THE FALCON TIMESOCTOBER 29, 2008

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MIAMI DADE COLLEGE NORTH CAMPUS SINCE 1961

VOLUME 46, ISSUE 5THEFALCONTIMES@HOTMAIL.COM

Page 4

Features: News:

Page 5

Entertainment:

Halloween horror movies that will spook you out this

weekend

Page 2

Yamel LoraStaff Writer

Michael FinchStaff Writer

GO TO OBAMA , PAGE 2

As the presidential election approaches, nearly 30,000 Miami residents gathered at Bicentennial Park to support Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama in his efforts to win South Florida.

The downtown rally was programmed to start at 5:45pm Oct. 21, but people began to arrive at noon. Not only Democrats, but Republicans, Independents, and even children waited for hours under the sun and with a temperature of nearly 85 degrees.

Surrounding the outside of the park, people donned shirts, pins, hats, banners, bumper stickers, just to name a few, that promoted Obama, as well as people promoting amendments two and eight.

By 4:30 pm, people were waiting in a line that extended from NE 11th St. to 9th St.

By the time the Illinois Senator started his speech, the park was already packed, causing hundreds to be held outside until an overfl ow area was prepared.

This semester, Miami Dade College has proposed four new Baccalaureate degree programs to the Florida Department of Education (FDOE).

According to Norma Goonen, the provost for academic and student affairs, the college has submitted a Bachelor s̓ of Applied Science (BAS) for Film, Television, and Digital Production at the North Campus, a BAS for Supervision and Management at the Kendall Campus, a BAS for Health Science and Physician s̓ Assistant at the Medical Campus, and a BAS for Electronics Engineering Technology at the Wolfson Campus.

At a time when budget cuts are the main topic of conversation for any state funded school, the cost can be a matter of concern.

“We can throw around some base fi gures, but it s̓ hard to say a solid number [because] the program is not fi nalized,” said dean of academic affairs Harry Hoffman. “Some programs are heavy in equipment and some are heavier in staff.”

The School of Entertainment and Design

Technology (SEDT) fi rst began composing its proposal, which is comprised by the faculty, administrators, and professional industry personnel of that discipline in October 2007.

It was then presented to the District Board of Trustees to make suggestions and to approve. It was later sent to the FLDOE where it currently remains, at which point they will make recommendations. SEDT will make the recommended changes.

“The program is slated to start January 2010, if everything goes as planned,” said SEDT Director Barry Gordon.

SEDT, which functions out of four MDC campuses, has undergone a $3.2 million renovation at the North Campus in the recent past. There are 2,200 students in the school, with 1,500 of them declaring a major from SEDT.

“It s̓ a workforce driven program, to create an applicant pool of employees,” said Gordon. “It will encompass subjects from technology and business to project conception and distribution.”

Gordon said that technology is important because it is the basis of many things.

“Nobody just does one thing anymore it s̓ skills and technology convergence,” he said.

Obama visits Miami, thousands appear

More baccalaureate programsopen doors for MDC students

Tyras Milner, Jr./Metropolis Staff

Erik Steinhardt/Falcon StaffNOV. 4 IS APPROACHING: (Left) Thousands of Obama supporters at-tended the Barack Obama rally Oct. 21. (Right) Obama gives his speech.

School of Justice students honor American fl ag on a daily basis

Funeral Services major offering

students ample oppurtunities

NEWSPage 2 October 29, 2008

FROM OBAMA,FRONT PAGE

People were pushing, screaming, and complaining. While some got the chance to go in, hundreds remained outside and didn t̓ even get the chance to hear the speech.

Meanwhile inside, Obama supporters cheered for the presidential elections, “a movement that will change United States history” said John Eirson, 57, an Obama supporter.

Obama began his speech at about 6 p.m.

“In just 14 days, you and I can begin to bring some badly needed sunshine to Washington DC,” he said.

Emphasizing the hard work and the struggles they would have to face in the next few days before the election. All types of people from different parties, beliefs and ideals seemed to understand the senator s̓ perspective of what the country really needs.

He said he is hopeful about the outcome and that he is thrilled when statesman General Colin Powell joined their cause.

“We all know that change never comes without a fi ght,” said Obama.

The main emphasis of his speech was focused on his plans of tax cuts for the middle class, working population, and small business owners across the country to help them pursue their dreams.

Obama said he recognizes that the economy has taken a big hit under the policies of President George W. Bush in the past eight years. His plan of giving a tax cut to 95 percent of working families seems to be exactly what the Americans have been yearning for.

The economic position today is the worst since the great depression. Wages are lower than theyʼve been in a decade. In Florida alone, there have been losses of nearly 11,000 jobs just in September. Because of this situation, Obama said he wants to bring change.

“I know these are diffi cult times for Florida, I know many of you are worried, but hear me now, I believe we can stir

ourselves out of this crisis,” said Obama. “I believe in this country, because I believe in you.”

Obama made sure that the crowd understood that his plans for the

economic relief for middle class and the working population are to be done right away.

“Everybody deserves a chance of the American dream,” said the

senator.Obama also mentioned

McCain s̓ campaign and their efforts in attacking his

character.“That s̓ what you

do when you run out of ideas and are out

of touch and you are running out of time,” he

said. Obama said he is bringing

policies that will grow the economy from the bottom up so that every American has the chance

to succeed. He said that if America wants to build the economy from the bottom up, we need an immediate rescue plan for the middle class, which is his campaign s̓ focus right now.

In his speech, Obama also mentioned

the importance of renewable sources. He promised that if he becomes president he will invest $15 billion a year in renewable sources of energy to create fi ve million new green jobs over the next decade.

“We can end our dependence on Middle East Oil and save our planet in the barging,” Obama said.

Not only did he focus on the economy, but Obama also spoke about the health care issue, which he considers to be of major importance. He plans to work specifi cally with the insurance companies, making sure that they won t̓ discriminate against those who are sick and those who need care the most.

Education was also a topic of Obama s̓ speech.

“As president, I will give every child in Florida and every child in America the skills and the knowledge they need to compete in this new global economy,” he said.

The crowd was screaming “USA, USA” as the presidential candidate ended his speech.

“You and I together will change this country and will change the world,” Obama said.

Photo courtesy of Eva Levin/Metropolis

Several Miami Dade College students were honored last week with awards for excellence in writing.

The Florida Community College Press Association applauded the journalistic skills of students from the North, Wolfson, and Kendall campuses at its 2008-2009 convention Oct. 16-17 in Sarasota, Florida.

“We won 13 [association] awards between The Falcon Times and the Metropolis,” said Manolo Barco, media adviser for the North and Wolfson campus newspapers, via e-mail. “It was a marked improvement from the previous year when the two staffs won seven awards combined.”

The awards – for work produced last

Rebeka SilvaStaff Writer

Every morning at 7:45 a.m., the students of the School of Justice start their day at the North Campus with the raising of the fl ag. And every afternoon at 4:45 p.m., excluding rainy days, they end it with the folding of the fl ag.

The fl ag, which sits between buildings seven and eight, is often overlooked by students. But criminal justice students and instructors take care of the fl ag on a daily basis.

“We love America, we respect freedom so we respect the fl ag,” said Graham Smart,

director of the School of Justice. The fl ag is put up every morning by

superior offi cers. Not only is the raising and folding of the fl ag in these offi cersʼ day-to-day lives, but also when they graduate, a

ceremony almost identical to the one they practice every morning will take place at their graduation.

“The fl ag signifi es unity and unity of the force is what we want to pass on to our students,” Lieutenant Lloyd Mitchell said.

Many colors can be seen during the ceremony. There are blue uniforms for the students who want to become police offi cers, brown uniforms for those who wish to obtain a career as a state correctional offi cer, and red uniforms for the instructors.

“The fl ag for a country is a desecrated thing,” Smart said. It should be more valued because it holds the values of that country.”

- Lieutenant Mitchell

“The fl ag signifi es unity and unity of

the force is what we want to pass on to our

students.”

Theodore KarantsalisStaff Writer

year – included three fi rst-place winners: best news story, Laura C. Morel and Erik Steinhardt of The Falcon Times; and best illustration, Pedro Alvarez of the Metropolis, and Erick Torress for his sports column.

“Iʼm really happy that we won so many awards,” said Laura Morel, editor in chief of The Falcon Times at North Campus. “Iʼm positive that we will continue to improve and make the newspaper the best it can be.”

Barco said this is the beginning of bigger things to come for Miami Dade College s̓ newspapers.

“Let s̓ keep pushing to get better,” said Barco. “Next year promises to be even better.”

Laura C. Morel, The Falcon Times, News Photo

Steven Mesa, The Falcon Times, Arts Review

Elizabeth Melecio, The Falcon Times, Comic Strip

Melissa Montoya, Metropolis, General Column

Binsen Gonzalez, Metropolis, Ad Design

Corey W. Campbell, News Photo

Corey W. Campbell, Feature Photo

Corey W. Campbell, News Story

Russell Quinoa, Arts Review

Honorable Mention: Melissa Cabrera, The Falcon Times, Feature Story

FIRST PLACE

SECOND PLACE THIRD PLACE

Laura C. Morel and Erik Steinhardt,The Falcon Times, Best News Story

Pedro Alvarez, Metropolis, Best Illustration

Erick Torres, Catalyst, Sports Column

Anahi Cortada, The Falcon Times, Design

Elizabeth Melecio, The Falcon Times, Editorial Cartoon

Gustavo Santa Ana, Metropolis, Sports Writing

Ophelia Somers, Metropolis, Humor Writing (Column)

Binsen Gonzalez, Metropolis, News Photo

Corey W. Campbell, Sports Photo

Corey W. Campbell, Illustration

Senator discusses main issues in countryʻWe all know that change never comes without a fi ghtʼ

College newspapers excel in Florida awards

School of Justice students honor American fl ag

Photo from stock.xchng

NEWSPage 3October 29, 2008

In Short... By Laura C. MorelEditor in Chief

The arts and philosophy depart-ment at the North Campus is now performing a new production called “Our Lady of the Tortilla,” by Luis Santeiro.

The play is about a Hispanic family that enters into a chaotic phase as the

In order to better prepare the com-munity for natural disasters, the De-partment of Homeland Securityʼs Fed-eral Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has donated $240,000 to the North Campus ̓School of Justice for better training programs.

son of the family brings home a new girlfriend. The play will be on stage Saturday, Oct. 25 – Sunday, Nov. 2 at the William and Joan Lehman Theater in building fi ve.

For more information, call (305) 237-1450.

The funds will provide students with courses on evacuation, shelter-in-place, and citizen preparedness and participation.

The School of Justice has provides services to more than 16,000 students a year.

Anahi Cortada/Falcon StaffAXIS KICKOFF: Jhon Pereda, editor in chief of the North Campus’ “Axis” literary magazine, presented during the Axis kickoff Oct. 22.

Department presents new play

School gets grant for emergency training

ENTERTAINMENTPage 4 October 29, 2008

Veronica NuñezMovie Review

Halloween is right around the corner. Besides dressing up and door knocking for candy, the best way to get into the scary mood of this holiday is to watch those movies that have made you jump, scream, and close your eyes in fear.

This Halloween, get ready for the movies that will scare the life out of you. So, grab your popcorn, candy, soda, a scare buddy, and a couple of these great fi lms for the scariest Halloween movie night ever.

Saw (2004)

A twisted life lesson places people in a situation where he/she risks their life or follows Jigsaw s̓ inhumane instructions for survival.

The lesson is to show his victims the importance of life and if they deserve it. The movie starts off with two men across each other in a bathroom, each chained to pipes. Between them lies a dead man that neither of them recognizes. Neither

of them knows how they got there in the fi rst place, but as they begin to talk, they realize how they are connected. Each of them has a tape that informs their role in the game: to kill their opponent. The movie continues with others who get trapped in Jigsaw s̓ games of life.

All of these victims made terrible decisions previously to the game. This fi lm has released four sequels with its latest coming soon to movie theaters. Saw V is promised to be the bloodiest and most twisted of all the sequels, but the original Saw will give you nightmares for weeks!

The Ring (2002)

The Ring is a fi lm where death starts just by watching a movie. A journalist begins to investigate the tape that causes people to die seven days after they have watched the fi lm.

The movie has random scenes in it but they are all clues to the mystery of a little girl that haunts you and takes your life. As soon as you watch the movie, the phone rings and a creepy voice tells

you “seven days”, meaning that you have seven days to live.

The journalist Rachel Keller watches the movie to investigate it and her fate is also called in. Her son watches the movie without her permission and it turns into a race against time to discover the truth behind the mysterious tape.

The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)

This movie takes a different approach to an exorcism. The movie is a court case holding the fate of a priest who tried to save the life of Emily Rose by performing an exorcism. It tells the sequence of events that happened to Emily.

Emily Rose, while away for college, was possessed by six demons. She turned to medical help but it failed. She then turned to her faith and asked the priest for his help. Her parents approved of the priest and allowed him to do everything possible to cure their daughter.

Under his care, she dies and he is accused for her death. The realism of the movie is what keeps your eyes open all night long.

Movies that will spook you out

Are you frightened by tales of terror? Well, try living through them! The city of Miami is being treated this year with a haunted event unlike any other: Nightmare: Ghost Stories.

What started off fi ve years ago in New York City as a simple experimental attraction has become a huge success. Timothy Haskell, creator of Nightmare: Ghost Stories, decided to explore his passion for theater and horror by creating something innovative for the general masses. Haskell and his crew, the Psycho Clan, began collecting through a poll on the internet the most thrilling and twisted paranormal accounts that people claim to have undergone. Out of the hundreds of stories received, they selected the best 18 tales and constructed the rooms for the Nightmare: Ghost Stories event.

John Harlacher, director of Nightmare: Ghost Stories, said that the best attribute of this attraction is that throughout the entire walkthrough of the haunted venue, an actor is playing mind games with the visitor(s) in the midst of the paranormal encounters.

“The entire time someone is messing with your head,” Harlacher said.

This frightful experience is different from most haunted house events because you are not just watching something happen, you are the main character of the haunted house. For every step you take while in total darkness and silence surrounding each room, your heart skips a beat, not knowing what will come at you next. Not only does this event consist of an 18 room scare house, but there are two additional attractions which include many of pop culture s̓ horror creatures that have invoked fear in all of us for years.

This attraction truly made my blood rush through my veins, my heart pound rapidly, and always kept me on my toes the entire time. Carolina Lecourtoix, 27, said she could not agree more with the same feelings I shared.

“[Nightmare: Ghost Stories] was very believable,” Lecourtoix said. “This attraction was very interactive and the actors did a good job at scaring me.”

So, if you feel you can handle the fright fest of Nightmare: Ghost Stories, then hurry up and get to Soho Studios to participate in an experience that words cannot easily describe.

Nightmare: Ghost Stories

Location: Soho Studios, 2136 N.W. 1st Ave

Duration: Until November 1st (Saturday)

Costs of Admissions: Box offi ce-$30Online-$25Students-$15 (show student ID)

For any further information: www.nightmaremiami.com

Evelina ArzanovaStaff Writer

By Pierrot Mervilier

Fright festin SohoStudios

FEATURESPage 5October 29, 2008

Danyelle CarterFashion Critic

F

Belkis PerezStaff Writer

The death of one Lance McGibbon s̓ family members impacted his life in many ways.

McGibbon, a graduate from the funeral services department, lost his older brother in a car accident. Ever since that day a few years ago, McGibbon decided he wanted to make a difference in the funeral business.

“This was a turning point in my life, and I didn t̓ see the funeral service business as morbid or just about making money,” McGibbon, former SGA president at North Campus said. “I saw this as means of giving back while helping people.”

McGibbon is one of more than 1,200 students who have graduated from the North Campusʼ funeral service department since it was established in 1964.

Students pursing this degree can graduate after completing two years in the program as a full-time student. The students are exposed to the different areas of funeral services.

Students get to embalm the deceased with the supervision of their instructors. Once the bodies are embalmed with chemicals, which preserve the body, the bodies are cremated.

These embalming labs are one on one and prepare students for the work force.

Ralph Covert, chairperson of funeral services, said the department provides a preparation room, a restorative lab, display room, and a mock chapel.

These resources help students prepare for the work they will be doing once they graduate. Courses such as embalming, funeral law, restorative arts, and pathology are requirements for this major.

“When someone passes away they need to be taken care of and with this

ashion your seat

by a full skirt that swishes but vrooms when you stop.

Crank up the volume... in your hair to withstand the breezeways here at Miami Dade College. Teased, twirled, or curled hair with volumizing mousse will avoid damage to your hair. These various hair techniques will allow your hair to speak eloquently for itself.

belt because this fall fashion has plenty of gear shifts.

Rev up your engine with a deep plum blouse and high-sculpted collar offset

Ladies, stilettos are back and have never looked sharper when coupled with an architectural dress. Worried about the ouches when in heels? Don t̓ worry. Here is a fashion 101 tip: if you can wedge two fi ngers between your sole and heel, this heel is your archenemy—literally. Think Cinderella; a heeled shoe must fi t perfectly.

Buckle up boys, or should I say button up. A crisp, buttoned up shirt and divinely lengthened jeans will give you a refi ned silhouette. Radiate from zero to 60 in black to emphasize the structure of your physique. Black is the color of authority and power.

“It is popular and timeless,” said Kelly Baptiste, a pre-law major.

When polled in the computer courtyard, nine out of 10 students agreed that black is presentable at all times because it is neat and clean.

FASHIONISTA...

When all else fails, do not feel as though the fashion police should ticket you. Chose a color and style to highlight your best features, hide fl aws, and ooze maturity. It is one of the most signifi cant aspects in fashion, style and personality.

Rachel SantosStaff Writer

The Miami Book Fair International celebrates its 25th anniversary and will hold several surprises this year at Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus Nov. 9-16.

Comix Galaxy is this year s̓ new addition to the Book Fair in which the public can look at a variety selection of comic books and graphic novels and see the authors and creators behind them.

With 200 exhibitors, more than 400 authors, and an average amount of 300,000 people attending there is a wide range of activity taking place at the Book Fair. Some of the authors participating in this year s̓ Book Fair are Fernando Arrabal, Susan Issacs, and Les Standiford. With millions of books for the public to view and choose from they can also attend different author presentations, book signings, and a parade Nov. 14. The parade will be made up of Book Fair entertainers, school bands, students, children, and those representing the countries from the International Village.

In the International Village, one can go country to country as each section presents their culture, tradition, literature, and variety of foods.

“We have over 25 vendors selling Latin, Greek, oriental, grilled and a variety of organic and healthy items,” said Delia Lopez, director of operations.

In addition to live entertainment, one can check out the Write Out Loud Café in which poets, writers of plays and stories, and artists of all kinds express themselves through their work.

Admission to the Book Fair is free with the exception of Nov. 15-16 when a $5 change will be made for non-Miami Dade College students and employees 18 years and older.

For information about the Miami Book Fair International, visit “www.miamibookfair.com”

profession you can do that,” said Julie Montandon, a funeral services major.

Besides the embalming process, so much more goes into this service. The funeral service director not only knows how to embalm the deceased person but is aware of how to handle all the paper work.

“It s̓ almost like event planning. We order fl owers, a casket, coordinate the clergy, and cemetery times,” said Elaine Mulligan, a funeral services major.

The funeral service director is responsible for dealing with the family s̓ grief while submitting numerous amounts of paperwork. The director must contact Social Security, fi le for a death certifi cate, set up the room where the viewing will be held, and fi le the burial transit paper which is what gives authorization for the individual to be buried.

“It takes a lot of passion and detail to do a great job, especially in the funeral

service business,” said McGibbon.Majoring in funeral services offers a

variety of jobs. Once a student completes the two

year program at MDC and completes a one year internship at a funeral home they are now eligible to take the National and State exam.

If they pass these two examinations, the student will then be licensed embalmers and funeral directors. If the the student decides to take a different approach later on in their lives, they can go into the pharmaceutical fi eld or work for a forensic lab.

Overall, the job of a funeral service director is to give the family members a good lasting impression of their loved one since this will be the last time they see them.

“I want to go into embalming because I receive a lot of satisfaction when the family sees their loved one restored and in a peaceful state,” Mulligan said.

Rachel Santos/Falcon StaffIT TAKES A LOT OF PASSION: One of the rooms where students embalm the deceased.

Students look to funeral services program as a career path to follow

Miami Dade College keepsbringing thebooks back

Provided by “Lavish” Magazine blog edition

PURPLE IS IN: A model wears one of the many options when it comes to wearing purple, a very popular color this season.

Get your license to style

In regards to the article published in The Falcon Times titled “Faculty bummed out by bookstore blues,” the workbook Hands on Research price that was showing on the bookstore s̓ website and shelf tags were incorrect due to our Home Offi ce Research Department s̓ error. This issue was addressed to the attention of the text manager Ambar Peguero who made the correction right away. Only one book was sold at the wrong price and that student was refunded the difference. Books were kept in the warehouse until the price was fi xed.

For every book the bookstore has to return back to the publishers, the bookstore pays $5.77 to cover restocking fees, freight, labor cost, and inventory carrying costs. The bookstore also has to pay penalties monthly on the new and used books that are not purchased for each semester.

When we receive the book adoptions from the departments on time we are able to offer more money to the students during buy back. As of Oct. 10, 2008, we have put $273,942.55 into our studentsʼ pockets compared to last year when we gave $238,051.38. The price offered for books varies by market demand, with 50 percent of the current retail used price being the highest for titles that will be used the following term, up to the buyback need or “target” quantity. Books that will not be used on campus, but have value nationally are bought back at the wholesale price. Some books have little or no market value and are not bought back. These include titles for which there is insuffi cient demand nationally to warrant purchasing them, books in poor condition, and books that are/or are going out of print. Textbooks, like fruit, are perishable; they have a shelf life. Aging editions, editions that have been around a while, are demanded less and less as their revision date approaches. When a new edition is released, the old edition loses its market value.

Serving our students, faculty and staff is our number one priority we cannot prevent anyone from buying books from our bookstore, even if they are not taking classes on this campus, especially when fi nancial aid can be used in all MDC campuses.

In September, Julie Selva, a writer for The Falcon Times, came into the bookstore and asked Joyce Walker if they could take pictures and get an interview. Joyce Walker advised them that I was visiting one of the satellite stores and would be back later in the afternoon. Selva then asked who else could give her permission to take pictures and get an interview. Joyce Walker responded by telling Selva that we would have to contact our corporate offi ce.

Additionally, I also approached sociology professor David Demko regarding the shortage of books ordered for his department. Demko stated that he did his own investigation and found that his secretary did not submit the additional adoptions needed for the extra books.

I have 17 years experience managing the bookstores in four universities and two law schools. I have taken stores with a 13 percent shrink and turned the stores around to profi tability by decreasing the shrink to three percent, which is a major accomplishment. I was recognized “The Most Dedicated Organization Supporter” by Student Life 2007-2008. As director, I oversee the North Miami Dade Campus bookstore, as well as two satellite bookstores, Hialeah and EEC. I have also been awarded the “Manager of the Year” award, the greatest honor a director

LETTER

EDITOR TO THE

- Omar BettsBookstore Director

OPINIONPage 7October 29, 2008

The Falcon Times is published by the students of Miami Dade College North Campus. Deci-

sions regarding content are made by student editors.The

opinions in this newspaper do not necessarily represent those of the administration, faculty,

or the student body.

Laura C. Morel Anahi CortadaRebeka SilvaDaniel MasipErik SteinhardtJessica Tejeda

Editorial Board

Staff

Editor in ChiefManaging Editor

Advertising ManagerEntertainment Editor

Opinion EditorFeatures Editor

11380 N.W. 27 Avenue, Room 4209

Miami, FL 33167(305) 237-1253(305) 237-1254

Fax: (305) 237-8262

For ad information, contact Rebeka Silva, advertising

manager, at (954) 638-8280, (305) 237-1253, or rebeka.

silva001@mymdc.net.

Advertising Information

Manolo Barco Adviser

Letters to the Editor

The Falcon Times welcomes letters to the editor. All submis-sions should be 300 words or less and must be typed. The writ-er must sign their full name, phone number, address, stu-dent number, and e-mail ad-dress on the letter in order to be considered. Faculty and staff should include the title, department, and extension. All letters are subject to editing. Letters can be sent via e-mail to thefalcontimes@hotmail.com, with the sub-ject “letter to the editor.”

THE FALCON TIMES

Danyelle CarterPierrot Mervilier

Rachel SantosBelkis Perez

Evelina ArzanovaVeronica Nunez

Yamel LoraRebeka Silva

Theodore KarantsalisMichael Finch

Erik SteinhardtOpinion Editor

T

What Do You Think?

What is Amendment 8?Photos and interviews by Monique DosAnjos

Tina Francois, 19 Art Major

Frank Murias, 20Pre-Dental Major

Robert Garcia, Jr., 19 Aerospace Engineering Major

he end is near. Abandon all hope ye who read from here:

As the Good Doctor Hunter S. Thompson said, “I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-fi ve hours.”

While John McCain (right hand) and Barack Obama (left hand) tout their “Straight Talk,” “Country First,” and “Hope,” and “Change,” messages to the public, it becomes abundantly clear to we the people that “Straight Talk,” “Country First”, “Hope” and “Change” is not the same as “Truth.”

One thing that bothers me about McCain s̓ “Country First” slogan is it seems to me he s̓ making it “People Second.”

My father, once a Republican turned Obama supporter, is second guessing himself and considering writing-in Ron Paul. There are accounts of this all over the Internet.

One commenter on www.dailypaul.comclaims that him and 15 of his co-workers are all going to write-in Ron Paul.

This may come as a surprise to some, but voting for the candidate who represents you best is somewhat common practice in these 50 states of the union.

Sure, watching these two poster boys bash each other around is fun, but I want to hear what s̓ going on in Ralph Nader s̓ campaign.

I want to hear FOX News report that Cynthia McKinney of the Green Party challenged Obama to a debate on national television paid for by the same taxpayers who will vote for any of the tickets on the ballot, not just right hand and left hand.

Instead, we have corporate-funded debates

where we see a left hand and a right hand, but they are both clapping together.

I don t̓ want to hear kitschy remarks about Main Street and Wall Street, and I sure as hell don t̓ want to hear about some guy named Joe who is just as skewed in his views as I am.

Obama and McCain may sound very different on the issues. They both have elaborate plans to make our country a better place.

But I want to hear the truth. The problem is we already know the truth, we are just afraid to say it.

The truth is no one knows how to fi x this country. With each faulty pipe that we fi x, another one squirts a leak.

That s̓ the problem with the American Dream, everything overlaps. One dream cancels out another. They say life isn t̓ fair. But in many third world countries, life is as fair to you as it is your neighbor. The population of our world grows exponentially. And we want to ban abortion? At the rate we r̓e going our Earth won t̓ be big enough to sustain us… or

what I mean to say is that at the rate we r̓e going nine Earth s̓ won t̓ be able to sustain us. Where we currently stand, our mother planet is already suffering.

But we will vote on the person who we feel will keep us in a safe enough zone that we can continue our consumerism.

This is the greatest threat to America and the World. In order to be safe rather than just feel safe, we need a renaissance that can reshape the way we see, feel, taste, smell, and hear the world.

This is a revelation of sorts. But this is not something that a bipartisan government can shepherd into the world at large. We need a higher power, one of strength and virtue. A power so great that it blinds that of the wicked who would gladly destroy the meek.

I believe that power is within all who seek truth, beauty and love. It is we the people who have the higher power to call out the corrupt and fi ght back.

The answer to 1984 is 1776.

“Government institutions can’t tell you what to vote for. I hope I

don’t live in Florida by the time it’s implemented. Colleges are already paid for by students. I want to know if there’s going to be an oversight. I hope they don’t take it and use it to lavish with things they don’t need.”

“I don’t know. I forgot.”

“It’s badly advertised. The 140 clause should be better explained. Voting yes or no will leave it either

up to individual counties or the state. Everybody is voting for the right to vote for raising the tax. Voting yes

gives people to have a say in raising the tax for each county individually.”

Look for cover, the end is near

By Louis-Alain Baptiste