking into money making opportunities (ie. online distribution, licensing) for my instrumental tracks that I hope to make official within a month!

-------------------



I was also thinking about making a separate blog to post my song lyrics!


So earlier tonight, I looked at the songs I wrote back in the late 90's, early 2000's.


OMG! Dammmmmmmm!



Some of the songs I wrote had so much anger! You think Eminem is nuts, look at what I wrote?

Other songs were so sexually explicit! It was like I was competing with 2 Live Crew!


I'm too old for all that! 


Just seeing these lyrics is a reminder of how much I matured over a decade!

Just seeing these lyrics is a reminder of how working at a job with serious role model responsibilities has evolved my mentality so much that I am no longer comfortable recording  much of what I wrote! 

It's not that I no longer have anger! It's NOT that I no longer have sexual thoughts. It's just that I have evolved to the point where I no longer express those thoughts in the same way! 


If I have free time, I might post a few song lyrics that I am still comfortable with!

But as for now, I'll just stick with making instrumental tracks, writing blog posts and making YouTube speeches!



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As for those songs, you might have to wait until I die, or those folders get stolen (hidden among the tons of folders I have) before they get released! By then you would understand why at 35, I am distanced from what I wrote as a teen/young adult!

control your curiosity (part 2)

This is a follow-up to the 1st "control your curiosity" blog post
http://pablowegesend.blogspot.com/2016/01/control-your-curiosity.html

plus the YouTube speech
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqYmYUUp-4Y


About 2 weeks after the original blog post and YouTube speech was posted, one of the kids at one of the schools I work at said "Hey Pablo, control your curiosity"

Yes teachers, students will look your name up and find your posts.

I knew that was going to happen sooner or later, though in this case, the "control your curiosity" posts that was being referred to dealt with situations that kid was too young to have experienced!

That's OK, kids are going to learn about those things sooner or later!

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Anyways, there are "control your curiosity" advice that is applicable to children & teens.


For example, sometimes a counselor/vice-prinicipal/etc will walk into a classroom to speak with a specific student.

The other students would usually ask "what happened".

I tell the students "the issue doesn't involve you" or "that's between the school official and that student" and if it's important to the other students, the school official will talk to the other students.

I feel the same way about student grades. I never liked it when teachers mentioned student's test scores (any scores for that matter) to the whole class.

Teachers should be teaching kids to ............control your curiosity.

What the other kid's scored on the test is that kid's business! That is something to be shared with just the teacher, student and parent. You don't need to know!

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Now, for something that applies to all ages.


Unless you are psychologist/psychiatrist/counselor/etc, DO NOT ask too many questions about another person's traumatic moments!


Talking about one's traumatic moments is DRAINING!

People don't want to be talking about something that will make them break down in either tears or fits of anger!

Asking probing questions about a person's trauma can magnify that person's wounds and can make the situation worse!


This is why counselors/psychiatrists/etc go through specialized training (which usually includes at least a master's degree)!

Those whose traumas are recent are still trying to process what happened, which is why many victims of  abuse (sexual, spousal, you name it) don't come forward right away!

This is why counselors/psychiatrists/etc go through specialized training (which usually includes at least a master's degree)!

It's one to be the friend that wants to be a comforter, but if the other person doesn't want to talk about it ................BACK OFF! 

As for me, I'd rather be writing about my problems than talking about it! If you want to learn more, just read my blogs!


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Also, I did find it disturbing in the LIS 650 class (Management of Libraries & Info Centers), professor Rich Gazan (whose real expertise is databases and informatics, not management) opened the 1st day of class with "tell me about a boss that you didn't like". He was probably thinking "I want to discuss what can go wrong with management" but that's the wrong way to do it! 

By asking ""tell me about a boss that you didn't like", he was pressuring people to talk about seriously traumatic situations that they might not even be comfortable discussing with closest friends, much less a room full of strangers!

Just goes to show why why counselors/psychiatrists/etc go through specialized training, none of which condones pressuring the entire class to discuss their traumatic moments in front of everyone!


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Enough of trauma (for now), I will discuss just one more thing people need to control their curiosity!


Personal finances.


I don't tell people about my personal finances. How much money I have is none of your business (unless you are my personal financial advisor, or an authorized bank employee).


For one thing, telling people how much money you have is an invitation for hackers, scam artists and other predators.

Many of those financial predators come to you acting all friendly, making you feel that you have nothing to be ashamed to share with them! Then they strike!

They also listen in to conversations that aren't really their business!


Don't ask me questions about my personal finances. Control your curiosity!



===========

Here's the video "Control your curiosity (part 2)"

"Control your curiosity (part 2)"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQba_JNFhtI

In memory of Dr Peter Manicas (1934-2015)

In last week's edition of Ka Leo O Hawaii (UH-Manoa's newspaper), there was an memorial article dedicated to retired professor Dr. Peter Manicas, who recently passed away!

http://www.kaleo.org/news/he-was-brilliant/article_4eb72f00-cb6d-11e5-acbb-23f7e82a5f7f.html

hawaii.edu

Dr. Peter Manicas

Dr Manicas was a sociology professor as well as a former director of the university's Interdisciplinary Studies program.


He also happened to teach the very first class I attended at UH-Manoa.


As written in a blog post I wrote in 2009
http://pablowegesend.blogspot.com/2009/12/5-years-since-my-uh-graduation.html

My first day as a UH student was memorable in itself. I remember my 1st class, Sociology 100. The professor was Dr Manicas, but people called him Maniacs (notice the a & c switched places in his name)! In the 1st day, he was already running around the classroom and yelling into people's faces at random! The 1st day, he was talking into a girl's face, but gender didn't even matter. I remember the same professor getting into one of the men's basketball players face, and his teammate was laughing at him! 

This was back in Fall 1999. I was only a few months out of high school and just beginning my undergraduate years at the university.

The class was Sociology 100, an introductory course for what will become my undergraduate major.


And what I described above was only one of his crazy professor antics.

When someone answered a difficult question, he did a dance!

I remember one time, he was so upset that too many students turned in papers that he felt were too politically correct! He was mad that student's papers didn't acknowledge that the Hawaiian monarchy sold some of the land to European/American business interests.  He went on a rant about "political correctness", then said "I'm going to get myself a cup of coffee", then walked out of the room.  People were looking at each other like "ok, is class over?"


In another blog post, titled "Positive Teachers", I wrote the following
http://pablowegesend.blogspot.com/2013/10/positive-teachers.html

He was opinionated but he didn't take himself too seriously and he didn't take a challenge to his opinions personally.  After I was done in the class, I would see him around campus and we would joke to each other about the opposite opinions we would sometimes have.

Dr. Manicas called himself a "left-anarchist" saying that he has skepticism towards both government and business, whereas he claimed "right-anarchists" and "libertarians" are only skeptical towards government.

OK, an over-generalization right there!

Though if you listened to his rants on most issues, he was more like a "democratic socialist", in other words, just like Bernie Sanders.


And just like Bernie Sanders, Manicas is originally from New York.

Manicas is of Greek & Italian ancestry, but many in Hawaii probably mistaken him as being Hawaiian-Portuguese, an ethnic mix that is common here!


Being that Manicas was from NY, he also had an obituary in the New York Times
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/nytimes/obituary.aspx?pid=177119457

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Anyways back to political philosophy, I remember back in my college freshman year, I was like many others my age, trying to articulate a political philosophy.

I sure was NOT a right-wing Republican (though some left-wingers accused me of being that) but I wasn't satisfied with the way the Democrats ran Hawaii. Plus, I didn't agree with many Democrats on gun control issues.

In the 2nd semester at UH-Manoa, I met David Parker who drew politcal cartoons in the school's newspapers. Parker advocated for capitalism, which pissed off many of the socialists on campus. But Parker also disagreed with the Religious Right. He then introduced me to libertarianism. Around the same time, I read Jesse Ventura's books and I was fascinated.

Parker then introduced me to his high school classmate Stuart Hayashi (who attended Hawaii Pacific University) who also had libertarian leanings.

So for a while, I defined myself as a "libertarian" which others might find odd being that I was attending a government-funded university, graduated from  government-funded public schools and was a former resident of government-funded housing projects.

You see why I don't even want to put political labels on myself anymore? 

And when Dr Manicas found out about me experimenting with the  libertarian philosophy, OMG, he never let me hear the end of it!  Nah, but he was cool with it, just a little friendly taunts that weren't meant to be taken personally!

When other classes required me to interview "experts" on political issues, I did interview Manicas and he always gave interesting quotes, even if I thought they not exactly what I agree with!


 Years later, after I earned my bachelor's, I did take a bike ride around campus, and ran into Dr Manicas.  He joked that he was no longer teaching Sociology 100 because higher-ups didn't want him indoctrinating freshmen anymore!   I also told him just what I mentioned a few paragraphs ago....... I don't even want to put political labels on myself anymore, citing post-college life experiences. He then said in a joking manner "I told you the left-anarchism  is the way to go".

I think the last time I seen him was a few years later, when we passed each other somewhere in Kaimuki. We just said "hi" being that he seemed like he had places to go.


=====================


Outside of politics & sociology, I also mentioned this from an earlier mentioned blog post.
http://pablowegesend.blogspot.com/2013/10/positive-teachers.html

Not only that, that guy could sing the school's alma mater. I remember hearing him sing at a graduation ceremony and I was impressed!

I honestly don't remember the year, but I think it was 2005/2006.

Cell-phones with video cameras weren't as popular as they are today, so I couldn't find a YouTube video of him singing.

I'm not a vocal expert, but he sounded like he can sing the opera in a bass voice.


Here's the instrumental for the university's alma mater

University of Hawaii Alma Mater (instrumental) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVgea0C6OZg

AS I hear this instrumental, I not only remember the time Dr Manicas sang the song, but also the interesting memories I had of him at UH-Manoa!


Rest in peace professor!

Trump and "real conservatism"

Let's be blunt: the terms "conservative" and "liberal" are almost meaningless!

What is commonly defined as "conservative" and "liberal" changes over time, and changes with locations!

Political parties like the Democrats and Republicans also change with the times. Those political parties are less about promoting a consistent ideology and are more like business more interested in gaining the maximum market share of votes!

For a last few decades, "conservatives" and "Republicans" are commonly defined in the US as

• promoting as much free market economics as allowable
• promoting as much tax cuts as possible
• encouraging the population to live the "Christian values"
• restricting abortion, birth control, pornography, drugs
• respecting the right to own guns
• favoring law enforcement in most controversies
• using the military to interfere in foreign affairs so that the US has the greater advantage in setting the global agenda
• refer to criticisms of the military as "disrespecting the troops"

The greatest divide in the conservative movement the last few decades is on immigration.


On one side is Reagan/Bush(es) who viewed Latino immigrants as faithful Catholics who are potential entrepreneurs and veterans. They also viewed Muslims as divided between the "good Muslims" (the Saudis, oil barons, entrepreneurs, the soft-spoken culturally conservatives) and the "bad Muslims" (Al Quaida, Saddam Hussein, ISIS, Iran's rulers)

On the other side is Pat Buchanan and Ann Coulter who view Latino immigrants as gang-bangers & welfare cheaters out to ruin their white utopia! They viewed Muslims as "very scary" and refused to differentiate between Muslim terrorists and Muslims who just want to work & live life!


Mexican immigration overall has decreased, but the Mexicans have moved to areas in which they were once rare! Whereas Mexican immigrants mostly stayed in the Southwest in the past, they have now been moving in increasing numbers to the South and Midwest!

Jeb Bush was supposed to be the Republican front-runner due to his famous name and big money connections!

This was where Donald Trump saw opportunity! He noticed a big chunk of European-Americans were not happy with new Mexican and Muslim immigrants in their community! He noticed that Jeb Bush was someone who takes "the high road" when it comes to political conflicts!

Donald Trump came in roaring very loud, implying that most Mexican immigrants are "rapists" and "drug dealers" and spreading paranoia about Muslim refugees from Syria!

The anti-immigration crowd was happy that someone was speaking for them and not backing down!

The conservatives who are anti-immigration didn't care that Donald Trump didn't consistently follow the mainstream "conservative principles" when it came to sex, abortion, guns, foreign policy, taxes, or whatever else!



From Salon
http://www.salon.com/2016/01/27/donald_trump_is_wrecking_the_conservative_movement_how_the_billionaire_is_exposing_its_most_toxic_secret/?source=newsletter

If there’s one thing that Donald Trump has done for the leaders of the conservative movement, the Christian Right and the Republican party it’s that he’s teaching them a necessary lesson in reality: It turns out that a large number of their supporters don’t really care about ideology, morality or even their supposedly mutual loathing of the hippie Democrats on the other side. Their concerns run to something much more primitive.

Sure they all called themselves Republicans and/or conservatives. For decades they played on the same team. But all that stuff about “family values” and “drowning the government in the bathtub” and “constitutional conservativism” were just slogans they chanted for their team. They meant no more to them than “rah, rah, sis boom bah.”

National Review slowly came around to the knowledge that something terrible had happened to their movement and last week put out their ineffectual “Against Trump” issue. They realized too late that all the movement propaganda meant nothing to a whole lot of right wing voters. In fact it looks as though the constitution itself means nothing. And the conservative movement of activists, writers and grassroots organizations has suddenly awakened to the fact that a good many of those they considered true believers are completely oblivious to conservative ideology.

 (skipped paragraphs)

But the conservative movement is equally under pressure.  They thought their years of carefully growing and indoctrinating the right wing of the Republican Party had resulted in a common belief in a certain conservative ideology, strategic vision and commitment to a specific agenda.  It turns out that a good number of the people they thought had signed on to their program just wanted someone to stick it to ethnic and racial minorities and make sure America is the biggest bad ass on the planet — authoritarian, white nationalism. If you’ve got a man who will deliver that you don’t need ideology. And he doesn’t need democracy.

That article did mention that an evangelical leader endorsed Donald Trump, even though he doesn't even live the traditional conservative Christian lifestyle!

Why? because for many "conservatives", hating Mexicans and  Muslims is more important than making America a Christian utopia!

But there's more that the article didn't address


"Conservatives"  are usually appalled if the Radical Left Wing protesters disrespect the troops! But many didn't seem bothered at all when Donald Trump insulted Jon McCain for being captured as Prisoner of War!

Insulting a veteran over his/her war-time traumas is usually a fatal mistake for any politician!

It didn't hurt Trump much!

Why? Because for many "conservatives", hating Mexicans and Muslims is more important than respecting the veterans! 



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And what did Jeb Bush do about all that? Make mild criticisms of Trump!

Trump thrives on aggression! He thrives on loudness.

Jeb, not so much!

With all his money, Jeb didn't even make aggressive ads targeting Trump that could've ridiculed him and made him look like a fool!

How's that for a major blunder!

I mean, Mother Jones (a liberal publication)  posted this ad about Donald Trump!

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2016/01/anti-trump-campaign-starts-get-real


Jeb didn't even bother making a similar ad, even though he had more than enough $$$ to pay for such ads to run in states with early primaries! He thought he didn't need to engage in political combat!

He was wrong!


While I never agreed with the Republicans on everything, I was happy that George W Bush was trying to make his party more inclusive, showing that

• not all Republicans are in the mold of Jesse Helms or Ann Coulter
• making anti-immigration fanatics like Pat Buchanan feel so outcasted that they left the Republicans to start their own "third party
•  not all non-white minorites are far-left liberals! And yes, there's a home for them too!
• America is moving beyond it's racist past 

Sadly all the work that his George W Bush did to try make the Republican Party more inclusive is now about to go down the drain, partly because his brother didn't bother to make an aggressive defense of inclusive, pro-immigration values!

follow-up to "In-person consultations superior to phone consultations"

In a recent blog post, I posted a letter to Bervar & Jones, a law firm covered by Legal Shield, a pre-paid legal service.

 http://pablowegesend.blogspot.com/2016/01/in-person-consultations-superior-to.html


Long story short: attorney Thuan Costa refused to discuss cases in-person, she said "we only do this over the phone"

It turns out Miss Law School Graduate didn't even follow the rules of her own organization!

Any law firm covered by Legal Shield, is supposed to do the following

• 1st offered the "free services" available to LegalShield subscribers (ie. phone consultations, document reviews up to certain # of page, a letter with the firm's letterhead)
• If the clients want an in-person consultation, the firm is supposed to notify the client that YES we can arrange that,  under the condition that you get 25% discount of the attorney's billing hours! 

Thuan Costa didn't even notify me about the 2nd bullet point! Now her employers know that! BUSTED!

I'm at a point where I want quality, instead of just getting the cheapest option (my former default option)

So if that means, I pay a little more for an in-person consultation, rather than a "free" phone consultation...................................I take the in-person consultation and pay a little more! 
  
Phone consultations for issues dealing with multiple documents is a SEVERE WASTE OF TIME!

I don't care how cheap or "free" it is, MY TIME IS TOO PRECIOUS!

Time is not a renewable resource!

You pay a little more for better service, you may have a smaller bank account, but you can usually make more $$$ in the near future!

But you can't get lost time back! 

So I'll still use LegalShield for now!

As for Thuan Costa......... Bye Felicia!