American Civics

You answered 24 out of 33 correctly — 72.73 %

American Civics Quiz
http://www.americancivicliteracy.org/resources/quiz.aspx

What's more sad is that our elected officials, in general, know less about American civics than the average citizen: http://www.americancivicliteracy.org/2008/additional_finding.html

In the last almost 75 years in America, there has been so much more concentration on math and science that we've lost our focus on our beginnings. I, personally, as a historian, feel that, without considerable knowledge of how America began and where we came from, we cannot progress and fight to ensure the very rights for which we faught tremendous battles to gain in the first place. The fact that many Americans don't understand free-market capitalism or the powers of the federal government's individual branches really is remarkable and quite saddening - people don't know how their elected officials and government works for them. [The worst part: "Officeholders and non-officeholders find it equally difficult to identify the three branches of government. Only 49% of each group can name the legislative, executive, and judicial."]

So not only do we need to focus on the math and science that push America's technological future forward, but we also need to fully comprehend HOW America works, where we started, and what got us to where we are today in order to keep moving forward. They always say, "learn from your mistakes." Well, we can't do that without knowing what those mistakes were. Let's learn about the mistakes, and work to prevent them from happening again - make America, and Americans, better. Learn your history.

I hate...

I hate the way you talk to me
And the way you cut your hair.
I hate the way you drive my car.
I hate it when you stare.
I hate your big dumb combat boots
And the way you read my mind.
I hate you so much it makes me sick.
It even makes me rhyme.
I hate the way you're always right.
I hate it when you lie.
I hate it when you make me laugh;
Even worse when you make me cry.
I hate it when you're not around
And the fact that you didn't call,
But mostly I hate the way I don't hate you;
Not even close;
Not even a little bit;
Not even at all.
~10 Things I Hate About You.

Homoeroticism in gay networking sites.

On a certain gay networking site of which I'm a member there was recently an ad posted looking for decent models to be in a campaign touting the site as better than others - particularly those with half-naked pictures of me showing six-pack abs and who only want to hook up or show off their dicks just for attention. I applied, thinking to myself, "I'm just what they're looking for: someone who doesn't post half-naked photos of myself just for attention, someone who hates the fact that gay men use their bodies to get what they want, someone who hates the oversexualization of gay dating." A few days later, I was informed that I wasn't chosen for the campaign - at least, not this go-around.

Today, surfing that site, I see the profile of an administrator of the site standing with one of the models chosen: A tall, slender man with rosy cheeks, blonde hair, and a cute smile, standing, arms wrapped around a slightly shorter, yet perfectly tanned and sculpted muscle god with an apparant V-line disappearing into a showing boxer-brief line just above the rise of his jeans.

And this model is now the image of what is supposed to be a "nice" place to meet guys without the tensions of exposed perfect bodies casting shadows over those who don't feel comfortable [or slutty?] enough to share their midsections to the whole world. What happened to saving one's body for the one they love? What happened to surprise and secrecy? Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free? If I know what's under a shirt, it somehow makes it far less intriguing as to what's underneath.

I don't know why I wasn't selected for this modeling spot, but as I see it, it seems to be apparant that the directors of this site chose to portray a "nice" site which features shirtless, ripped men, sending the image that the gay community is just full of 6-pack-boastin', perfectly-tanned gym rats who are more concerned about their outward image than actually meeting a decent, sweet, kind-hearted, caring man.