ON BBC RADIO TODAY! TUNE IN AT 1PM EST

Hello All!

I just thought I'd share the exciting news - BBC World Service found my blog online and has asked me to go on the air today to discuss the Presidential Election with bloggers writing about American politics. Pretty exciting! If you're interested, you can tune in online here:

The link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/

The panel is mixed - both Democrats and Republicans supporting all candidates.

It will be on at 6pm London time, which is:

1pm EST

10am PST

I hope you can tune in!

Real Change Takes Real Passion & Real Experience

Ok, so I'm not holding back anymore. I'm a full-blown Hillary supporter, and I didn't come to this decision lightly. I courted Obama, had a brief stint with Edwards, thought Biden was brilliant but not electable (why, I have no idea - too smart, probably - who wants an intelligent president, right?) and went back and forth to Hillary throughout. At the end of the day it came down to Hillary and Obama (Edwards was just too angry for me).

Then the word "change" entered the debate and somehow, Barrack Obama (and to some extend John Edwards) bogarted that word, pinning Hillary as the candidate of "experience" then making a pathetic if not desperate case as to how experience and change were mutually exclusive. Quite frankly, I don't believe they are, and I'm sick and tired of pundit after pundit pinning these two political buzz words - change and experience - against one another. The fact is, being able to create change requires experience and no one at the top can offer more than Hillary Rodham Clinton. What's odd is that almost everyone seems to agree that she has the most experience, they just say they're "ready for change."

At the end of the day, the policies of all the top Democrats are roughly the same (come on, be real, it's true) so that said, don't you want the person who is most capable of getting something done? You can't change a system you don't understand. You can't simply shout "change" from a soapbox and think it's going to happen. Creating change takes hard work, experience, knowledge, commitment and passion. I work with young people everyday, all around the world who are doing a whole lot more to create change than most of these candidates could ever dream of doing.

I don't doubt that Senator Obama will - in 8 years - be the best this nation has to offer but right now, at this, the most trying of times I can remember, I don't want to fiddle around with someone just because he talks and talks about change. I want to a President who knows what the heck they're doing! I mean, look what happened last time - we elected a guy that lots of people said they wanted to have a beer with. I'd rather skip the beer and get right to, oh, I don't know, equal rights, health care reform, ending the war and restoring the "can-do" spirit of America.

For anyone who thinks Hillary doesn't have that drive inside her, watch this clip. See her passion. Change takes a whole lot more than just talk. You've gotta act. Vote for the one candidate who really knows what she's doing.



The link, in case it doesn't embed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pl-W3IXRTHU&feature=related

I Miss Asia, Part Two

A good friend of mine who now teaches English in Korea just posted this video on her blog, citing that "it is the cell phone ring of every girl in her class" and "can be heard in any clothing store if you stay for at least 10 minutes." I just think it's totally hilarious. Enjoy!



The link, if you can't see the embed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQTIsi0IlZc

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Kyle Taylor

Christmas With The Griswalds...I Mean Taylors

It might come as no surprise that my family is large, loud and always right. That is, each member is ALWAYS right, which isn't possible because I am always right. When the holidays roll around I think of three things: Christmas lights, christmas food and 19 people all opening presents at the exact same time in my grandparent's living room. This year was no exception to all of the above. I know the Taylors are overbearing. I know the Taylors are very "vocal." I know the Taylors can, at times, be a lot to handle. Still, we're more fun than any family I've ever met, and it was nice to be at home this year (after all, I was in Shanghai last year). Here's a few photos cataloging the "adventure:"

My Nana, the QUEEN of Christmas (and all holiday things kitsch - note the hat):


My Mom, this year's Princess of Presents. We was good to her:


Payne Stewart, I Mean My Dad, King Of "To Me, From Me." He Funds Most of The Holiday Operation:


My Mom Holding My Dad's "Favorite" Gift - Underwear That Doubles As A Tent For Two:


The Aftermath of a Taylor Christmas (Don't Worry, We Recycled All The Paper):


All 19 Of Us - Now That's Pretty Cool!

Christmas In SoCal & Driving Lessons

It's Christmas in Southern California, which means all 19 family members opening gifts simultaneously in a rather small living room, matching sweaters, limited amounts of corn because Uncle Michael bogarts the serving dish and open season on southern California highways. Nana sent this my way. Enjoy, and pay particularly close attention to numbers 5 and 6. To those of you who have visited me here, all I have to say is, "I told you so." Happy Holidays!


Things To Know Before Driving In LA:

1. You must first learn to pronounce the city name, it is LA.

2. The morning rush hour is from 5:00 am to noon. The evening rush hour is from noon to 7:00 pm. Friday's rush hour starts on Thursday morning.

3. The minimum acceptable speed on most freeways is 85 mph. On the 105 or 110, your speed is expected to match the highway number. Anything less is considered "Wussy".

4. Forget the traffic rules you learned elsewhere. L A has its own version of traffic rules. For example, cars/trucks with the loudest muffler go first at a four-way stop; the trucks with the biggest tires go second. However, in Malibu , SUV-driving, cell phone talking moms ALWAYS have the right of way.


5. If you actually stop at a yellow light, you will be rear ended, cussed out, and possibly shot.

6. Never honk at anyone. Ever. Seriously. It's another offense that can get you shot.

7. Road construction is permanent and continuous in all of L A and Orange counties. Detour barrels are moved around for your entertainment pleasure during the middle of the night to make the next day's driving a bit more exciting.

8. Watch carefully for road hazards such as drunks, skunks, dogs, cats barrels, cones, celebs, rubberneckers, shredded tires, cell phoners, deer and other road kill, and the coyotes feeding on any of these items.

9. Map quest does not work here, none of the roads are where they say they are or go where they say they do and all the freeway off and on ramps are moved each night.


10. If someone actually has their turn signal on, wave them to the shoulder immediately to let them know it has been "accidentally activated."

11. If you are in the left lane and only driving 70 in a 55-65 mph zone, you are considered a road hazard and will be "flipped off accordingly. If you return the flip, you'll be shot.

12. Do not try to estimate travel time, just leave Monday afternoon for Tuesday appointments, by noon Thursday for Friday and right after church on Sunday or Temple on Saturday for anything on Monday morning.

Every Human Has Rights

I'm still typing with two fingers, heavily medicated and a bit loopy so, in the meantime, read this and sign it. Every human being deserve the most basic human rights. Now that is universal...

The link, in case it doesn't work: http://everyhumanhasrights.org/

More on what it's like not to have arms soon...

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-Kyle Taylor

Wanna Change The World? I Think YES

I'm sorry I've been out of the loop. Shoulder surgery has made it all but impossible to type! I'm in for shoulder number two tomorrow, which means I'll probably be away a few more days...In the meantime, enjoy the following. It's our all new music video (rough cut) set to a song written FOR US by an amazing new artist, Matt Miller. It's called "Wanna Change The World" and I can't help but nod my head and tap my foot when I hear it...ROCK OUT! More post-surgery...



The link, in case it doesn't imbed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN9GLbxBeMo

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Kyle Taylor