After watching the NYS gubernatorial debates, I have been becoming more anxious about the elections. Although the event at Hofstra was described as a "circus" or a "farse," it certainly allowed for some of the third party candidates to bring up important issues that our traditional two-parties have tended to ignore during this election season. The Green Party candidate, Howie Hawkins, addressed serious issues like the environment, health care, and even the state of our 'democratic' system.
Paladino has no hope of recovering, especially after revealing his anti-gay sentiments. Perhaps now that Cuomo has such a large lead over his homophobic opponent, real progressives will think twice about voting for the Democrat. It's time people who call themselves progressives got over this mentality where voting for a third party is considered a "waste of a vote" and vote for candidates who actually represent progressive views like Hawkins.
This would be a welcome change considering the large amount of Corporate Democrats in office who would really be part of the Republican party if it weren't for their liberal social views...that is to say that they aren't bigots, racists, xenophobes or sexists. Isn't it time we embraced other parties, or candidates, who represent real progressive change? The Dems say they want to change the status quo, but in fact, they are the status quo.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Friday, October 1, 2010
Couchsurfing - Hosting in Albany
As many of my friends will tell you, I am more than a little obsessed with the CouchSurfing Project. Every time an unsuspecting person asks me "What's Couchsurfing?" my friends will give me a look knowing that I am about to blurt out all of my anecdotes, experiences and my philosophy regarding Couchsurfing. It's good to be passionate, isn't it?
After receiving more than a dozen messages from travelers who mistakenly believe that Albany is NYC ("Is Albany in Manhattan?") I finally heard from not one, but two couchsurfers interested in surfing my couch in Albany. Finally, I have the opportunity to give back to the CS community after crashing at about a dozen different couches in the New England region last year.
The first request came from a Quebecois bicyclist from Montréal. Steve was planning a bike trip from Montréal to D.C. as he just finished his studies and wanted to do some traveling. Steve arrived at our place and Converse and I took him for burritos and booze at Bomber's. What better way to end a long day of biking from Lake George to Albany then chowing down on some tasty burritos? Steve was only planning on staying one night, but due to the crappy weather I invited him to stay another night. The following night he made a great veggie dinner of acorn squash and tofu topped off with some vin.
The second request was from a very interesting fellow from Massachusetts who was finishing a trek across the country where he walked the entire way. Fran carried all his belongings in a stroller and has been either couchsurfing or setting up his tent for the entire journey. Once I met him I knew we were going to get along just fine. Fran is as obsessed as I am about the CS Project. It was great to have another ally to speak with all my friends about how sane CS really is as most of my friends think I am at least a little crazy for being a couchsurfer. Fran met all sorts of interesting and amazing people who took care of him and helped him along his way. It just goes to show that we really are part of a larger community that isn't confined to the area in which we live.
After receiving more than a dozen messages from travelers who mistakenly believe that Albany is NYC ("Is Albany in Manhattan?") I finally heard from not one, but two couchsurfers interested in surfing my couch in Albany. Finally, I have the opportunity to give back to the CS community after crashing at about a dozen different couches in the New England region last year.
The first request came from a Quebecois bicyclist from Montréal. Steve was planning a bike trip from Montréal to D.C. as he just finished his studies and wanted to do some traveling. Steve arrived at our place and Converse and I took him for burritos and booze at Bomber's. What better way to end a long day of biking from Lake George to Albany then chowing down on some tasty burritos? Steve was only planning on staying one night, but due to the crappy weather I invited him to stay another night. The following night he made a great veggie dinner of acorn squash and tofu topped off with some vin.
The second request was from a very interesting fellow from Massachusetts who was finishing a trek across the country where he walked the entire way. Fran carried all his belongings in a stroller and has been either couchsurfing or setting up his tent for the entire journey. Once I met him I knew we were going to get along just fine. Fran is as obsessed as I am about the CS Project. It was great to have another ally to speak with all my friends about how sane CS really is as most of my friends think I am at least a little crazy for being a couchsurfer. Fran met all sorts of interesting and amazing people who took care of him and helped him along his way. It just goes to show that we really are part of a larger community that isn't confined to the area in which we live.
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