Willem

An Evening on Willem Falls

My phone usually rings when Thursday arrives. I'm on the couch reading. I listen to Jeremy Long expel something sounding a little like a frustrated whine and an early morning groan into my answering machine.

He says my name. I wait. He tells me to pick up the phone. I comply.

Jeremy tells me it's Thursday and Thursday is boat night.
We gear up.

Willem is loaded, but backward. We untie, reverse the situation and re-tie somewhat properly, but this time we remember the motor. The necessities are packed and all we need now is some boat beer.
Jeremy buys a 12-pack of Coors Light.
We shove off.

The bay resembled a smooth sheet of glass. The weather felt cool. We slowly motored through Naples.
Pee time arrived.
We headed for the dock.
Another boat filled with friends bobbed with our wake upon our return. They were drinking boat beer too.

Conversation of drunk excursions to Catalina and water polo consumed the minutes between pee time and our second outing.
At one point I found myself drifting from the dock because I forgot to hold on.
We shoved again, but this time we followed a bigger vessel.

The problem with alcohol is that it runs out. We decided on Tantalum for a refill.

Mike Almquist apparently can cut rug. He's dancing with Rachel.

This is Jeff Craver. He's watching Mike dance with his girlfriend Rachel.

But Mike isn't in need of anyone to dance with.

He simply needs a floor he can stand on.

When we left I almost fell in the water with my camera. So I stopped carrying it.

Owning a smaller boat allows maximum entertainment when speeding through the wakes of bigger boats. But one small con appears out of so many pros. While speeding through wakes in a 9.5 ft. plastic dinghy you tend to end your evenings with a wet ass and water up to your ankles.

Though...I'll do it again.

Money, the real political motivator

Another editorial published in CSUF's Daily Titan newspaper on Oct. 20

Ideas about politics and voting have begun to trickle into the minds of America's younger generations.

Political events, like the tumultuous winding down of a dubious presidency and the brawl between democrats and republicans, both equipped with people geared up to change history, have helped clutch the attention of young voters. Then we read stories about voter registration fraud and we think, "Why bother?"

According to a Los Angeles Times article written by Evan Halper and Michael Rothfeld in Saturday's California section, voters are allegedly being tricked into registering as republicans while signing petitions they believe are focused on real issues, such as strengthening punishments for child molesters. Unsuspecting signers will arrive at their polling places and be handed republican ballots.

The people reportedly offering these fraudulent petitions are from a firm hired by the California Republican Party called Young Political Majors. According to the sources in the article, these people are gathering signatures in public places such as outside of supermarkets and are operating throughout the country.

Apparently, people are also led to believe that in order to fill out a petition they must register as a republican, but then are reassured their affiliation is secure. Later they find out they were lied to.

Maybe we should be questioning ourselves. We've been told not to trust strangers since before we were shoved from the comforts of our home to make our first solo jaunt to school. Are we forgetting the little lessons in life? Our society needs to slow down, mellow out and read the fine print.

This is not an isolated incident. This dirty political scheme is a cyclical situation and needs to be stifled. Democratic signature-gatherers have been accused in the past also. According to the article, the FBI is investigating the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now for filing false voter registrations in a number of states. Also, eight ACORN members pleaded guilty in April to turning in doctored registration cards in 2006.

These deceiving actions are prime examples of why we shouldn’t sign anything without reading the small text. Or at least they offer a solid justification to madly dash past people bombarding us with reasons to release our signature.

The Times article reported the YPM firm had been accused of this tactic before, but have denied the accusations. A republican party spokesman said it had never been charged with a crime.

The initial response to this situation was to blame dirty politics, but when the Times reporters followed the money it became clear that these people, if they are indeed duping the public, are reaping $7-12 for each registration. Of course, it may only be about money. These people might not care if Sen. John McCain or Sen. Barack Obama is elected. They may only care about a buck.

We have enough criminals in the world. There's no reason to pollute an already sketchy system. Leave the democratic process alone. At a crucial point in time when politicians have the full attention of the young, the country cannot allow political deviance to deter these potential leaders. If we fail to keep them interested, then we are truly the dumbest animals on Earth.

Jeremy's 32nd Birthday

Web Classy

Fred is my teacher of history in anthropology.
Fred is a Marxist.

Faux Palin

I wrote this editorial for CSUF's Daily Titan newspaper on Sept. 29.

The comment regarding Russia's proximity to Alaska made by Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin could have simply been a situation puffed up and blown out of proportion by the media and "Saturday Night Live."

The now infamous comment by Palin originated in an interview conducted by Charlie Gibson, which aired Sept. 11 on ABC. Gibson inquired about national security and since they were in Alaska he asked about Russia first.

According to transcripts from the interview, Gibson asked, "What insight into Russian actions, particularly in the last couple of weeks, does the proximity of the state give you?"

Palin responded, "They're our next door neighbors and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska."

Obviously the remark became immediate fodder for the SNL crew. On Sept. 13, Tina Fey magnified the statement by saying, "I can see Russia from my house."

Unfortunately, in an interview with Katie Couric on CBS, which aired Thursday, Sept. 25, Palin failed to clarify her remark. Instead, she began repeating a version of the answer she gave to Gibson then fell into stutters and throat groans. One could actually see her furiously back-pedaling – desperately searching for a way out of the mess she created. Then Palin used a popular plan B – she blamed reporters.

"It's funny that a comment like that was...uh...kind of made to...um...(throat groan)...charact...(throat groan)...I don't know, you know...reporters."

By the end of Palin's incoherent rambling, before she said "reporters," Couric helped her think of a word.

"Mocked?" Couric said.

"Yeah, mocked. I guess that's the word, yeah," Palin told Couric.

Couric immediately gave Palin another chance to clarify her statement by asking her how the geographic nature of Russia and Alaska enhances her foreign policy credentials.

Brilliantly, she responded, "It certainly does. Because our next door neighbors are foreign countries. They are in the state that I'm the executive of."

Is she serious?

We're situated directly across the street from a Christian college, but we are far from versed in Biblical studies.

This Palin situation would make more sense if the Republican party admitted that their vice presidential choice was solely a tactic to sway Hillary supporters. It seems like they chose her simply because she exhibits strong Republican attributes and not for her ability to help run a country. Of course there are the pluses, like she's a pit bull in lipstick, she resembles a wise librarian and she believes in "small town" values, but she doesn't know what she's talking about. Palin should give up this facade of understanding issues she isn't schooled in.

Toward the end of the presidential debate Friday, Sen. John McCain mentioned he wouldn't need on-the-job training if elected president. Maybe that's true considering his age and his experience in government, but after each interview it becomes quite clear Palin is far from prepared.

The G&J House

Ah...rapid posting. It's like shitting out of your fingers.

We were rushed to arrive at Greg and Jeremy's house. There was no time to stop and use napkins.

Although usually sipping wine on his porch in Portland, Jeff greets everyone when they enter.

Keri probably thought I wouldn't post this. Sorry, but that foot has been on a roller derby track.

When the earthquake hit recently...

the first thought was, "What about our shit!"

The occasion marked the end of recording for Jeremy's new album. We all participated in a sea shanty dedicated to our boat Willem Falls.

Of course I didn't snap any photos of the action because who really wants to see pictures that actually caused this post?

Ramadan Iftar

Here's something that ran in the Sept. 18 issue of the Daily Titan newspaper.

The news section found itself scraping for content in order to fill space. In response, I was asked to run down to the Titan Student Union and snap photos of the Muslim Student Association praying before they ate dinner.

The project should have produced a couple pictures accompanied with long captions - similar to a photo essay. I figured long captions would be great with quotes so I asked to interview the first person I saw.


As you can see, the project didn't really turn out as planned. This sort of situation is essentially normal with newspapers - the more we have the better since we can always cut cut cut. Although, when it comes to exceeding your maximum word count the "more is better" idea gets hurled out the window.

When I returned to the newsroom I was asked to simply write a couple one line captions.

I thought I would share the interview here since the newspaper had no place for it.

"This is a great way for people to come together," said Sumanah Mithani, the public relations and event coordinator for the Muslim Student Association. "It causes unity to come into order."

I sat down with the 21-year old after seeing her, donned in a colorful hijab, rush around a corner to secure the room they scheduled to meet in. I introduced my self and she seemed happy to participate in a brief interview, but I could tell she was in a hurry.

Ramadan is the Muslim holy month when believers fast from dawn to dusk, but for non-believers it's just September.

After the sun sets there is a call to prayer. After prayer comes the Iftar.

"Iftar means the breaking of the fast," Mithani said. "Translated in English it means dinner."

Mithani said the MSA has held prayer on campus for 6 years and is one of few schools that do. On average, 40 to 50 students will arrive and participate, but some nights are bigger than others, Mithani said.

The brief prayer begins around sunset and is directed toward Mecca - from the Ontiveros room in the TSU that direction is NE, Mithani said. The men pray in front and the women in back, but when the feast begins the women are first in line.

After dinner they pray again.

To go a full day while fasting seems a bit harsh especially when you're a student forced to walk the campus and attend classes, but Mithani said she doesn't see it that way.

"It gets difficult walking in the sun, but it's a test of self will and it humbles you," Mithani said. "It's a struggle, but in the end it's worth it."

The experience proved awkward at times, only because I felt like I was intruding on something sacred. I'm not happy with the photos, but considering the set up of the room and my desire not to accidentally disrespect the ritual, I think that's the best I could have done.

I was asked not to walk in front of them while they prayed and that request caused me to remain in one area - stuck behind two tables.

I noticed not everyone participated in the prayer and afterward I noticed the women didn't receive food first. So, by the end of the experience I felt the ritual seemed a bit more relaxed than I had imagined.

Still, I'm glad I witnessed it.

Check out Rob's short one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwpu85YmWeU

Let democratic process decide the skateboard issue

This editorial appeared in CSUF's Daily Titan newspaper on Sept. 9.

Some words are from other editors, but most are mine.

So now the powers that be will enforce the skateboarding ban and distribute a $112.50 fine to dissenters.

Necessary? We think not.

We have consistently been brainwashed to love and fight for democracy and then when we learn we’re actually living in a republic, we’re too confused to care.

But now we’re hip on politics. Obama is running for president and the Republicans are shaking things up by throwing a woman in as a vice-presidential candidate. We get it now. It’s all just a game.

Wouldn’t the present be a spectacular time to re-stab us with the democratic dagger and force us to remember that democracy is the lesser evil of all governments?

Let the students vote.

The students are sitting in classes and gearing up to clutch the country’s reins, while you, the higher-ups in charge of rolling laws down from the mountaintops, will be pooping your pants and playing Wii bowling in order to “keep your mind young.”

The lesson communicated to us helpless students seems to be that banishing simple freedoms is right.

Fine. When we begin creating the laws, Wii games will be off-limits because we’re scared you will hurt somebody when you accidentally throw your arm from your old and tired body.

Ridiculous, huh?

Skateboarding keeps us young. It’s also a mode of transportation. We don't have access to golf carts like some people do. Also, people get hurt all of the time. Why are the people running the campus trying to save so many from bumps and bruises?

There must be other reasons. Maybe the tickets are a quick source of income or maybe there is a fear of lawsuits. But if lawsuits are the case, there’s usually more than one direction to travel on an issue.

What about the problems University Police will have enforcing this ban. If people begin to get hurt as a result of skateboarders, is it too far-fetched to think that CSUF will be sued by students who feel the university is not doing enough to enforce a skateboard ban?

Why not waste money on signs stating, “Walk at your own risk”?

Additionally, why not have skateboarders use the same paths designated for bicyclists? Seems like everyone wins that way.

We’ve even heard a few college students refer to Cal State Fullerton as “prison-like.”

Skateboarders add character to our campus. Don’t force them to conform.

If you think about it, students are the only ones that truly matter here; everyone else is working for us. With the exception of teachers, the rest of you are paid quite handsomely. We think you can afford to let the students' voices count.

Why don’t we meet somewhere and discuss your salary? We think it’s time to make some changes, but it might take us a while to arrive – we have to walk.

Get down and relax Underground

Published in CSUF's Daily Titan newspaper on Aug. 25.

The Underground, situated on the bottom floor of the Titan Student Union, houses an area for students to play, relax, study, create and volunteer.

In the Titan Bowl and Billiards section of the Underground there are eight bowling lanes, 12 pool tables, two pingpong tables and a few big-screen televisions. In addition, there is the Titan Arcade room and the Titan Gaming Center, which features six X-Box 360's.

“Titan Bowl and Billiards is a place for students to relieve stress, relax and have fun with their friends when they want to take a break from their studies,” said Garrett Myers, 21, a Titan Bowl and Billiards desk attendant.

Additional features include board game checkouts, locker rentals, vending machines and tournaments, according to the brochure.

Myers said the Texas Hold’em poker tournaments are the most popular. They are limited to 40 people each week, but are free to enter. Registration for the event is on the day of the tournament and begins at 7 a.m. The first tournament is slated for Sept. 3.

“It always fills up,” Myers said.

Titan Bowl and Billiards also hosts table tennis and billiard tournaments. A Madden NFL 2009 tournament will be held on Sept. 17 in the Titan Gaming Center.

“This is definitely the place to be,” said Bryan Wright, 25, a Titan Bowl and Billiards event manager and graduate student. “It’s a good place for people who want to have fun or for enthusiasts who want to work on their game, but be careful–you can spend a lot more time down here than you would think.”

Wright said the busiest time is between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

According to the brochure anyone may use the facility, including staff, faculty and community members, but in order to obtain a student discount for bowling, billiards, table tennis and X-Box game rentals a valid student identification card is required.

Those interested in private use of the facility may call the reservations desk at (714) 278-5856. The hours are Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday from 7 a.m. to midnight, Saturday from noon to midnight and closed on Sunday. More information can be found at http://titanbowl.fullerton.edu.

“We allow one free group event for registered clubs or groups on campus,” Wright said. “(They should) use it wisely.”

Just down the hall from the Titan Bowl and Billiards, past the air hockey table and the campus pub, is the Fireside Lounge. Depending on whether or not someone is banging away at the public piano, this area is reserved for people who desire a place to relax or study.

A little further down the hall is the Meditation Room. According to a placard on the wall students using this room should, “Please respect the intent of this space by refraining from eating, sleeping, using personal computers or other such activities.”

Students will find the Graphic Services room located a bit further down the hall. A multitude of design services are offered here for a fee, but students are allowed to use the facility to create projects of their own.

“Any student can come in here and use the equipment for projects,” said Nicole Concepcion, 24, a graduate student and production manager in the facility.

According to the brochure, services include banner and button making, computer graphics, illustration and poster mounting. In addition, there are Macintosh computers available for use and students may receive help designing resumes.

The Graphic Services room is open 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 8:30-4:30 Fridays during the fall semester, according to its Web page.

Next door to Graphic Services is the Volunteer and Service Center.

“We are the place on campus if you want to get involved in social justice, community or service learning,” said Paul Saiedi, 28, a graduate American Studies student. “We provide volunteer opportunities from environmental conservation and restoration to working with children, teaching literacy and promoting blood drives.”

The brochure states students may volunteer through student-run projects or through outside agencies. A multitude of fliers and posters advertising volunteer opportunities adorns the wall just inside the entrance.

“This is a great place to find academic internships,” Saiedi said. “This is [also] a good place for students who volunteered in high school and want to continue to volunteer in college.”
More information can be found at www.fullerton.edu/volunteer.

Wednesday Night at the DNC

I jumped out of the car and quickly made my way down Market Street. Past the homeless, the suits, the lady suits and the enforcers I rapidly placed one foot in front of the other.

When you're close to flashing your press pass, people like this jump out at you.

All of them have causes and goals.

Of course, some are more entertaining than others.

Wednesday happened to be the day Rage Against the Machine played in the Denver Coluseum. Jeremiah attended then marched from the venue to the Pepsi Center along with hundreds of strangers. The police geared up and later, after I had left the Pepsi Center, I heard they got down. Pictures in the newspapers the next day showed protesters on the ground after being handled by Denver's finest.

This is the line to enter the perimeter of the Pepsi Center. Organization came into play this day. No more funneling, just one long line.

The escalator just inside the Pepsi Center.

The view from the third floor.

Former California governor Gray Davis.

The lady here is holding a sign stating the area behind her lacks sufficient seating for this gentleman. This kind of bullshit left me out of the area many times.

After I snapped a few photos from this area a security guard for the Pepsi Center walked up to me and said in a hushed tone, "Hey, um, secret service just ordered me to tell you that you're going to have to sit down now." I said, "What?" He said, "Yeah, you're going to have to find a seat." So I found a seat and seconds later two very suspicious gentlemen sat near by. Maybe they were Democratic spectators, but the area I chose to sit in was void of any one else. One man sat to my right and a couple seats down, while the other sat behind me and a couple seats to my left. Right about that point I realized I was thirsty and left to purchase a lemonade.

Bill Clinton is an American rock star.

Melissa Ethridge is an American.

They seemed to like her.

Hey, are these people reading? I can do that.

I left to walk around after Clinton spoke and while watching Biden on a TV, similar to the one above, a security guard approached me and said, "Obama is in the house." I ran to three doors before someone let me in. Then I posted up with my lens and waited.

Then he walked out.

This is Biden's family walking off the stage.

You are welcomed back out on the streets by people like this.

I actually shot these guys the next evening, but you'll never know.

Just remember, see through the bull shit.