Realizing I am not the tech guy I once was.....

So today I was talking to a good friend who just got an iphone (it also helps he is one of the most tech savy people I know), anyhow, as we were talking about the wonders of the iphone I realized that I am officially one of the last people that has not upgraded.

Now, my thing is not having an iphone per se. While I think that the iphone totally rocks, the bigger picture is that I have realized that I am not the tech guy I once was. There was a time when Darien had all the latest technology. I always had the biggest, badest fastest computer. I had a pretty big TV, and I had a surround sound system that can blow windows out. (almost did one time) I felt I always had to have the latest in everything tech related. I was the king of all media! My friends would kid with me at that time that i should charge for admission to enter my room. Somewhere down the line, this changed. I now look at neat gadgets and sigh. I go to the Mac Store and the Sony Store and look in wonder.

As far as Macs go, I have always been a fan. Actually I became hooked on MAC's when I used them to do the entire Southwest Yearbook back in 1996/97. Performa's were the shit back then! A couple of years later my brother and I got the imac, but sometime after that I started falling behind, I then got a PC and everything changed!

I have always said that when I go through the doors at Best Buy its like passing through the gates of heaven, while that is still true, my gadgets dont convey that. I still record on VHS sometimes. Did I just say that in public?

OMG.......I need help!

OK Lets Totally Change Topics Here......

Since my previous post took a turn for the worst, lets relax and take it easy. Hence here is a picture of me last month at the happiest place on earth! I appreciate all the comments in my previous post but please, lets stay civil!

The 9/11 Trial and The Exclusionary Rule: A Moral and Legal Dilema

In the biggest trial for the age of terrorism, the professed 9/11 mastermind and four alleged henchmen will be hauled before a civilian court on American soil, barely a thousand yards from the site of the World Trade Center's twin towers they are accused of destroying.

It was recently announced by Attorney General Eric Holder the decision to bring Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four others detained at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to trial at a lower Manhattan courthouse. This as you can imagine this is an extremely risky move because trying the men in civil court will bar evidence obtained under duress and complicate a case where anything short of slam-dunk convictions will empower President Barack Obama's critics and make a sham of our legal system.

And that my friends is where the good old exclusionary rule comes in. Any evidence or testimony obtained as a result of coercion or torture among other things is excluded and cannot be used against the defendants in court. (this is a very short definition of same). So this invites the question of whether the exclusionary rule apply in the testimony obtained in this case. There is no doubt there was water boarding and other torture methods used to obtain said testimony. However, most of this testimony was elicited in Guantanamo Bay and very unclear at times as to whether these terrorists were going to be brought to trial eventually.

Lawyers for the accused will almost certainly try to have charges thrown out based on the rough treatment of the detainees at the hands of U.S. interrogators, including the repeated water boarding, or simulated drowning, of Mohammed. The question has been raised as to whether the government can make its case without using coerced confessions.

I can go on and on as to different points pertaining to this issue, but what it really comes down to is this; if these people are brought to trial here, as horrible and gruesome 9/11 was, should these people have the same rights afforded to them that any other American enjoys. In other words, should they have a fair and balanced trial and be innocent until proven guilty? Or does the legal system also have a moral obligation to severely punish these men that caused so much death, horror and despair to an entire country.

American Law. Its complicated!

No matter where you stand on this issue, I recently read a compelling statement by a family member of a 9/11 victim who thought that these terrorist don't merit any defense, she went on to say that "the prospect of these barbarians being turned into victims by their defense attorneys is sickening, disrespectful and disgusting."

What do you think? Should they have their day in court?

GLEE: How can one little show make you feel so good.

Ok here is the thing…..I don’t like musicals. For years my friends (ie: Ismael) have done every trick in the book to get me into musicals but it has not worked. I just don’t react well to impromptu singing numbers over paying rent or being miserable. So when I started watching Glee a lot of people were surprised, including myself.

I remember when the pilot episode aired back in May, the show left me in such a good mood. Maybe because teaching has always been one of those professions I always saw myself doing, (show takes place in a high school) I really identified with Will’s character on the show. He was fine where he was, he just wanted more, he wanted to live out his actual dreams and make a difference. As cliché and old as that sounds, I was sold.

So Glee has become somewhat of a phenomenon. I believe that this show has been so successful because it really does make you feel good, and for that one hour you really forget about everything else. At the end of the day, it’s that basic concept television entertainment was founded on, which unfortunately has been victim to reality programing. There have been great performances throughout the season to fit most musical tastes with my favorites being “Somebody to Love”, “Don’t Stop Believing” and “It’s My Life/Confessions Mash Up”. When somebody like Madonna authorizes her entire music catalog for future episodes, you know you must be doing something right.

If you don’t watch Glee you should, you will be surprised how much you will enjoy it, god knows I was!

TWENTY SEVEN

There is a lot I can write. But I dont need to. You all know.

WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!!!