To me this quote means that when Thoreau went into the woods, he went to be alone and sort of reflect on everything he has done so far in life making sure he has accomplished everything he wanted to. This is a pretty good quote to live by because its motivation to live your life without any regrets and make sure you accomplish everthing you want.

On February 27, 2009, President Barack Obama gave a speech at Camp Lejeune, a Marine Corps base in North Carolina, announcing that the U.S. combat mission in Iraq would end by August 31, 2010. A “transitional force” of up to 50,000 troops tasked with training the Iraqi Security Forces, conducting counterterrorism operations, and providing general support may remain until the end of 2011, the president added. Obama declared that this strategy for withdrawal was in line with the American goal of “a full transition to Iraqi responsibility” for the sovereign nation of Iraq. He congratulated the Iraqi people and government for their “proud resilience” in not “giving into the forces of disunion”, but cautioned that Iraqis would have to remain vigilant against “those…who will insist that Iraq’s differences cannot be reconciled without more killing” even after the U.S. drawdown in 2010 and withdrawal in 2011.

The day before Obama’s speech, Prime Minister of Iraq Nuri al-Maliki said at a press conference that the government of Iraq had “no worries” over the impending departure of U.S. forces and expressed confidence in the ability of the Iraqi Security Forces and police to maintain order without American military support.

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Many people have asked why don’t Americans vote? I think it’s because they are uninformed. The first step to getting informed is determining what type of candidate shares your political ideals. In other words, what political party do you belong to?

Here’s a fun test you can take to determine where you fit on the political spectrum: The Politics Test. It takes about 5 minutes to answer all the questions, feel free to post your results on your own blog.

Here’s how I scored:

The USS New York sailing up the Hudson River

The official crest of the USS New York

The USS New York arrived in New York Harbor this morning. Crowds including numerous rescue workers and families of Sept. 11 victims gathered along the Manhattan waterfront and watched as the USS New York offered a 21-gun salute honoring those who died during the tragedies on September 11th, 2001. The USS New York then continued up the Hudson River to the George Washington Bridge, turned around and docked at Pier 88 for it’s commissioning ceremony which is scheduled for this Saturday, November 7th. The USS New York will remain in the city through Veteran’s Day and then head to Norfolk, Va. for about a year of crew training and exercises.

For more information visit http://www.ussny.org/

In addition, the Navy is building two more ships who will be named in connection with the Sept. 11 attacks. The USS Arlington was named to honor the attack on the Pentagon. The USS Somerset was named after the county in Pennsylvania where United Airlines flight 93 crashed.

What are “we” doing as Americans to help the starving or dying children of the rest of the world? We’re doing what we always do, putting it on TV and hoping for the best. If you didn’t pick up on it, I’m talking about those “Save the Children” commercials. You know the commercials with the two kids playing in the mud, swatting a tumbleweed back and forth. Then the old guy comes out and he tells you how all these children are in need of your help and how easy it is to help them. The old guy will usually introduce you to a five year old and say something like “This is Mutombo. He is the oldest of twelve and he’s sick. For fifteen cents you can feed Mutombo and his family, cure his sickness, and send him to Harvard.” Simple, right? So why don’t “we” give? Because “we” are Americans.

Personally I blame the old guy; he’s too nice. Maybe it’s because I’m from a big city, but being nice just doesn’t work. I think they should have a new commercial that’s more… appropriate. They should have a guy come out looking unshaven and wearing a leather jacket saying “What the hell are you going to do to help these kids? They are playing in a puddle of mud and you’re just going to sit there? Fifteen cents, thats it! These kids need some help now! You’ve probably got a coin jar from 1995 that you are never going to bring to coinstar! It’s fifteen cents, call two friends and get a nickel each. You’re a loser if you don’t help.” That’s what “we” need, that’s what will get people to donate.

• More often than not, when someone is telling me a story all I can think about is that I can’t wait for them to finish so that I can tell my own story that’s not only better, but also more directly involves me.
• Nothing sucks more than the moment in an argument when you realize you’re wrong.
• I find it hard to believe that there are actually people that get in the shower and then turn on the water.
• Google Maps really needs to start their directions on #5; I’m pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
• While driving this morning I saw a banana peel in the road and instinctively swerved to avoid it… thanks Mario Kart.
• The only time I look forward to red lights is when I’m trying to finish a text.
• I wonder if cops ever get pissed off at the fact that everyone they drive behind obeys the speed limit.
• The only correct speed to be driving on the highway is the speed that I am driving. Any slower, you are clearly senile, and any faster, and you are obviously a danger to society.
• As a driver, I hate pedestrians; as a pedestrian, I hate drivers; but no matter what my mode of transportation, I always hate bicyclists.
• I believe everyone has a movie that they love so much, it actually becomes stressful to watch it with other people. I’ll end up wasting 90 minutes slyly glancing around to make sure that everyone’s laughing at the right parts, then making sure I laugh just a little bit harder (and a half-second earlier) to prove that I’m still the only one who really, really gets it.
• I hate being the one with the remote in a room full of people watching TV. There’s so much pressure. ‘I love this show, but will they judge me if I keep it on? I bet everyone is wishing we weren’t watching this. It’s only a matter of time before they all get up and leave the room. Will we still be friends after this?’

• I like all of the music on my iPod, except when it’s on shuffle; when it’s on shuffle, I only like every fifteenth song.
• I disagree with Kay Jewlers, I would bet that on any given Friday or Saturday night, more kisses begin with Keystone Light than Kay.
• What’s the point of saying “I don’t need to drink to have a good time”? No one does. But why start a fire with two rocks when they invented the lighter?
• The meaning of “LOL” has changed from “laugh out loud” to “I have nothing else to say.”
• I always get nervous when I fill in the same letter more than three times on a scantron.
• How many times should you say “what?” before you just nod and smile because you still didn’t hear what they said?
• There is no worse feeling than the second you realize you leaned back in your chair just a little too far.
• I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring, but when I call back right away it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What did you do after I didn’t answer? Drop the phone and run away?
• I hate leaving my room all confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone important all day… what a waste.
• I can stare at an analog clock for a solid minute and still not know what time it is.

Society defines success as the obtainment of wealth, power and fame; in other words: he who has the most stuff when he dies. Society is mistaken because none of those are required for success. In the simplest of terms, to be successful is to be happy with what you have accomplished, but the finer points of success differ from person to person. If you asked Donald Trump, he might tell you that success is having your own empire and being worth millions of dollars, but if you asked someone that lived a thousand years ago success could be as simple as making it home without being eaten. The point is, no one can define success for you; you have to do it yourself. Success should not be a standard set by society, it should be a personal goal. If you are satisfied with what you have done, despite society’s opinion, then you are truly successful.