My First Experience as a Corrupted Lawmaker (Sort of)

You know how lobbyists and corporations often pay congressmen and women, Democrats and Republicans, with either cold, hard cash or vacations or travels in order to get that lawmaker to shuttle taxpayer money to them. Those lawmakers often insert these payments into bills (ex: Defense appropriations bills) at the last minute, without review by other lawmakers. This is called pork-barrel spending or earmarking.

Just yesterday, I volunteered at an information session to help answer questions about my high school for accepted students and their families from my former middle
school. However, in order to attract families to come at 10 on a Saturday morning required some refreshments such as bagels, pastries, coffee, tea, etc. Oh, and it came with someone to help set-up the food and serve it. The total bill: $950.00. Guess who was paying for it: a private bus company that serves my high school. Let me get this straight: I have no problem with that bus company; I've been taking it for four years and I love it.

However, throughout the information session, I felt pressured to promote them and not the other company, since they were paying for the snacks and had a presence there. In addition, the families were subjected to constant praise and Q&A with only that bus company present. In addition, my role there was to answer questions primarily relating to the school, not about the price of the bus service or how many new buses they have. I felt like a bribed lawmaker, except I was not enjoying the benefits.

First experience at DMV

No wonder people hate going to the DMV. After waiting in line for nearly an hour and 40 minutes to take the permit test, I had to wait yet another 20-30 minutes after the test to finish all the processing. Total time spent: 2 hrs 30 mins. Oh yeah, that morning was home to a crazy winter storm over NYC-I ended up having to wait almost 30-40 mins for the bus to come to take me to my subway stop.

Another enemy of the U.S.-Whoo hoo!

It turns out that the U.S. has yet another enemy on the horizon: Serbia. Yup, after Kosovo declared their independence earlier this week, with apparent aid from the United States, the Serbians attacked the U.S. embassy in Belgrade, Serbia. But don't worry, President Bush won't be thinking about attacking them-they don't have any oil!
ABCNews-Belgrade's US Embassy Set on Fire

Tours for my school tomorrow!

Hooray! I'm finally doing tours for my school tomorrow night! Tours for accepted students are being held tomorrow evening. 5-6:30=Bronx & Manhattan, 7-8:30=Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. I have been waiting ever since my first tours in October (?) because they are just so much fun!

Congrats to Giants and Happy Lunar New Year!

Giants WON the Super Bowl!!! 17-14 against the (formerly) undefeated 18-0 season Patriots. Great game!
Oh and...
HAPPY LUNAR/CHINESE NEW YEAR!!! YEAR OF THE RAT-YIPPEE! GUNG HAY FAT CHOY, LONG MA JING SUN, BOH BOH GOH SING, SUN TAI GEEN HONG, SUM SEUNG SEE SING, AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, LEI SEE DUO LOUY! (Translating: Wishing you prosperity, "healthy as a dragon", reach farther, great health, let your heart's desires come true, and can I get my red envelopes?)

Superbowl Sunday

This year, on Superbowl Sunday (2/3/08), I will be enjoying the hilarious ads, the great food, and above all, watching the NEW YORK GIANTS KICK THE PATRIOTS' BOTTOM ALL THE WAY BACK TO BOSTON. Go Giants! My prediction: close game, hopefully with Giants winning by 3 or more.

A Memo to Ralph Nader

Dear Ralph Nader,
Upon hearing of your establishment of a presidential exploratory committee, I must say: JUST STOP.