You want something. You can’t push for it or it won’t happen. You can’t stay stagnant or it won’t happen. There in lies the conflict. So what do you do? This is where I stand now. Trying to figure that out. My best guess goes along with the advice that’s been given to me. You just have to do everything you can, and then wait it out. It’s like a plant. You can dig the hole, plant the seed, and water it daily. But you have no control on wither or not the sprout will come from the seed (and the green grass grows all around all around, and the green grass grows all around). Can it be aggravating? Yes. Can it be frustrating? Yes. Can it be worth it? Absolutely.

So where am I right now? I’ve planted the seed. I’ve watered it and maintained it. I’m waiting for the sprout to poke through the dirt, the sign that my work has been successful. If the sprout never appears out of the dirt, will you be disappointed and upset? Naturally. Will you let it ruin your day, week, month, year? No. You shrug your shoulders, let the disappointment fill you for a moment and, unfortunately, move on.

However, I am still standing here with a watering can, standing over a patch of dirt. Under that dirt, a seed. Has the seed sprouted? I’m pretty sure it has. Has that sprout started to pop out of the dirt? From where I’m standing, it looks like it may have started to, but it’s hard to tell. In the past week or so, I’ve been able to see the sprout at times. At other moments, I have not. I’ve spent a good portion of this summer maintaining the seed, hoping and waiting for it to grow. I believe in myself. That I have done a good job.

Could it be worth it? Absolutely! My seed could sprout, appear from under the dirt, and turn into a beautiful plant (your pick: tree, flower, fruit/vegetable provider). If that happened, my already overall happy disposition could be made happier, reaching a pinnacle that’s remained unachieved in some time.

I have 8 days left to see if my work paid off. After that, some time away to see how that affects things. I want everything to end in the perfect situation. The way I want it to be. As a woman said to me on Saturday, “It’s a ride at Disneyland, of course it’s going to end on a happy note!” The way I want it to be. The “happy-Disneyland ride” result (?).

I’ll keep trying. I’ll keep maintaining. I’ll keep watering. I’ll keep hoping. But if it doesn’t work out? I tired my best. I can be disappointed and upset, but I know I tried me best. I’d rather have a new demo CD than no music at all. I’d rather have a new great friend than lose a friend I already have. I’d rather see raw footage than not see the movie at all.

But hey, that’s why I’ve been living with Carpe Diem in mind. Seize the day! Got to take the risk and try. And from my experience, if you take the risk, it usually turns out happily for all involved. So for all you readers out there (thanks by the way!), Carpe Diem. If you’re thinking about doing something, acting upon something, or have a good feeling but are still unsure about it, take the risk. Live without regrets! That’s what I’m going to do with my little seed. Keep watering and take the risk. “Go on, if this will make you happier!” -Guster

There are many things in motion in my life right now. I want to control them all, know what’s happening, what’s going to happen, and be able to make things happen by grasping onto a plan and proceeding smoothly. The things that I have control of do not bother me. I feel happy, content, and confident. I know what I need to do, I am doing it, and I believe I am being successful in my endeavors. I’m working hard, and I believe I am going to come out successful. Naturally, there are worries and nervous feelings, but in the end, I know I am doing the most I can and will have no regrets. Live with no regrets. Make the decisions based on what you want to do, and don’t look back to question, “What if?” But that’s a blog for a different day. For now, I am taking control of my own life and actions and hoping for the best.

Now, when I say control, I don’t mean that in a dictatorship, power-hungry way. I mean I am able to choose my own path and whatever the outcome may be, good or bad, I have been able to figure things out on my own. Be in control of myself.

Somethings I can affect. Others I can’t. For those I can affect, I take action. I move in. I do what I can. But while I have some sense of control in certain aspects, I have zero in others. It’s not that I can’t affect things. I just can’t affect them in a matter in which I wish. I want to be able to turn a clock back and have things back to the way they were, but that isn’t possible. 

So what do I do? I stop. I try not to think about the drama. I use something else to occupy myself and take the focus off what I cannot affect. In the past I’ve used various activities at CHS to occupy myself in odd times. Theater, movies, music, whatever works. At school I would loose myself in a football or basketball game. Currently, I am involved in a great experience at camp which is now allowing me to clear my head for about 8 hours a day. Not have to focus or think about anything that is going on beyond Agoura and Kanan Road. I’m not running away from anything. I just need some time, at times, to take a breather. You take a breath, you let go of the issues, and you just have fun. Focus on the thing you are doing, and have a good time.

I don’t want to sound like I’m a guy with a bunch of issues. I’m not. Really. My life is really great right now. Between my school life, and my personal life, I’m in a great place. The events which I can control add to the overall prosperity of life right now (was that the right choice of words? Sure, why not). It’s the few other instances going on that are the faults in my life currently. Unfortunately, they sorta happen to be big…
  

And the the phone rings at 10:55 pm. More information flows in. You start to worry. You hid behind a few jokes and laughs before actually thinking about everything. You let it sit, and you think, and you wonder. And then you just can’t wait to wake up, go to a place that helps you stop and breathe, not worry about what happens beyond the PVC pipe barrier, take control of the things that you can, put plans in motion, and continue on with everything else that makes you who you are. Everything else that makes you happy. You see the new friends you’ve made and remember the new stories you’ll have to tell. You sit back, relax, and think, “I got a lot of good going for me right now. The few things that are fucking it up, however big they may be, shouldn’t define your everyday personality. Take control of your life.” Once you’re in control, the other stuff will fix itself. I forget where it’s from, but there’s a quote that says “Everything will be okay in the end. And if it’s not okay, then it’s not the end.” True words. Everything will be okay. Most everything already is. And for those things that aren’t? In the end, everything will be okay…

The World Baseball Classic has been the subject of a lot of scrutiny. Some believe that it is not played at the right time of year, and should be played midway through the season. Others say it shouldn’t happen at all. People say this since Team USA has, in both incarnations of the Classic, been ill-prepared and has failed to reach the finals. But we are ill-prepared because we, the American people and the players, do not care. 

The foreign teams have been practicing for this since January. Team USA has had the practice while you play technique. The foreign teams consider this a huge thing; the World Cup of Baseball. The US players think its an honor to represent their country, but play it as en exhibition tournament.

As fans, we do not have the same passion and intensity as other fans. Had the US  actually made the finals this year, I HIGHLY doubt that the fans would have been as into it as they should be. We all, as baseball fans, need to take a long hard look at the foreign fans and learn something from them.

Sitting in my seat at Dodger Stadium, watching Japan beat South Korea for their second WBC Title (2006, 2009), I was truly in awe. I had never seen anything like it in my life. The atmosphere was that of the World Cup, or Olympics. Before I even entered the stadium, I saw fans from both Korea and Japan throughout the parking lot waving their flags, banging on drums, and having a good time. During the game, the fans were never silent. NEVER. No matter what the situation was for either team. Korea was down to their last out, down by 2, strikes on them. The fans still would not give up, and continued to chant and cheer for their team, for their country. And while they may have been rooting for their team, they were not violent. Throughout the game, I rarely heard boo’s towards the other team. They stayed classy while being CRAZY about their team. No one left early. Everyone was engaged in the game and supportive of each other. Had the US made the finals, there is no way the fans would be as supportive, friendly, and (for lack of a better term) awesome. We would not have noise makers and giant flags that cover 2 whole sections. We wouldn’t have signs saying “We Love Jeter” or “Pedroia is King” and certainly not “Davey Johnson Rocks” (Johnson is the manager of the US Team). But the Japanese players made sure to show some love to their manager, and the Korean fans cheered and had signs for every member of their team.

What can we learn from these fans? Everything. I’m not saying we should bring drums, cymbals, bells, and whistles to Dodger games (or whichever team you may support). Let’s be supportive though. Don’t boo your players. Don’t boo other players. Don’t fight with fellow fans, no matter which team they may support. I know I am guity of some of those things, but let’s start new. Let’s start this season. Let’s start chants and be noisy for the whole game. Let’s stay until the last out is recorded. Let’s give a players an ovation if they are deserving. Let’s go CRAZY for every batter that comes to the plate. At the end of the game, the Japanese fans were hugging my Dad and I, as well as the other Americans around us. High-fiving us and saying “Arigato!!! Arigato!!!” as we celebrated with them.

The World Baseball Classic, according to Bud Selig, is here to stay; only to get “bigger and better.” So let us, the American baseball fans, learn something from it. We invented this game, but we are the worst fans. Team USA needs to begin practice when the rest of the teams do, and then they will be a REAL competitor in the WBC in 2013. The team needs to take the WBC seriously, and they will get the motivation from the fans giving the atmosphere of the WBC during the regular season.

On a different note, for all the reasons I stated, this was the best baseball game I have ever been to/seen. The game, as a whole, was great. Great players playing baseball perfectly. Amazing plays, quality at bats, great pitching (The US players could also learn a lot from the Japanese and Korean players). And the atmosphere of the game made me feel like I was at Italy-France World Cup, or the Opening Ceremonies for the Olympics. The amount of noise was that of Autzen Stadium….if Autzen was hosting the BCS Title Game between Oregon and Oregon State and the Ducks won on a last second field goal. Yeah…THAT loud! This was an experience I will never forget, and I am so happy I got to go with my Dad. We have done some amazing things together (Vero Beach, Fenway Park, Yankee Stadium, World Series, Holiday Bowl) and this is up there with the best (Vero is still #1). NIPPON!!!! NIPPON!!!!

The George W. Bush Presidential Library is now in the planning stages and accepting donations.

The Library will include:

1. The Hurricane Katrina Room, which is still under construction.

2. The Alberto Gonzales Room, where you won’t be able to remember anything.

3. The Texas Air National Guard Room, where you don’t even have to show up.

4. The Walter Reed Hospital Room, where they don’t let you in.

5. The Guantãnamo Bay Room, where they don’t let you out.

6. The Weapons of Mass Destruction Room, which no one has been able to find.

7. The National Debt Room, which is huge and has no ceiling.

8. The Tax Cut Room, with entry only to the wealthy.

9. The Economy Room, which is in the toilet.

10. The Iraq War Room. (After you complete your first visit, they make you
go back for a second, third, fourth, and sometimes fifth visit.)

11. The Dick Cheney Room, in the famous undisclosed location, complete with
shooting gallery.

12. The Environmental Conservation Room, still empty.

13. The Supreme Court Gift Shop, where you can buy an election.

14. The Airport Men’s Room, where you can meet some of your favorite
Republican Senators.

15. The Decider Room, complete with dart board, magic 8-ball, Ouija Board,
dice, coins and straws.

Note: The library will feature an electron microscope to help you locate and
view the President’s accomplishments.

The library will also include many famous Quotes by George W. Bush:

1. ‘The vast majority of our imports come from outside the country.’

2. ‘If we don’t succeed, we run the risk of failure.’

3. ‘Republicans understand the importance of bondage between a mother and
child.’

4. ‘No senior citizen should ever have to choose between prescription drugs
and medicine.’

5. ‘I believe we are on an irreversible trend toward more freedom and
democracy – but that could change.’

6. “One word sums up probably the responsibility of any Governor, and that
one word is ‘to be prepared’.”

7. ‘Verbosity leads to unclear, inarticulate things.’

8. ‘I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good judgments in
the future.’

9. ‘The future will be better tomorrow.’

10. ‘We’re going to have the best educated American people in the world..’

11. ‘One of the great things about books is sometimes there are some
fantastic pictures.’ (during an education photo-op)

12. ‘Illegitimacy is something we should talk about in terms of not having
it.’

13. ‘We are ready for any unforeseen event that may or may not occur.’

14. ‘It isn’t pollution that’s harming the environment. It’s the impurities
in our air and water that are doing it.’

15. ‘I stand by all the misstatements that I’ve made.’

This is a true story, which comes in two parts. The first part takes place before I got on the bus, and the second part takes place after. The events, people, and story have not been changed. I learned part one from the people sitting around me who were on the bus before me. I apologize for any grammatical errors. I just needed to write this down as soon as I could! Sorry Becky…
_______________________________________________________________________

    Becky and Paul, a happy couple, got on the Greyhound bus in Sacramento. Paul is about 6’4” and lanky. He has red hair, a beard, and what looks like a fake tan. Becky is about 5’9” and plump. She also has red hair, which looks dirty, and clumped together. They both had track marks all over their arms, so their drug use history was visible to the world. They planned to go to Portland. They get on the bus, and begin to prepare for their long trip. In order to help pass the time, they begin to drink a little. And then a lot. By the time they reached Redding they were completely trashed. The drinking had not affected Becky’s voice, but Paul began to speak like the Greased Up Deaf Guy from Family Guy. They began to argue with each other. Becky slapped Paul in the face. “If you slap me one more time, I swear to God I will hit you!” Becky slapped Paul in the face. “If you slap me one more time, I swear to God I will hit you!” Becky slapped Paul in the face. “If you slap me one more time, I swear to God I will hit you!” Finally, Becky slapped Paul in the face so hard, that his nose began to bleed. And with that, Paul and Becky broke up.
_______________________________________________________________________

    When I got on the bus in Medford, Or, Paul and Becky had decided to not sit next to each other. Instead, they sat one behind the other. The first thing I hear out of either of their mouths is Becky yelling “HE’S NOT MY BOYFRIEND! WE BROKE UP!” I didn’t realize that “we broke up” meant “we broke up 15 minutes ago.” I also didn’t realize they were completely wasted. The bus driver came to the back before we left and said “you two need to cool it, or I’m kicking you off at the next stop. Make this an enjoyable trip for everyone else! Now pick up your clothes, and pull up your pants!” “Paul! Pull your pants up!” I knew I was ready for an enjoyable ride. Paul began to yell at Becky. “You’re a prostitute! You’re a prostitute! And you won’t admit it because you don’t want no one to know, but you are! You’re a prostitute! I’m gonna call the police and have you arrested and you’re gonna go to jail! And I got the bite marks to prove it! I got em!” Becky responds, “I didn’t bite you! I didn’t bite shit!” Paul began to grab at Becky’s arms and shake her seat. “Give me my money! You owe me $50!!!! Give me money!!!” “I don’t owe you anything. I’m not gonna give you anything! I’ll give you $10! I’m not giving you shit,” (which I found rather contradictory), “Now you stop touching me or I’m getting the bus driver!” Paul exclaimed, “No you won’t! I’ll get her first!” Becky stood up and moved two rows in front of me. Paul still was sitting 3 rows behind me. After Becky gets seated, Paul started to call for her. “BECKY! BECKY!” Every time he called for her, she would turn around, glare at him, and point at him. Paul then got up from his seat and walked down to Becky’s seat. He leaned in, trying to talk to her, and she continually turned away. He then put his hands on her shoulders, just to have them knocked off. Paul then proceeded to walk to the front of the bus, say something to the driver and walk back to Becky. When he reached Becky, he took the almost empty bottle of what appeared to be vodka. As we continued on our way towards Central Point, Or, I heard Paul weeping behind me. “*SOB* BECKY!!!!! *SOB* BEEECCCKKKYYYY!” As the bus comes to a halt at the Central Point gas station, both Paul and Becky get off the bus to get food…and argue a little more. As they walk towards the Taco Bell, Paul continued to reach out towards Becky, only to be rejected. The bus driver came to the back of the bus, and asked where Paul was sitting. She then looked through his stuff, and kicked them both off the bus. They both tried to get back on the bus several times, to no avail. As we drove away, we see Becky, pissed as could be, leaning against the wall of Taco Bell, and Paul is nowhere to be seen. Becky then stood up, and started walking towards the bus, which was waiting at a red light. We then noticed she was not walking towards the bus, but towards Paul, who was lying down sideways in a bush. He was urinating. Lying down. Sideways. Becky then looked at Paul, yelled at him, and took his backpack, which was overflowing with clothes, and walked away. We all then looked at Paul, who was zipping up his pants. And as we drove away, we all watched Paul army crawl down a dirt hill and onto the sidewalk.

“Proposition 8: Gay marriage ban  Yes 52.0%  No 48.0%  Precincts reporting: ~95.0%” -LA Times

                                                             I See NO Difference

What annoys me is people don’t see this as discrimination. Would you ban an interracial couple to get married. How about two mentally disabled people? The only thing worse about 8 passing is Arkansas’ newest law passed last night; Same Sex Couples Are Not Allowed To Adopt. I hear this and I think of pictures of water fountains and diners, with a sign over the nice side saying “Whites Only” and a sign over the shitty fountain and the back door of the diner saying “Colored.” Just when you think America took two steps forward last night by extinguishing a racism which has existed for over 200 years, the country takes one big step back.
But there is hope…

BUT, in response to what DID happen last night, I am still in awe. Amazement. Happy. What we all saw last night is one of those moment that will take up 3 pages in the US History books of our children. And you will know where you were and when it happened. At exactly 8pm PST, I was sitting in my dorm room with my door wide open, and several friends and I were watching CNN. As they showed the countdown clock to the next polls (California and the rest of the West) closing, Obama’s Electoral numbers made a slight jump. Doing the quick math, we all realized that California alone would push him over the 270. We counted down, like New Years, just as we had been doing. We reached 1, yelled and screamed, opened the windows and blasted music as the banner on CNN and Wolf Blitzer announced “Barack Obama will be the 44th President of The United States of America.” We then got up, and ran. From the dorms to the EMU (student union) and watched McCain and Obama’s speeches with a crowd of at least 125, probably more. Hearing President Obama’s speech, and talking to my Grandmother, Myra, I began to realize that this was all due to the outrageous turn out from first time/young voters. That this historic election was made possible by ME and MY contemporaries. We helped destroy one of the last true hurdles of the Constitutional Era, racism. And at that moment, I was the proudest I have ever been of my country.

To Whom It May Concern,

Vote. Plain and simple. Just vote. It’s not hard to do. You either stand in a little box and press and button/poke a hole, or you bubble in a ballot and stick it in the mail. I don’t care how you do it, just do it. Every vote, really does count, no matter what you think. This election is the most important election of our lifetime. The country is at a crossroads, realignment is occurring, and the economy is failing.

Who ever is the next President will have the chance to appoint at least 3 new Supreme Court Justices. Currently, the Court sits at a perfect split. 4 Liberals, 4 Conservatives, and Justice Kennedy sitting right in the middle. If Obama wins, the Courts will conceivably stay the same, appointing 3 new liberal justices. If McCain is elected, the Court will have a rightward sway. No matter what political party you belong to, or whatever your opinion may be of the candidates, this will change all of our lives forever.

One major issue is abortion- the current court has a 4-4 split, with Kennedy voting Liberal. If Obama is elected, Roe v. Wade is upheld. If McCain is elected, it is overturned. Now, I am not presenting this information to try and convince you to vote one way or another. I am simply trying to urge you to vote. The issues brought up in the Supreme Court affect our everyday life, and whoever is elected President on Nov 4 will have a hand in deciding our future, not just for 4-8 years, but for our lives.

I will take a moment right now just to plug my own beliefs. I encourage all of you in California to vote on the Propositions. They are incredibly important and cannot be overlooked! (And a personal opinion, a Yes on 8 vote is the same as outlawing Interracial Marriage and IS discrimination)

Yes on 2

Yes on 3

No on 4

Yes on 7

No on 8

And please, this Tuesday, November 4, please vote Barack Obama for President of the United States.

And even if you don’t agree with me on these subjects, agree with me on this…

MAKE SURE TO VOTE!!! NO MATTER WHAT!!!!

Thank You 

A homeless man said to me today “Can you spare me 25 cents, bro?”…..And I realized I was in Eugene.

Here are some notes I wrote I my phone during tonight’s debate:

-All of McCain’s responces had to do with records and experience and NO answers. If you know how to do it, then tell us!!!

-Name some Democrat Senators that you have reached across the aisle to work with who aren’t now considered “Independent” or Republican. 

-He keeps saying Obama hasn’t had to take on the big wigs of the Democratic Party…maybe because he hasn’t had to….AND I’M NOT YOUR FRIEND ASSHOLE!

-His attacks are painting him as a bitter old man.

-People in Tennessee aren’t gonna be driving to Arizona to go see a doctor!

-It’s not and attack on Pakistan! It’s an attack on Osama Bin Laden. And didn’t you say Reagan was your hero? What’s this Teddy is my hero shit?

-McCain walks like my grandpa.

-He says that he doesn’t wanna start another Cold War, but all of his ideas seem headed that way.

-Hey John, were you a POW? Just wondering…

-Stop trying to be funny and get to your answer…”Maybe…hehe GOD IM FUNNY!”

-Didn’t your hero Ronald Reagan sit down with a leader of an enemy nation? Oh wait, Reagan’s not your hero…Teddy is….or did you switch it again?

-Is that Tina Fey as Sarah Palin sitting in the audience?

-Yes, we know you know what it’s like to be fighting for this country. You were a POW…I think…

-Record Record Record

-What you don’t know is how to use a computer and who those damned kids are listening to these days…The Big Bopper?

I was born in 1990. I grew up in a time of economic prosperity, political sex scandals, and country unification. Yet, I have always been fascinated by the 1960’s and 1970’s. Th music, the movies, the issues, everything. So I find it amazing and ironic that the political issues, policies, and rhetoric of the 70’s have returned for my first election. But hearing this story on the radio this morning really made me feel like I, Alex Horwitch, born January 7, 1990, was thrown in Doc Brown’s DeLorean and taken to the Vietnam Era. Yes. Vietnam. I think John McCain may have served. Maybe even a POW. I’m not sure. Haven’t heard much about it.

At the RNC in St. Paul, Rage Against The Machine was putting on a anti-RNC, peaceful protest concert across from the XCEL Arena. The police were then ordered by an unknown source to shut the concert down by shutting down the power. Hundreds of Rage fans became angry. Lead by singer Zack de la Rocha, the band members walked out into the crowd….
http://www.youtube.com/v/CYwzW2QFnwo&hl=en&fs=1

God. Looks awfully familiar…
http://www.youtube.com/v/lgPam_ogg78&hl=en&fs=1