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I Haven't Been This Angry in a Very Long Time

Islamic Center to be Built Near Ground Zero.

So?????????

According to CNN people are protesting a new Islamic Center and mosque that is in the works to be built about two blocks away from Ground Zero.  There has been a slew of protestors claiming it is inappropriate to put the center in this location.
Are you freaking kidding me?!?

Number one: the horrors that occured on September 11, 2001 had nothing to do with the Islam faith.  The misguided attempts by a radical group can never be linked to a religion as a whole -- do people think the actions of the KKK represent all of Christianity???
Number two: shame on CNN for making the story seem like a real debate.  The constitution clearly states we are entitled to the freedom of religion.  If a group needs a facility to come together and celebrate, why not occupy an adandoned building?  I'm willing to bet it will increase property value in the neighborhood and reduce crime because there will be less places to loiter.  I wonder why CNN isn't realizing how racisit they are sounding calling the issue a "sensitive subject?"  So because an Islamic center is being built in a big city with a large Muslim community we should all riot in the streets.  Once more, regardless of the tragedy that took place on that day the rest of the Islamic community should not be held responsible or punished because the attempts of the ignorant few -- does anyone blame every single German for the rise of the Nazi party?

And no one's falling for the opposing side's argument that the adandoned building should be registered as a historic monument.  Hell, that's the most logical argument they have and even CNN didn't play it up.  It's a very thin mask to hide the racism underneath that everyone can see through.

(CNN) – A New York City preservation commission has cleared the way for an Islamic center and mosque to be built just blocks from Ground Zero. That's after the panel voted against protecting an abandoned building that's standing in the way of the project.

The commissioners voted unanimously against landmark status for 45-47 Park Place. It and an adjoining building already connected on the inside, 49-51 Park Place, are owned by real estate developer Soho Properties, which intends to build the Islamic center two blocks north of the former site of the World Trade Center.

Backers of the center say they plan to use it to promote interfaith understanding, but critics don't buy it and have vowed to sue the city.

Way to make America seem like a bunch of ignorant hicks.  "Oh scarey unknown religion.  They cannot be here!  They will kill us!  Brown people are bad!"  I am sincerely considering never watching CNN again for this racist bullshit they are trying to pull.

Way to prove Family Guy right...

Pop-Tarts to Open First Ever Shop and Cafe in Times Sqaure

I have mixed emotions.

On the one hand, as I have always said, if I could live off pop-tarts I would so offering me a cafe where I can eat to my heart's content sounds awesome.

On the other hand, if you're gonna charge me $5 for a pastry goodness that costs be a fraction of that at home (and tastes EXACTLY the same), then forget it.

I will have to follow this.  If they come up with new recipes or offer different flavors then it may be worth the pilgrimage.  But with big real estate comes big prices and I will never condone spending double digits on a pop-tart.  That's just sacrilegious.

Pop-Tarts to Open First Ever Shop and Cafe in Times Sq.

One the one hand: who cares what gimmicky corporate restaurant/"experience" is opening in Times Square? On the other: check out what just hit the Eater inbox:

Please join us at this exclusive “behind-the-foil” opportunity the evening before doors open to the public. Help us celebrate the opening of Pop-Tarts’ first-ever retail store and experience its one-of-a-kind interactive elements, including:
- samplings from the Pop-Tarts World Café;
-the Varietizer, which creates customized boxes of Pop-Tarts that feature your favorite flavors
-the Customization Station, which helps you design your very own Pop-Tarts T-shirt.

If there's one thing that could make Pop-Tarts better, it's having them served to you in a restaurant? Maybe there will be toasters within the tables, shabu-shabu style.

It opens to the public on August 10.

I'm still trying to decide if this growing up is all it's cracked up to be...

Obama Has the One Ring?

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Dear President Obama,
I have been your biggest supporter.  I campaigned for you, I voted for you, I stuck with you.  But I'm starting to see some similarities in your presidency and some predecessors that really begins to make me question you.
But I am willing to give you the benefit of the doubt.  If Jon Stewart is correct, you have just been seduced by the power of the One Ring.
So come on Mr. Obama, be Frodo.  At the end have the power to let the ring go into Mount Doom.  Destroy it once and for all so you can become a leader worth remembering.
Maybe that's what Joe Bidden's role is in all of this.  He has to be the Gollum to chew off Frodo's finger to make sure the Ring goes into the fire?

Marrying Edward Cullen: A How-To For the Mega-Obsessed

I found this site while exploring my frequent blog reads.  Now, I will admit I have read the Twilight series.  And I will admit I use to LOVE it... at first.  Then the series progressed and the horror that is Breaking Dawn hit bookshelves.  And I was over it.

I am one of the few to feel this way, however.  And Stephanie Meyer is making the big bucks marketing the crap out of her creation.  So I guess it only makes sense that she would create, and then replicate and sell the engagement ring Edward gives Bella in Eclipse.  (More ahead...)

My Summer Projects!

This summer I'll be super busy. Between working, my internship, and preparing for my Master's program and thesis I have a lot on my plate. However, summer is the season for projects. Therefore there are three things I want to complete by the end of the summer:

Painting My Kitchen

I only moved into this apartment a few months ago. My landlord was nice enough to put in new carpets, add a fresh coat of paint, and redo the kitchen's cabinets. The place looks great. However, there is some unattractive wallpaper hanging in my kitchen. I would love to take it down, and repaint the entire room. I've been browsing the Sherwin-Williams website and I like the color on these walls the best.  It's called Knockout Orange.  The bottom half of my kitchen is an off-white wood paneling so I think the bright orange will really pop.  I think that'll be a nice weekend project sometime when I can recruit the boy and get some work done!

Growing an Herb Garden

Like I said, I live in an apartment and don't have a garden.  However, I would love to grow a small pot of herbs to use in cooking and just to smell nice.  Something like the picture wouldn't be too hard to maintain.  I'm still in the researching phase of this little project but I feel like it wouldn't be too hard and ultimately would be quite rewarding.  Of course, there are those wonderful As Seen On TV marvels that claim to grow an herb garden in a tiny little micro-greenhouse.  ALL FOR ONLY $19.99!  Not sure the success of those but since I'm interested in the basic basil, parsley, oregano, and rosemary it may be a worthwhile investment.

Learn to Drive Stick

Someday I would LOVE to own this car. The new Camaros are just too sexy to resist.  Granted this does have much to do with god-awful Transformers movie (the second one, the first wasn't too bad) but I'm willing to forgive Michael Bay when that car looks like that!  Anyways, if I'm going to drive a car like I'm going to do it right.  And knowing how to drive stick is a big part of that.  Now don't get me wrong, I'm actually a good driver.  But I've never learned stick.  Sad, but true.  So, my final summer project will be to have my boyfriend teach me to drive stick.  Luckily, since his car is stick I have a perfect opportunity to learn.  I've been promising myself I'd learn for years and this is finally the time!

Are there any summer projects you've established for yourself?  What are they?