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Grades
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Dec. 20th, 2006 @ 04:45 am
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Finally, Western's servers have stopped being overwhelmed and I'm able to see ( fall grades )
So, with these credits, I am a Senior by credits. Now, time for Senioritis? |
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It looks like Disney may have released some deluxe versions of the new Pirates movie that are corrupt. I was with some friends who bought the new movie at the 12:00 am release today and the dvd crashes somewhere around chapter 15. Exchanged it for another dvd and had the same problem, same place in the movie on different DVD players. This movie may be one to hold off on buying. I expect at least some kind of a recall. |
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Wowza
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Jul. 10th, 2006 @ 09:26 am
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http://www.break.com/index/crazyfox20.html
First of all, the "preacher" is crazy, as expected. Second, does Fox consider this good, high quality reporting of the news? |
A federal marriage amendment just passed the Senate Judiciary Committee? Wow, that must mean an election is coming up. Conservative, Evangelical Christians apparently are easily satisfied by seeing their amendment brought up only to be voted down, often without even garnering a majority vote. The same thing goes for any kind of abortion bill you see put up.
I'm basically sick and tired of the Republican party pandering to its Evangelical base. Rather than try to gain broad support on social issues the party sells out to an outspoken radical wing again and again. All this while fiscal responsibility and pressing issues get swept under the rug.
The fundamentalists can stay home for the 2006 elections for all I care, the party is teeming with corruption from having unchecked power for so long, and have lost its core value of small government, personal responsibility, and fiscal conservatism.
Predictions:
( Read more... ) |
The marines called my house this morning at about 7:15 am. If I had not already been in a half-awake state since I had to work at 8:00 am, I would have been highly irritated. As it was, I was only mildly pissed off and responded as follows:
Ryan: *sleepily* Hello?
Marine: Hello Ryan! This is Someone Whoever from the United States Marines. We talked back in 2004 when you were in High school and--
Ryan: Ugh, I've got to go *hang up, fall back to sleep*
I'm fairly certain I never talked to any of the marines that came to the high school, so not only did he call way to early, he started out the conversation with a lie. If you're recruiting teenagers and young adults, try being honest and calling in the afternoons. |
| » This Morning |
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On my way to class this morning, shortly after leaving my dorm, I was treated to several large, detailed pictures of aborted fetuses. There was a man playing a guitar and several other people explaining the pictures and talking to those walking by. The most interesting member of this delegation was a young, 8-11 year old kid, passing out flyers near (who I assume was) his father. I feel really bad that he's either missing school to help his father explain a bloody, decapitated fetus rather than being in school with friends (chances are though, he is homeschooled--all the more reason to feel sorry for the kid.)
This demonstration was surely a response to Sarah Weddington speaking on campus last night. Weddington was the lawyer who argued and won Roe vs. Wade. I intended to go to her speech but did not end returning from playing racketball in time.
I really do not care if people want to protest, (although I would appreciate not being force-fed graphic photos) but, I think involving young children is wrong. Had I not been in a hurry I would have really liked to ask the kid what he really thought about everything. Someone that young is not choosing for himself whether he wants to protest, and probably doesn't have his own independent opinion on abortion.
It's ironic that the conservative's reasoning for many of their actions is to protect families and to protect children. I really don't think putting a child in a situation like this morning is good at all.
Apr. 20th, 2006 @ 12:57 pm
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| » A Note |
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Dear People Who Protest at Funerals,
Please stop being cold, heartless bastards. You only cheapen your already idiotic message. Also, f@#$ you.
Sincerely,
Ryan Minier
Reference: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060327/METRO/603270361/1003
Mar. 27th, 2006 @ 12:21 pm
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| » Did the National Anthem at the Super Bowl violate Michigan Law? |
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Did you watch the pregame of the Super Bowl and hear the Aaron Neville and Aretha Franklin gospel interpretation of the Star Spangled Banner? Under the strictest reading (embellishments), it may have violated Michigan Law:
THE MICHIGAN PENAL CODE (EXCERPT)
Act 328 of 1931
750.542 How played.
Sec. 542.
How played—The national hymn or anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner”, shall not be played, sung or otherwise rendered in this state in any public place nor at any public entertainment, nor in any theatre, motion picture hall, restaurant or cafe, except as an entire and separate composition or number and without embellishments of national or other melodies; nor shall “The Star Spangled Banner” or any part thereof or selection from the same, be played as a part or selection of a medley of any kind; nor shall “The Star Spangled Banner” be played at or in any of the places mentioned herein for dancing or as an exit march.
History: 1931, Act 328, Eff. Sept. 18, 1931 ;-- CL 1948, 750.542
Feb. 5th, 2006 @ 08:13 pm
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| » Spring Semester Schedule |
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A new year, a new Spring Semester.
( Spring Class Schedule )
Jan. 16th, 2006 @ 04:54 am
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| » Hard News |
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Maybe I just have a dirty mind but....
( Today's Newspaper )
Dec. 8th, 2005 @ 08:15 pm
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| » The More Important Vacancy |
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A lot of attention is being payed to the Miers nomination, and we hear shouts of cronyism and see attention being payed to the qualifications (or lack thereof) of Miers. Overall, I think whether Miers is confirmed, and no matter if she is a conservative or a moderate will it change greatly the balance of the Court. The Court now only has 2 proven, reliable conservatives: Scalia and Thomas. If we make the dangerous assumption that Roberts will be the perfect conservative replacement of Rehnquist, that makes 3. If Miers is confirmed and is reliably conservative, that still only makes 4. Stevens, Kennedy, Ginsburg, Souter and Breyer all vote more liberal than conservative, so we may only see a very slight rightward move of the Court.
The much more important upcoming nomination is Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board. We have already seen from the Miers nomination that no presidentially appointed position is off limits as a reward for loyalty to Bush. Greenspan is highly regarded as the premiere expert on the economy appointed by both parties Presidents, and an unqualified loyalist to Bush as a replacement could be disasterous.
Bush needs to nominate the greatest expert on the economy he can find, and not use this position as a reward for one of his own. Falterings of the Reserve Board with the economy in its fragile shape will be fatal.
Oct. 10th, 2005 @ 01:26 am
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| » Sophomore Year |
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Well it's been a couple months, time for an update.
I've begun my sophomore year at Western Michigan University and I think I've decided on a business/political science major with maybe a minor in spanish. Hopefully I can get all those done in the 6 semesters I have left.
( Here's my schedule for the semester: )
I saw Sen. Landrieu on Fox News this morning...she couldn't explain why the buses weren't used in the LA evacuation. Her statement was something along the lines of: "Those buses are under water; this is the best evacuation of LA I have ever seen; The reason more people weren't evacuated is the Bush Administration's lack of support for mass transit" What about the buses? "The buses are flooded."
Uh...right.
That's all for now; on to homework/reading. Later.
Sep. 11th, 2005 @ 08:32 pm
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| » 1 Year Left |
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Well, one year left as a teenager. Today kind of snuck up on me. Before I knew it, it was the 24th, and I don't really feel any older or anything. This is probably the first birthday without much fanfare, and it actually wasn't so bad. One year left as a youthful teenager, but another two years until I'm fully an adult, I suppose. I wonder how many states would have a drinking age of 18 or 19 if the federal government didn't extort them using highway money.
-Ryan
Jun. 24th, 2005 @ 11:28 pm
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| » Europe Loses, USA Wins |
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I guess I'm interested in foreign politics more than I thought.
( French Fries...(France defeats EU Const.) )
May. 29th, 2005 @ 10:04 pm
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| » Frist and Senate GOP denied by own party |
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Although President Bush and Bill Frist will get the nominations of Owens, Brown and Pryor passed, the Democrats will still have the option to exercise the filibuster on future judicial nominees under extreme circumstances. Individual Senators will determine what extreme circumstances are. This agreement does very little for the Senate GOP when it looks forward to Supreme Court nominations.
Even the moderate Republicans now are seeing the extent of the attempted power grab by the GOP leadership and are now working to curb it. Watching the CSPAN-2 coverage, it is quite humorous to see the Republicans that were one minute talking in absolutes about all judges receiving a vote are now figuratively joining with their centrist collegues that brokered the deal.
Sen. Frist: If this is such a big issue of principles and a Constitutional one, then please do not let this agreement stop you from having your vote on ending the filibuster. Nothing would make me happier than to see your own party betray you on a vote to change the filibuster rule.
This agreement, along with the moderate-driven stem cell bill is making me feel good about the congressional moderates, especially the Republicans that dare to step off the party line.
(Expect to hear more about filibusters when the first SC Justice retires.)
May. 23rd, 2005 @ 08:44 pm
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| » Musing - Passage from a Book |
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Something seemed compelling when I read this. It also seems very appropriate for the person who wrote the book that this came from. Any guesses who the author is?:
( Extended Quote )
May. 4th, 2005 @ 12:02 am
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| » WMU's Students Disgust Me |
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I am in shock right now. I just returned to my dorm room after attending a speech by Pat Buchanan. The speech was well attended because of the publicity it got with being on the same day as Chaves day. The opposition, liberal, turnout in the crowd was very high. On almost every talking point you had one half of the ideological room cheering, it reminded me of the political rallies during campaign season. After Buchanan’s speech, after about four questions in the question and answer period, a college aged individual with a mow hawk moved swiftly up the center aisle of the room. By the time anyone realized what was going on he had reached the podium directly in front of Mr. Buchanan. Next thing we know, Buchanan is covered in something, presumably paint.
How embarrassing for Western Michigan University. The speech, while politically charged, was peaceful. Protestors out front waved the Mexican flag as listeners entered. Individuals in the crowd cheered for talking points they liked. They had the right idea. And yet someone goes and does something stupid. The irony in all this is that Buchanan is not your run of the mill Republican. He doesn’t even classify himself as a Republican, rather an Independent who votes Republican. He spoke in criticism several times of President Bush, and I know for a fact that some of the liberal minded folks that attended agreed with him on at least a little bit of what he had to say.
The painter, likely a student at WMU, blatantly insulted a respected Conservative pundit, former Presidential advisor and nationally known figure. Ask that kid what issues he disagrees with he probably couldn’t even tell you. I’m sure he only read the Gazette this morning and saw that the event today was likely to be a controversial one.
After the speech in the lobby of my dorm, I overhear a few students talking about what happened. Chuckling to themselves about what happened and making fun of Mr. Buchanan’s good natured response, they mocked, “Doesn’t taste very good.” What would they have liked to see? A violent response from the speaker?
President Bailey wrote before this speech, “When confronted with a speaker or material that does not reflect our personal values, it is our responsibility to model rigorous debate and exchange that honors the richness of the diversity we celebrate,” and, “...the real test of freedom of speech is whether we can maintain our commitment to that freedom when faced with the most offensive views.” WMU fails, President Bailey, miserably. I am embarrassed to be a Bronco.
(edited 10:29)
Mar. 31st, 2005 @ 08:38 pm
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| » Updates |
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Just a couple things right now. Mostly this is a post for people visiting my website to comment on and act as a message board. (http://minier.info).
In other news (this part of the post will only mean something for maybe 2 people that read this)....Guess who I see on the ballot for State School Board running under the Green Party banner, none other than Peter Ponzetti. He even has a webpage for his campaign (http://www.votepete2004.tk/). I won't be voting for him...
Oct. 19th, 2004 @ 02:06 am
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| » I met the President! |
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Well, I was able to shake President Bush's hand and get somewhat of a picture of him and myself when he stopped by Battle Creek, MI. I was able to get the great standing spot by coming the night before and volunteering as event staff.
So after I went through the one hour training session for event staff (actually before right when I showed up for the training session) I was given event staff credentials.
With these I was able to go anywhere in the facility, and cut ahead of a long line of people waiting to get into the event. My official job was ground rally squad. Basically, try to keep the crowd peppy, yes, I was a glorified cheerleader. I was also supposed to be on the lookout for protestors, but since I used my credentials to get into the super VIP section, it wasn't much of an issue.
After watching his speech...which was pretty similar to the one he gives at all his other stops, he walked along the front railing, upon which I was standing. When he got to me I was able to shake his hand and say something like "Good speech Mr. President" to which he said something like "Thank you very much young man."
Right after me he stopped when my friend asked for a picture, so a whole group crowded near him and people started taking pics, and I leaned in from the side and using my left hand took a pic, which suprisingly turned out.
And that's my story of meeting W.
Sep. 16th, 2004 @ 10:45 pm
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| » WMU Schedule |
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HNRS 490 67507 UTOPIAS IN SOCIETY W 4:00 PM 6:20 PM 1020 The Lee Honors College Main 3.00 Regular
MUS 113 10972 CONCERT BAND MTWR 2:00 PM 2:50 PM 1120 Dorothy U. Dalton Center Main 1.00 Regular
PSCI 200 26865 NATIONAL GOVERNMENT M 6:30 PM 9:00 PM 4206 Dunbar Hall Main 3.00 Regular
PSY 100 47757 GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY TR 3:30 PM 4:45 PM 1001 Wood Hall Main 3.00 Regular
SPAN 101 46197 BASIC SPANISH II MTRF 12:00 Noon 12:50 PM 4012 Brown Hall Main 4.00 Regular
Jun. 8th, 2004 @ 12:14 am
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