Thus far, it doesn't seem much different from 2010. Except that it doesn't look as nice when you write out the date.
We all made our New Year's Resolutions, and chances are good that we will forget them by March. On the flip side, though, I am really looking forward to November 11th. That will be a great day.
Thus far, we've done pretty much the same things we were doing last year. A crazy person attacked some innocent bystanders. It's tragic, and unfortunately, it's not the first time this has happened.
The economy is getting better, which is good, but it's still not where it was before this mess started. Better still, we're already slipping into the same habits that got us all into this mess. A huge portion of people are still living way beyond their means, and that's not good.
I'm still in school, just like I was last year, and the many years before last year. In fact, I don't really remember what it's like to not be a student. That's alright, though; I plan on being a student for pretty much forever. It seems far superior than living in the real world.
Some people still think vaccines cause autism. No, they don't have any medical training; their qualification is that they're parents. Sorry, but I think they should go to medical school, or at least take some pre-med classes, before speaking.
For-profit colleges are still robbing innocent, if ignorant, students. I can't wait for the federal government to crack down on them. I'm sick of those Everest College commercials that say I'm not doing anything with my life unless I go there.
People still bitch about paying taxes. I have a GIANT newsflash, people. Taxes pay for things. It isn't your government robbing you; it's an investment in your country. We are capitalists, therefore it is patriotic to invest in the US.
Sarah Palin is still an idiot enabling idiots. A lot of people said, in 2008, that we'd never hear from her again after Obama won. Unfortunately, she's still treated as a valid political figure, even if her only qualifications are a bachelor's in communications and being governor of a politically-isolated state.
Idaho still doesn't believe in education. Butch Otter still has his head somewhere other than on his shoulders. He still believes we should invest in agriculture and that the problem with the public education system is the teachers. I'm starting to think most Idahoans will continue to vote with their emotions, rather than with rational thought.
So what is different for me in 2011? Well, now that you mention it, one change is definitely on my doorstep. In a week, I will finally cease to be a teenager and will finally move into a more adult-like number. In my opinion, it's about damned time.
And then there are all the small surprises that go along with a new year. Last year, I made the decision to transfer away from Portland. Now I'm in Salt Lake, and I love it here. When I look at the big picture of last year versus this year, it feels like nothing's changed. But when I look back at everything that happened to me personally, I start to feel pretty optimistic. As we all move further into the new year, I hope that everyone out there stops listening to the media talking about all the things that have yet to change, and looks back on the changes that occurred on a personal level. Some bad things probably happened, sure, but some good things probably occurred, too.
So, for this grand new year, I wish a little bit of hope on all those people claiming nothing ever changes. Sure, everything changes constantly. That's why we never really notice.
