[e-mail]'s definitions

Russia

The world’s largest country and the northernmost country in Eurasia, stretching from Finland to the Bering Strait and the Arctic Ocean south to the “stans” of Central Asia. Russia was the largest Republic of the U.S.S.R but is now the largest of the Commonwealth of Independent States after the Communists fell in 1991. The population is about 140 million or so and is concentrated in the western fifth of the country in Europe. Moscow is the capital and largest city and 3rd largest single city in the world with a population exceeding 10 million in the city limits alone.

Russia is a cold, arctic barren land making it the coldest country in the world by average temperature. Siberia (Asian Russia east of the Caucasus Mountains) is defiantly among the coldest inhabited places in the world. So much so, that many Russian prisoners are sent to Siberia in the winter to be tortured.

The weak Russian economy has nothing to do with the fall of the Communists, but everything to do with corruption in the Russian government that is squandering its numerous natural resources and oppressing the people. Since the fall of the Communists, Russian citizens have been suffering from severely long lines for bread and water. Its government is a Democracy on paper only, however Communism is still a reality even after the fall of the USSR. Its leader Vladimir Putin is a member of the Russian form of the KGB and is a Communist at heart and wants Russia to return to Communism.

The people have some cultural fettish with furry hats and boots. I have visited Russia and will admit that it is a very beautiful country. I spent a month alone in Moscow and it is a really neat city--the people are nice (much nicer than New Yorkers anyway) and the Kremlin is neat to see. It’s a major cultural center with numerous colleges, and is big in the fine and performing arts. It’s basically an Eastern European version of New York City.

If it weren’t for the cold and an oppressive government that ruins the economy and keeps people in poverty, I’m sure Russia would be a neat place to live.

by [e-mail] March 7, 2008

Family Matters

A spinoff of the popular ABC sitcom, Perfect Strangers about a black Chicago family, the Winslows and their family matters, hence the show's name. In later seasons the central character was Stephen Q. Urkel, the next door neighbor and nerd who forever had a crush on Laura Winslow. His character was brilliant but socially inept and clumsey. The Urkel character appeared in the first season as a one time role but reappeared as a main character after his huge popularity. In the show's last episode (due to its cancellation), Steve was engaged to Laura but disappeared into outter space on a NASA mission. It is not known wheather he and Laura married or not.

Family Matters was a nice family sitcom with no vices and one of the few clean shows on television.

by [e-mail] September 14, 2007

Phoenix

The state capital of Arizona and the 5th or 6th single-largest city in the country (depending on what census year used). Phoenix is not really a “city”, but a myriad of identical suburbs throughout Maricopa County; there’s no diversity, no distinct neighborhoods that you would have in older more crowded and diverse Coastal cites and Chicago, very poor public transportation, and you almost have to drive everywhere.

I’ve lived here for four years and don’t know what’s so great about it. What’s so great about 100-plus degree weather for months at a time? And the only things to do are golfing and hiking, which can only be done during the winter months. And don’t get me started on the people. I don’t find them to be friendly and relational, like in the South. Most people I’ve met have dull personalities and don’t act like they want to get to know you as a person. The people are hostile on the road and act like they own it. If your car breaks down, instead of helping you they drive by and give you the finger as if you caused a mere one-second delay on the road. In all honestly, the people just downright suck. They are basically southern California wannabees. There’s also too much air pollution. Too much crime. And there’s very few good jobs for the cost of living. The school system is awful and the state of Arizona ranks 50th in education. It is the ugliest most sprawled out city ever built, with miles of identical housing developements and strip malls. I find it to be a bad place to settle down and have a family. Sorry, you native Phoenicians, but all of this is true. However, the Phoenix area has a number of really cool restaurants (primarily in Scottsdale).

There’s more to dislike about Phoenix than to like about it, in my opinion.

Phoenix may have been one of Ameria's fastest-growing metropolitan areas for decades, but it is lousy to live and dull compared to the Coastal cities and Chicago.

by [e-mail] February 21, 2009

middle class

The socioeconomic class in the United States that emerged after WWII, know for suburban sprawl, soccer moms, SUVs, and strip malls. The middle class is neither poor nor rich, but comprise the largest share of the political electorate. The middle class is the only thing that separates the United States from the Third World and much of Europe, but is on the verge of its demise as politicians tax them to death and take away their jobs thru NAFTA and outsourcing, and as middle-class Americans themselves indulge in conspicuous consumption, that will ultimately lead financial insecurity. The middle-class is rapidly being squeezed out of existance. Often dubbed the Working Class by some, the middle-class can be both blue collar and white collar.

The middle class is the largest share of American society.

by [e-mail] March 24, 2009

Columbus, Ohio

The state capital of Ohio, and the 15th largest single city in the US, with about 730,000 people in a metro area of about 1.8 million. It has a low profile, due to its general lack of pro sports teams (except the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets) and not many people outside Ohio and the Midwest know much about it, but is more known for OSU Football. The city loves to beat up on the UM Wolverines. Columbus is a major college town (OSU is the 2nd largest university by student body in the US) and is actually a nice city, with good jobs by Midwest standards and plenty of places for young people to hang out. Although Columbus is not necessarily a "big" city or a major US City, it is in the same tier of its peer cities like St. Louis, Kansas City, Louisville, Cincinnati and Indianapolis, with which it is probably most similar.

Columbus, Ohio is a major college town and a good place to live in general.

by [e-mail] August 17, 2008

phoenix

The only thing good about this place is that I met my fiance there and that's it. The place has no culture whatsoever and WILL never be compared to San Fran, NY, LA, Chicago or Philly. There is no greenspace and golf courses don't count. No mass transit. No skyscrapers. No geography at all. No water. No shoreline. NO lakes. No rivers. Nothing. Unbearable heat for 6 months at a time. And severe air pollution. The place may be growing fast but sucks nonetheless. It's just horrible and is nothing but a giant suburb.

The only good thing about Phoenix is that my fiance is there.

by [e-mail] October 10, 2007

Northern Virginia

The area of the Commonwealth of Virginia, with about 3 million people or so next to Washington DC, that should to do the rest of Virginia a favor and seceed to Maryland. It's an urban hell on earth and the epitome of urban sprawl gone ammock. Unlike the rest of Virginia, it is generally liberal, highly diverse, highly urbanized, a ridiculous cost of living, has ungodly traffic congestion, too much urban sprawl, a highly skilled and young workforce, and too many arrogant yuppies who live close to DC. The most jobs are in the Federal Government, high-tech firms, healthcare, law, and communications. Asians and Hispanics live everywhere. As much as Northern Virginia sucks, the best places to live are in Centerville, Chantilly and Leesburg. The people are very materialistic, fake, shallow, stuck up and think the country revolves around them. There is a megamall called Tyson’s Corner near the 495 Beltway that only rich people are allowed to patronize, and the regular middle-class ilk are mocked. The people are up in the clouds and often forget they are SOUTH of the Mason-Dixon line and part of the old Confederacy. It is northern Virginia that gives the state a bad name.

Northern Virginia should do the rest of the Commonwealth a favor and become Maryland. I lived there for a year about 3 years ago and hated everything about it.

by [e-mail] March 27, 2008