For years I’ve considered myself politically “left of center”; a progressive / liberal on social issues, pretty much a moderate on fiscal issues. I tend to support politicians who have reasonable positions on issues, regardless if they’re Democrats, Republicans or Independents. The current debate about whether or not the US committed acts of torture in the name of national security, however, has really made me rethink my political leanings.
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If I ever needed proof that the smartphone is quickly becoming the 21st century’s version of the Tamagotchi (those widely popular and extremely annoying “digital pets” from the 90’s), I found it on Saturday while waiting to catch my train back home. On a beautiful, warm, bright Saturday morning, I was shocked and intrigued by just how many people I witnessed (myself included) hunched over, faces buried in the tiny screens occupying the palms of their hands.
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I feel like the gang in the movie “The Warriors” must have felt as they fought their way through the streets of New York, desperately trying to get back to the comfort and safety of their home turf; they had to endure numerous hardships until they got back home (the movie was reportedly the basis for the hit song from the Beastie Boys, “No Sleep ‘Til Brooklyn”). The same thing could be said about my last two days on the road, albeit in a far more positive context.
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