Calm, Cool, Collected....Hello Mr. President

Tonight's final debate before the Ohio and Texas primaries March 4 between Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton solidified Obama's stance as the front runner for the Democratic presidential nomination.

The ball was in Hillary's court tonight and she dropped it. In a feeble attempt to appear tough and aggressive, she came off desperate and slightly maniacal (note the borderline sociopathic laughter). Obama took her jibes in stride, his tone remaining even and cool throughout the debate. He answered every question with balance and clarity, sidestepping the swipes Clinton aimed at his foreign policy and inexperience. In fact, he came off stronger on foreign policy than she did in my opinion. Like always, he told it like it is.

Clinton has run a fierce fight, but her momentum, whatever's left of it, is rapidly dwindling. While she focused on being snarky and trying to appear larger than she really is, Obama let her look like a certified maniac and did not rise to her bluffs. It's this behavior of Clinton that worries me most about her.

Obama made a great point about her being ready to given into Bush's desires on Day One when she voted for the war in Iraq - and I can see how she might have thought that voting for a big, grizzly war would make her seem all tough in Congress. But I don't want a president who's only going to rise to occasion or act rashly because she is trying to prove herself to America or the outside world as a viable leader. That's the same kind of crap that got us in this war. Obama could lead with his eyes closed and still have it all in control - his cool demanor tonight bolstered that perception. He is solid and confident and that is more important in gaining the respect of foreign leaders than standing up with his chest puffed up and an army tank behind him. He needs none of that to lead - he will use his head and his heart and some good old fashioned common sense. The man has IT.

His performance was the final blow to her campaign, I think, and I am anxious to see how Texas and Ohio vote next week. No matter the outcome, Obama proved himself tonight to be the level-headed, firm and honest person that America needs to see in the White House.

Come on NY Times...are you a leader in news or a follower?

Several weeks ago, the New York Times, the leading newspaper in the the U.S., announced its endorsement of Senator Clinton. OK. I let that one slide. They probably felt some sort of attachment to her since she's NY Senator.

But, please, guys...when you make a decision you need to stand by it. In the past week, the Times has printed an article blasting Clinton for her floundering campaign and just today, they have a piece at the top of their Web site championing a poll that found Obama as the candidate most likely to defeat McCain.

Waffle much? I am all about Obama (I think you've probably inferred as much by now), but I would expect the NY Times to at least stand by their decision to back up good ol' Hitlery. They are the mecca of all American news and as such they need to step it up and assume that role. I was even disappointed to see them put McCain under the microscope for "maybe, kinda sorta, probably" having relations with a female lobbyist. What happened to cold hard facts, my friends to the North?

I think this serves as an example of what can happen when news organizations endorse candidates too soon. Personally, I think that it's our responsibility not to endorse anyone. We're supposed to be the ultimate source of objective news, and endorsing is a clear attempt to sway readers.

But I could be wrong. Maybe by turning a burning lens on Clinton they are trying to prove how unbiased they can be even after they pump money into a presidential campaign. If so, then bravo. But then why endorse at all? Clinton only stands to lose and Obama gain. Aren't you defeating your own purpose???

Mentioned articles:

Somber Clinton soldiers on as the horizon darkens:

Polls show Obama is seen as more likely to beat McCain:

Out on a limb...

I think I'm getting the hang of photojournalism...
I was driving around searching for beautiful light for my next assignment and then I looked up and saw this kid...dangling from a tree! It was perfect. I immediately did a U-turn and asked him if he minded if I photographed him for a class project. After about 120 frames, I was sure I'd gotten a beautiful shot and was ready to leave...when an evil farm man came storming in on his 4 wheeler! He accused me of trespassing and threatened to call the cops on me for photographing his land. It was classic, with his little hound dogs at his side and everything...I was hard pressed to keep from laughing. I wished him a good day and hightailed it out of there before he pulled out his rifle. What an evening...but it was worth it for this amazing photo!

When it rains it pours

I can still remember the smell of Fridays when I was younger...like drafts of fresh cut grass blowing in through the school bus windows on the bumpy ride home, the scuffle of dirty shoes skipping rope on cold concrete, the feel of mud caked under my fingernails and the thud of my backpack as I flung it to the floor to be forgotten for the next 48 hours.

I miss the days when the weekend was the light at the end of a seven week long battle against the rest of the world. These days, it's nothing but an extension of an already overwhelming work week. Sometimes I thrive more when work is plentiful and the familiar pangs of anxiety propel me out of bed each morning. But there are days when I lie in bed, letting time tick by while I think about what would happen if I did not get up, if I let the world get on without me for just a few more minutes. I usually get up anyway, probably out of fear of getting an answer. But today I didn't. I called in sick to work. I never do that. I slept until 1:30 (p.m.). I never do that either. I could hear storm clouds rolling in outside my window, billowing overhead and carrying sleepy, halfhearted sun rays in through the blinds and I welcomed the excuse to snooze longer.


In the past months I have been hit by more bricks and stones and walls than I can count, all warning of danger ahead if I continued on the path I was on. Finally, about a week ago I decided to listen. The invisible voices I imagined were pushing me forward disappeared. I learned to listen to myself for once and do what I wanted. It seems simple but I actually had not realized that my life is my own to live. No one is telling me what to do or how to do it. I had control all along even though I envisioned myself a slave to some higher power.

I snapped and I'm not going back to where I was. It gets tempting, I admit, to let the current convince me with its gentle ebbs and flows to go along with it down a distant pathway. Sucking up my courage and turning the other direction is the hard part, but it gets easier with each day as my muscles clench and tighten, growing stronger and propelling me against the current.

I'm getting back to balance, to the journey I started two years ago. Maybe the direction I'm going is different than everyone else. Maybe I won't have the picture perfect transcript or the job everyone wishes they had. But I will be happy, and that's true success in my book.


"When it rains it pours but when you shine it dries."

Where do we go from here?

Keep holding on NIU.

My brother the Youtube Whore

Hello Lovers...Love today!

I can not ignore today. So I've take an proactive stance and made cupcakes for the newspaper and brownies for my friends...just trying to spread the love!

So, for all you single lovers out there, don't let yourself get lost in the storm of confectioner's sweets and stuffed animals today. Take the time to show the people you love, family, friends, etc, that you care about them.

Besides, the world could use a little more love these days.

Why not start with yourself?

In the words of Mika, "Everybody's gonna love today..."

A picture can say 1,000 words

Some of the most breathtaking images taken around the world in recent months.


Northern lights (aurorae borealis) in Canada.
(Image via nationalgeographic.com)















A Narwal whale captured in Nunavut, Canada.
(Image via bbc.com)

A deceased gorilla carried out of the jungle in the Congo.
(Image via bbc.com)


Breathtaking shot of a mother and her son bathing in the Red Sea.
(Image via bbc.com)





























You simply can't get better than National Geographic photojournalism. By keeping the shutter open on their camera for hours rather than seconds, photographers are able to capture the orbit of stars around Earth at night. Makes me want to be an astronaut...
(Image via nationalgeographic.com)

Yes, we can

One short video has never summed up the power of Obama as this. Whether you vote Democrat or Republican tomorrow, the important thing is that you vote. But when you do, remember who reminded us young Americans that we have the power to DO and ACT rather than ACCEPT and LISTEN.

YES WE CAN.

Well that's embarassing...

So I'm studying for a communication law exam @ the Library...thinking that I should listen to something soothing like Beethoven. Once I've been listening for about 5 minutes I feel a tap on my shoulder.

"Um...excuse me ma'am...your headphones aren't plugged in."

Oops.




At least it wasn't something loud and obnoxious.