Michael Wojciechowski

In Egypt, officials slaughtered 300,000 pigs because of the swine flu scare.  I'm not sure the logic behind their decision, however, I'm on board.  Don't worry folks, I've sent a number of anonymous emails to the same Egyptian officials and told them to be aware of the new strands of NBA, NFL, MLB, rap music, and Michael Bay flu.  You're welcome, world.   

When I first received word this past January that my book was going to be published, I felt a number of emotions.  At the time, I wanted to keep the news only to myself and a few other close friends and family members for fear that I may jinx it.  Kirsten--the beautiful woman who is with me on the around the world link--tried to get me to come out of my shell and be excited for myself.  My publisher encouraged me to start a website and blog.  Kathleen--a great friend married to a great man--set up this website and blog because she knew if the task was left up to me, it would never get finished.  Colby--another great friend--even set up a Michael Wojciechowski fan club on facebook to help promote my upcoming novel (at last count it has 213 members.  Wow!).  Those of you that truly know me, understand how hard it is for me to promote myself like this.  But now, almost 5 months later, I feel so . . . blessed (I hate that word) that so many people have shown their support for what I'm trying to accomplish.  I can view the stats of this blog and I'm shocked at how much traffic it is receiving.  I know most of my post are political, and I know that my views probably differ with many of yours, but I hope you keep reading.  I hope, at the very least, they make you stop and think, if only for a moment.  I'm not always right, even though I may think I am, but it's beautiful that all of us are able to formulate opinions as long as we can remian civil.  Thanks again.   

A friend of mine asked me if I can believe that some people are still convinced there is such a thing as global warming when it has snowed this late in the year.  I asked him if the snow could indicate that there is indeed climate change occuring.  He scoffed and replied,"liberal semantics."  Look, I'm no scientist, but I'm pretty sure--global warming or not--it can't be good for our environment to keep on emitting greenhouse gases.  if you want to argue otherwise, wrap your mouth around your Hummer's exhaust pipe.  Remember, for years cigarette companies claimed their product wasn't bad for people.  It wasn't until enough people started dying from smoking that we were able to filter through the tobacco comapany's semantics to take a lucid moment and understand the consequences of smoking.  How many more polar bears need to die before we do something?  How many more wars need to be fought for personal agendas before we act?  Climate change is not a political issue.  Just because Al Gore is spearheading the climate change fight does not mean this is about which party is right or wrong.  This--as all things inherent in our society--comes down to one thing: the bottom line.  And the bottom line states that as long as we believe that climate change is not occurring and our cars are not causing any harmful effects to our world, then certain people get rich.  If we believe otherwise, they don't.  So now that we've cleared that up, what do you think we're going to be sold?  If you're not sure, check out Fox News in between buying shares of Exxon Mobile and Halliburton.  And if you still can't figure out what is going on, you need to rent "Who Killed the Electric Car."  In fact, don't even respond to this blog unless you've seen that film.         

My short story, Redemption in a Cheap Motel Room is now posted under the "original writings" link.  I wrote this story about five years ago while I was studying English in college.  It was recently published in the literary publication, Think Journal.  If you have a few minutes to kill, check it out and tell me what you think.  Read it to the end, though.  There is a twist ending.  

My mom sent me an email of Susan Boyle.  She's very unique because she's really ugly but she can sing.  Why is this news?  Because when one looks at Susan, all that one sees is how unattractive she is, so the fact that she can sing is just . . . shocking?  Is this really what we've come to?  Would she be experiencing her 15 minutes of fame if she weren't ugly?  Nope.  I'm not belittling her talent, I just think it's pathetic that we're so caught up in a person's physical appearance that we need to make news of someone's natural talent.  I'm happy for you, Susan.  Your voice should be heard, but we're only hearing it for the wrong reasons.   

100 years ago the south practiced the Jim Crow laws.  In short, they limited the rights of blacks while perpetuating the idea that someone with dark skin is inferior to someone with white skin.  100 years later we realize--or at least I hope we do--that it was wrong to treat African Americans the way we did.  Now let's think about this.  Where does the average person acquire their knowledge?  Schools, churches, and at home(parental influences).  100 years ago white kids were taught in schools, churches and at home that blacks were inferior to whites--they even had eugenicists, phrenologists and other science "experts" back up these ludicrous claims.  White familes would buy tickets and go to lynchings where white mobs would cut off a negro's toes, ears, fingers and genitalia and sell them as souvenirs.  People didn't think it was wrong because science, god, schools, and parents all supported these false ideals.  Today,sadly, many people are being taught in schools, churches, and at home that homosexuals are a disgrace to god and society.  Do you see the connection?  We only know what we've been taught.  And we will never question what we're being fed unless we take it upon ourselves to seek the truth.  I hate to burst anyone's bubble, but you do not know God's intentions.  You can claim that you do, and you can even quote some scriptures to back up your claims, but remember; even the devil can site scripture for his purpose.  How can any person who claims to be a christian knowingly persecute against a group of people just because their sexual proclivities don't adhere to outdated traditions?  Do we not understand the fundamental message in Christ's teachings?  He who is without sin may cast the first stone.  Homosexuals are tired of being hit by rocks thrown by people with as much sanctity as that white residue that accumulates in the corner of Bill O'Reily's mouth when he stops the spin. 

Some airlines have decided to charge obese people extra for flying.  The rationale is that there are weight loads to consider when flying and obese people can't fit in just one seat.  My question is: do anorexic people get a discount?  Obviously obese people are outraged, but let's think about this logically.  Obese people--for the most part--choose to be obese.  They have adopted a lifestyle that causes them the overindulge.  They have an addiction and they expect people to be mindful of them and respect their life choices.  Now let's look at smokers.  They choose to smoke.  They have an addiction too, yet airlines don't allow smoking on planes.  Now you're probably thinking, "but smokers affect other people because of second hand smoke."  True.  But obese people affect us too.  When they need medical treatment for their lifestyle, many times it's the taxpayers footing the bill.  The United States is the only country where you have a greater chance of eating yourself to death than starving to death.  I guess after all is said and done, we all become victims to our own insecurities.        

Spent all afternoon trying to get two tickets to the Eddie Vedder show in Maui and after many failed attempts . . . I got two tickets!  My brother already had two tickets so me and my three brothers are going.  It's going to be sweet!  If you're looking for a good film to watch with great music, check out "Into the Wild."  Top 5 best movies of 2007 and the soundtrack is the greatest ever.

This morning at work a friend of mine ask me if I made it down to Salt Lake yesterday to protest the latest trends in government spending.  Sadly, I didn't make it.  I was too busy watching my GM stocks and wondering how a company based in the U.S. could fail so miserably (don't fret, any day now I'm sure they'll release a new hybrid SUV that gets over 15 miles to the gallon.  Yes!).  My friend gave me some of the literature that was passed out at the rally.  One pamphlet had a picture of George Washington on it because . . . well, I guess because he was a republican?  Why do both major parties claim that our founding fathers were part of their respected parties.  A prudent observer would have to extrapolate that Washington, Adams, and Jefferson would never be elected to public office today because their ideals would not mesh with the ideals both the republicans and democrats are preaching today.  Obama claims that Lincoln is his paradigm, yet when we were engaged in civil war, Lincoln would not sign loans with England because he understood the ramifications that would result from becoming in dept to a foreign country.  What a concept, huh?  Perhaps it would benefit Bill O'Reily, Rush Limbaugh, Dick Cheney, George W,, Keith Olberman, the Clintons and Obama to sit down and really study the lives of Washington, Adams and Jefferson,  But of course, this will never happen.  Who has time to study diplomacy when there is oil to drill and health care premiums to raise?   

I hope everyone had a fun and enjoyable Easter.  I did a little run in the morning and then helped my brother move.  I wasn't able to donate much time thinking of Jesus and his life because my thoughts were consumed with the Easter Bunny and if he would remember to bring my some chocolate eggs filled with some sort of artificial creme.  I'll have to try and do better remembering Christ come Christmas as I'm sleeping on the sidewalk in front of the local Wal-Mart  waiting anxioulsy to plow over any sales associate that may come between me and a new flatscreen television.  I wonder if the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus are friends.  Maybe Santa could try using bunnies instead of reindeer.  Could our holidays be any more . . . irrational?  Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas and Easter and even Flag Day.  And I will always welcome any other holiday we want to invent so long as it gives me a day or two off from work.  But what I don't understand is why we're still insistant on calling Christmas by its christian name when it is clearly all about Santa and new cell phones.  We should call it "CEO Early Retirement Day."  My favorite are the people that say it's insensitive to call it Christmas.  These are the people that don't want Christmas tress in the airports because it might upset a Muslim.  Ironically, these people don't have a problem accepting their Christmas bonus.  I've never seen a white supremacist show up to work on Martin Luther King day either.  Our idealogies only extend so far.  Can't we all just relax and enjoy all cultures and what they believe to be sacred?  Couldn't we place a Christmas tree right next to a Buddha statue and embrace the ability to think freely?  Do we really need to placate everything with fictional fat guys in red suits and oversized bunnies?  I guess, yes, we do.  God forbid we ever get past ourselves and see a different perspective because we all know that we are the ones that are right.  Happy Easter!!