To vote, or not to vote!

 I'm torn. I know that voting really doesn't have a significance, but I would like to think it did. I want my vote to be counted, not be taken into consideration by some electoral college. So that leads me to the question. When I turn 18, will I vote? 

I might, probably for presidential elections, probably not for the more local stuff. I just feel that it doesn't really matter if I give my opinion. I know I should as a citizen and it's a "duty", but does it really count? 

In 2008 I would have voted for Obama, hands down. I was informed on his politics and he impressed me. He wanted to change things that I thought needed to be changed. McCain on the other hand, I was kind of biased towards him because he's a republican, but I looked into him and wasn't really impressed. I probably would have even voted in the election! Whoa! Did I hate McCain that much!?

Your President, But In A Wheelchair.

When I think of electing someone for president. I think that the person I am going to vote for should be honest, loyal, trustworthy, willing to stand up for their beliefs, and of course have common interests as I do.
But what if a candidate was handicapped? What if they were considered "ugly", not by personal preference, but by a universal standard?
I don't think that I would have a problem with anyone who wasn't universally attractive. I would vote for them. I'm more about substance than looks. I think about the people around me though, how they are like, "Oh my god, look how ugly he is! Gross!" People don't want an ugly person representing them, no matter how good their politics are.
Hopefully someday people will realize that this isn't a beauty pageant. This is politics.

Downloading Music

When it comes to downloading music off the internet via torrents or mediafire, etc. I think some people do it irresponsibly. They go online, download all the music they want, and they keep it. I admit, I have downloaded a lot of music via the internet. I have done it for a few reasons, which include: I bought the cd and it got lost or ruined, and to listen to a new band. Yet, when I really enjoy a band I will go out and buy their music and if I don't like them I can just delete the files and move on.

It is when people go download all the music they want, and never support an artist is where I think it starts to go wrong. Getting all your music for free is doing nothing for the music industry and is really hurting it, I think that these are the people who should be fined and punished.

Honestly though, I do not think that there will ever be a solution to this, it has been going on since I was a kid, and well, there really hasn't been much progress.

My music grows

Throughout my teens I have had different phases when it comes to personal style and music. Some phases accepted by my parents more than others. I remember a time when my mom couldn't stand my music to present day where she may say, "Hey, I like this band."

When I was around the age of 14-15 I was really into "hardcore" music such as screamo, gothic, metal,  etc. My parents could not stand this music. They would always say that it was nothing but screaming and wasn't really music. Although there was bands we could both agree on, or older bands I liked that they were okay with too, there wasn't really any agreeing on music in the car. Someone always hated what was on.

Looking back I can't really understand why the screaming in my music, was any different than the screaming in the classic rock that they listened to. Maybe the screaming in my music was more inaudible, or maybe they just didn't understand the style of music behind it. Even I can notice that the music I listened to was greatly effected and influenced by their music. Maybe it was because it was something new and out of their norm.

Present day, I listen to quite a variety of music. My taste in music has really evolved and matured. Now listening to obscure bands in the genre of "shoegazing". The music is softer, has depth, and isn't there for the stereotype look of being punk or goth. I listen to music I enjoy, anything from rap to indie, really. I actually detest most of the music I listened to when I was younger because there was no talent involved. I would say now that my parents can enjoy my music more than they were ever able to because it isn't so in-your-face loud and obnoxious.

During my teenage years my music changed a lot and my parents and I had our ups and downs about it. Between never being able to agree on anything to them actually enjoying my taste. Yet, when I think of popular music on the radio, I wonder how these talentless, autotune using, KIDS, can be taken seriously and be called musicians. I will have a fight to pick with the next generation.