Assignment #4, Really: Adbusters

I guess I'll call this assignemnt 4 as well. I might have made up the number for my previous #4. . . However, here is today's assignement that I will write: "For your blog assignment #4 take a look at the website "Adbusters." Cruise through the site until you find something interesting--something about which you have an opinion or can take a stand. You might have to do some further research before you can come to some conclusions. Then in your blog tell us what you have to say, tell the whole world what to think about this issue. Use links to other sites to support your message."

When scanning the Adbusters site, I came across the article about Buy Nothing Day. Now I am not a big shopper, I just have never enjoyed stores very much as they are often crowded and usually I end up buying things I do not need. Also, I believe that consumerism is a problem in that we buy for the sake of buying. We watch commercials that make us want things, we go to the store and buy those things, however we never needed the things to begin with. I think it would be interesting to live without for a while. Not without the things we need, but without the things we want. These things including television, video games, computers -- maybe a vacation at Amish Acres. But I am getting a bit off of topic.

The idea of Buy Nothing Day is for people to take back control and not shop. For a whole day. Is it possible to do this? Especially around Christmas? I wonder if we would buy any gifts for our family and friends if we only bought someone a gift that we thought they needed. Would your brother get anything? I know I would be doing a lot less shopping for my husband's siblings. Not that I don't love them, but I don't think that they need anything. I think we buy them things to have bought them something.

Looking further into the ideas on Buy Nothing Day, I came across Buy Nothing Christmas. They ask "But wait. Without the plastic gifts, how will you show you care?" Then they have people post ways to show you care at Christmas without the buying of "plastic gifts." So many ideas were posted from giving to charity, buying things for those who are in need, giving homemade gifts, and just spending time with those you love.

If you type "Christmas Gifts" into Google's Search Engine, you get 33,900,000 hits, the first one being a website www.christmasgifts.com. Seriously? That is one way to ensure a non-personal gift. I went to this website and it offered me a list of everything that I can purchase in any category and then linked me to stores that sold each item. This alone states the problem of consumerism today. So look the site up, and even if buying nothing for Christmas is too much for you, do celebrate Buy Nothing Day on November 26 and go ahead and buy nothing that day.

Assignment #6: Word Games

I know, I have gotten out of order on the assignments. However, with no grade at stake, I feel that I am able to do these in any order I please. Assignment #6 states, "These are the top five word games at the Yahoo Games Site: Literati, Text Twist, Bookworm, Flip Words, Word Mojo Gold. Play at least 2 of them and then discuss whether these are time wasters or good practice/learning tools. Don't just give your opinion--support your opinion with facts (details!) from your experience."

Without taking the time to play these games today I am able to answer this assignement as I regularly play the word games both on Yahoo Games and on other sites. I feel that these games can be both learning tools and time wasters.

We'll begin with learning tools. These games assist in spelling, vocabulary, and the ability to do these quickly. I have become spoiled by Microsoft Office as it not only has the button for spell check, but also has auto-correct which will fix common words that I mistype or just have never learned to spell correctly (the i before e rule always catches me). Bookworm, in particular, is beneficial for vocabulary as it gives you the definition of the more uncommon words that you spell. Finally, these games are beneficial in the same way that Minesweeper is beneficial to those new to a computer. They help you learn computer usage, specifically mouse skills.

At the same time, however, these games can be time wasters. I could spend (and have) an afternoon just playing Bookworm or Text Twist. I could easily stay up 2 hours later than I should just to beat my high score. Like all video games, you can easily play for too long and therefore the game can be a time waster. I believe, however, that "wasting time" is an opinion. While I may feel that playing Text Twist for two hours was a waste of time, someone else may not feel the same if he has gained enjoyment and learned some new words in his two hours of playing Flip Words.

Assignment #4: Project Implicit

I know that I skipped Assignment #3, it is 1/2 done in my draft entries, so I am going to complete it later. This week's assignment sounded like fun, however, so I am going to do it first: "Go to the Project Implicit site and choose one of the demonstration tests there. Before beginning the test do a bit of writing about your opinion on the subject of the test you have chosen. Now take the test. What are your results? Is this what you expected? Why or why not? Do you have an urge to retake the test? What do you think that might mean?"

I chose to take the "Sexuality IAT" as this is a pressing issue in society. I am frustrated by those who choose to fear or hate something they do not know such as a person's sexuality. In generalizing that homosexuality is wrong or bad, people show their ignorance about homosexuality. In stating that it is incorrect by the bible, people are incorrect as the bible also describes how one man shall not judge another as God will be the judge. I believe that homosexuality is not a choice nor a lifestyle, but an inherent part of someone. Similar to my blonde hair, my attached earlobes, and whatever else is written in my DNA. Therefore, as this test claims to judge my subconscious, it will be interesting to see how it turns out.

After taking the test, my results are: "Your data suggest a strong automatic preference for Gay People compared to Straight People."

I am actually unsure what that means. I have a strong automatic preference for Gay People. I guess it must mean that I don't like Straight People as much. This result is what I expected, I do not have any adversity to Gay or Straight people, therefore the test results show this. My question becomes, how accurate is this test? I was interrupted while taking it, as I am currently in my office, and I did have to restart from an early point as I was called away. Did this effect my scores? I don't believe it did, as the test was different the second time. It seems to be a random grouping of the same words in order to keep you thinking subconsciously. However, how much of a role does your subconscious play when you are typing quickly? The rules were to push the left or right button as quickly as possible, so that is what I did. I have no idea whether I subconsciously thought about the picture of two brides together and considered at all before I clicked the button for "Gay." Or if I categorized good and bad with Gay and straight as they did in both orders.

I can say I do not have any urge to retake the test. This would mean that I am satisfied with my results. It is interesting, and I believe if my result would have been against gays, my conscience mind would have overridden and wanted to retake.

Assignment #2: The history of weblogs

"Your 2nd assigned blog entry begins by reading the essay on the history of “weblogs”/“blogs” at http://www.mikeanderson.biz/docs/blog.history.htm. How does what Ozawa says about the kind of commentary found in weblogs relate to anything you have ever written before?"

Ozwa's article informs the reader of the history of weblogs. Weblogs have been around since the founding of the internet, they are not a recent addition. Ozawa cites a definition of a weblog by Jorn Barger, Weblog Guru, "A weblog. . . is a webpage where a weblogger. . . 'logs' all the other webpages she finds interesting." This is not what I have traditionally found on "Blogger" sites. More commonly found are what Ozawa refers to as Web Journals, an online, public diary, such as this blog entitled "Hi! It's me!". The author utilizes this format to update the reader (whoever it may be) on the comings and goings of her life. This webjournal, not blog by Jorn Barger's definition, does not contain any links to websites that the author felt a desire to share or comment about. There are other sites that specifically host webjournals, such as Live Journal. This site invites the author to post a journal of their daily comings and goings without incorrectly utilizing the term "weblog" or "blog." I regularly read my friends webjournal entries in order to keep up on the comings and goings of those friends I may have otherwise lost contact with by now. An additional type of "blog," utilizing the term loosely, exists with the author utilizing the blog as a method of artistic expression. One specific example is PostSecret. This blog is an ongoing collection of postcards that have been sent anonymously with people's deepest secret written on them. The blog creator scans the postcards and places them as images on this site. This is not a blog in the sense of a log of websites, nor is it a web journal where the author tracks their day to day happenings. Whether you call it a weblog or webjournal, the use of these online postings show the desire people have to utilize the internet in order to share their thoughts, opinions, or daily life with whoever is willing to listen.

Assignment #1: A mini essay on me

Assignment #1: "Your first weblog posting should tell us something about you. Give us some background on your skills as a writer or a reader. Tell us what you like or dislike. Tell us about your college career, or what you'd wish you'd known before the semester started. Whatever you want to say is fine, but be sure to make it a cohesive whole--a nice "mini"-essay."

To tell about me is a story in and of itself. I am no longer in college, but am swimming in what we call the sea of life. I currently am working on many different projects, the most fun being with a business development team in e-commerce. Currently, the trends in the United States as well as around the world are toward shopping on-line, mainly for convenience. I currently do 90% of my own shopping on-line and love it!

Other interesting things about me include my domestic hobbies, I am currently crocheting a blanket for a friend of mine about to have a baby, embroidering pillows for the baby my brother is about to have, and hand stitching a quilt. These projects and regular baking are the "around the house" types of things I enjoy doing. It sounds as though I will make a wonderful grandmother some day.

I currently enjoy reading; I am in the middle of reading a book called "Destination Success." It is written by a gentleman who works as a Life Coach. I find it interesting to read books that encourage me to take stock of myself, my life, and my career. These types of books allow me to step out of my life, and look it over. They create questions in my mind of where I am in relation to where I would like to be. I have recently laid out goals for myself in the next 5 years and longer, and doing this has caused me to be more focused in my day to day activities.

And there you are -- me in a nutshell. As Austin Powers once said, "No, this is me in a nutshell... Help, I'm in a nutshell! How did I get into this really big nutshell? What kind of nut comes in a shell this size?"

My mother, the teacher

My mother is an english professor at the University of Akron. She utilizes blogging for her students to work on their writing and analytical thinking, and I actually wish that was an assignment in my english classes. Some students do not seem to be interested in the project, however. To test out her assignments, I am going to do them. One at a time, week by week, just like her students... Feel free to comment away!

My new assignment page: http://www3.uakron.edu/english/russ/weblog.html

New Orleans

I am sure many people are thinking about this topic right now. Here are a few of my thoughts, and I have no desire to offend anyone. If you don't like what I say, don't read. Please do not take advantage of my blog to air your anger at my opinion. Comments are fine, just don't tell me I'm mean or bad.

Now with that request in place, here are some things that have been running through my head this week with the disaster along the gulf coast. . .

I watched the news this morning, I have been kind of avoiding watching because the pictures make me sad. I read the paper and listen to the radio, however the images on television, and the people yelling and crying for someone to help them while a television reporter (who has a nice place to sleep and clean clothes and just came down to report) stands there with a camera. It is surreal to watch the footage, you can not believe that it is this close to you. It looks like it is a million miles away, a third world nation.

In reading the paper this morning, I saw a political cartoon that stated "No one debates the De-evolution of Man." The drawing showed man, then monkey, lizard, then a man with a stolen television on his shoulder and a bag of stolen goods in his hand. I chuckled. Then I thought how true that is. When people are in tough times or times of stress, their true forms come out. Do they help one another or do the fire shots at police and rescue personnel? Do they share what they have, even when it is very little, or do they loot jewelery stores?

Rainy Day

Rainy days are fun! I like to take walks in a nice warm spring rain. It is not so fun after, with the wet clothes and wet hair. It's dark today, and the weatherman says that there is an 80% chance I will need an umbrella. It has not rained yet. Just dark.

I remember being little, and when it would rain really hard the drainage ditches along our street would fill up with water and flood out into the street. My siblings and I would run out and play in this water. We would put on swimsuits or whatever and run around in the rain water. One time, a kid down the street had a boat and he was trying to boat in the water.

It seems a little dirty to me now, rain water in a drainage ditch. But when it is rainy, and there are puddles on the sidewalk, I sometimes step in them rather than around them. I always have the urge to splash a bit (like Calvin and Hobbs!) but I refrain because I have to wash my own laundry and muddy clothes are not always fun.

Water

How much water can a person drink in a day?

I like to drink water. Water is good for me. I sometimes wonder how much water you could drink in a day. Gallons? I wonder what would happen if you drank a gallon of water a day. How many people do not even drink 8 ounces of water a day? Are they healthy? Is the reason they are not healthy (if the case is that they are not healthy) because of the water? Should we all drink more? Do I drink enough?

Success

I have spent time thinking of what I want to do, who I want to be and where I want to go. I have come up with my idea of success. . .

I will be successful in life when everything I do is because I want to do it. I will measure my success as when there is no "have to" in my life, but only "choose to."

Now I ask that this not be misunderstood... I am talking about doing things and not talking about selfishness. However, I am picturing sleeping until I want to wake up. Working and volunteering at places because I choose to, not because I need the paycheck or the resume builder. Visiting my family and friends as often as I want (not avoiding visiting because I don't want to) and not worrying about details.

I had this realization while in the restroom at a DC United Soccer game. I realized I enjoy volunteering at those games because I choose to do so. I have no ulterior motive -- not the working towards a position there, not class credit, not money, and I actually look forward to going there. The crabby people do not bother me when I am there, I am able to smile a real smile (not one of those forced kind with the gritted teeth behind) and walk away.

I challenge everyone to determine their definition of success and figure out how to get there. I'm still working on my getting there, but one step at a time.

Chipmunk Nuts

It's funny how you can think you heard something different that what was said or sung. It is common to mis-hear, but why? Is it because we want to hear the different thing? Or is it because the art of speaking clearly has been lost over the centuries (if this art ever existed in anyone other than over dramatic actors). For instance, I have never been able to hear anything different than "never had another wang on my shoe" in a popular song. If you can't live without knowing, the real line is "walking 'round with little wings on my shoes." I know. It's nothing the same. Now how did I come up with the line I hear? It could be psychological, that I wanted to hear about a wang on a shoe. It could be a hearing problem I have or that I don't listen properly. I could blame the singer and state he should enunciate properly.

Arizona

We spent the weekend in Arizona. It was fun. It was hot. It is always good to be home. We got to see the family, fun. We also saw the desert and the mountains. I have to wonder what the area looked like before Phoenix existed. The flat desert with the mountains rising out at random intervals. It must have been beautiful.

Water

I have three thoughts going on about water today:

One: It's hot. How much water do you have to drink to keep yourself alive in heat over 100 degrees Fahrenheit? It has been very warm in DC all week, and the media is advising everyone to stay in air-conditioning and drink lots of water. I don't really know if all that is necessary, people live in intense heat conditions and did so prior to air-conditioning. I really think all you need is the water and light cotton clothing (you know, the breathable stuff). I think the air conditioning just screws with your body because then you think it's all nice when you are inside, but go outside and you are sweating instantly.

Two: My brother and his Blue are having a commitment ceremony this weekend. For the family's part in this ceremony, we are all to bring water from our home. I have never considered our apartment more than a temporary home, so I don't think that would make good commitment water for us to bring. So instead, I had a friend bottle up some water out of Lake Superior and ship it to us. I'm excited that I get to bring such good water to the ceremony!

Three: In relation to two, I was thinking about bringing some D.C. water. I am, however, unsure what the proper DC water to bring would be... out of a drinking fountain on the street? out of a gift shop somewhere? out of the reflecting pool? Can you get arrested for taking water out of the reflecting pool or out of a fountain at a memorial? I know you are not allowed to throw coins, and you are not allowed to deface the memorials.... but can you take water? If so, what type of punishment is there? How high is the fine for stealing reflecting pool water?

Poinsetta

I have a poinsetta in my office that has been there since before christmas. We had a "holiday get together" for the building, and I ended up with a little poinsetta in my office. It's festive.

Well it is now June, and I have watered it regularly, and it is still going. It is getting so big that I think it may need repotting soon. I have it in a sunny window and it is just thriving. I am unsure what to do with it, however. As I understand it, poinsettas are poisonous to pets and I would hate to poison my pets...

I guess it'll stay in my office until I leave, and then what? Move with me to a new company? I could come up with a great story for the poinsetta and why it keeps on living. Change the story as my fancy takes me. Hmmm... not a bad idea.

It's Hot

95 degrees yesterday and 92 for a high today. It's hot. It's summer.

The pool in our apartment complex is open, though, so I'm excited! And I get new pool toys tonight. A squishy ball that looks like a penguin and a wobbly ball. Little things make my day.

"That's it, I Quit!"

What does it take for someone to get to that point. Not everyone likes their job. Mine is only okay. But to quit? It seems so wrong. I have had a long Friday in which I feel like I cannot complete anything. This afternoon it got better, however I still feel underwater. How deep do you have to be to quit, though. Or is it boredom that makes someone leave?

How about other things in life. Should we all be able to quit so easily when things are not going the way we want them to? Maybe we should. Maybe all this responsible, see it through stuff is just nonsense that our parents made up in order to get us to fold the socks or clean our rooms.

What would the world be like if we all didn't do what we don't like doing?

New Blog

I recently started a new blog (about all those bad office things people do-- it makes me feel good at work when I have an outlet) and have been ignoring my thoughts blog. So I have lots of pent up thoughts, of course. I don't know if I'll stick to it, though. Maybe my life is interesting enough. I'm going to add some of that in.

I went home this weekend. Saw the fam. It was fun. I listened to Bridget Jones on CD in the car. How funny that reading (or listening to) a book can influence you. I know it's just a story, created to amuse, but Bridget works to become more confident, poised, etc. and I wonder if I need to do that. I'm not extreme, in that I have not gone out and purchased a library of self help books or taken holday to Thailand and gotten arrested or started counting calories that I eat and obsessing about my weight. In relating to the character, though, I do just that, relate to the character. I am almost done with the book, but to finish (before it is due back to the library of course) I am listening on the way to work. It makes me want to stay in my car and listen when I park. Funny how a book can suck you in.

Microwave Popcorn

I like microwave popcorn. I have a bag (unpopped) sitting on my desk right now. But when can you pop and eat popcorn at work? Is there really time for that during the day?

I could pop it in the morning, just before lunch when my tummy gets hungry. But then I could just wait an hour or so and have lunch... Wait! I could have it for lunch. But it's not so nutritious and maybe that would be a funny lunch... Then in the afternoon. But I don't get hungry in the afternoon until it's almost time to leave. Then it seems pointless to pop a whole bag of popcorn when I'll never be able to eat the whole thing.

I think the answer is that I stop questioning when or needing a reason why. The next time I am sitting at my desk hungry is when I will pop that bag of corn, and eat it, and offer some to anyone around so I don't seem like a popcorn hog. I'm really not, but it is good.

"There's Doughnuts in the Breakroom!"

In office life, this is one thing that can make a good day. Someone brought in doughnuts (cookies, brownies, etc. depending on your office). Today, someone brought in Krispy Kreme mini cake doughnuts. They are good. The only problem is, how many can you eat? I mean, how many is it proper to eat before you are greedy. Remember, they are not your doughnuts... they were brought in for the whole office.

I am reminded of the movie Office Space, and Milton did not get a piece of cake. They told him not to be greedy and he was worried about the cake to people ratio.

Driving to work

Every morning, like most Americans, I have a distance to drive in order to get to work. Most of this drive is on highways and is full of slow moving traffic. Some mornings there are accidents in the way, other mornings just too many people driving in their cars.

Why do we put ourselves through this every day? I just don’t know.

I am slowly becoming immune to the delays, I am gaining patience for the slow going, and planning far enough in advance to get places on time. I am also caring a little less regarding being “on-time.”

However, there is one part of my drive to work that is peaceful. It is the on ramp to the highway. You are wondering – what! Yes, the on-ramp is surrounded by trees. I can not see any other cars when I am driving on it, and it is so green lately with spring. Maybe living in a city is making me miss the woods of the Midwest, but when I drive through this little grove of trees, and all I can see is the one lane ahead of me (before I see the four lane highway packed with cars) I feel like I am driving down a country road in the Midwest. The only car on a peaceful tree lined road.

Maybe it’s silly that this makes me happy, but I like to find bright spots wherever they may hide. And this is one of them.

Bosses who Boss too much

Now how could that be? They are the boss. Well, sometimes they overstep the line and boss about things that aren't even worth their time of day. I think some people need too much control and therefore pick every little thing they can control and force the issue.

Has it ever helped "Suzie Loo" the boss to have a more efficient and effective team if she demands to be called "Mrs. Loo" or "Miss Loo." What about the approach of being called "Mrs. Suzie"-- does that garner her more respect? This all in place of letting her employees call her Suzie, or if she prefers, Susan.

I feel that this type of management only belittles the employees and unless you have an egotistical maniac of an employee, it does no good. Even then, no good. All you do is alienate your employees and make them feel like they are children in your eyes.

So for all the mangers reading my blog (and why are you doing that when you should be working?), pick your battles. Ask your employees to call you Joseph if you don't like the nickname Joey. However, please don't ask that they call you Mr. Joseph. It's just lame.

Somebody's got a case of the Mondays

So when did Monday become such a dreaded day? I know we have all had such a fun weekend and now it is over. Who said that the week is not fun.

I think we worry too much about having the perfect job, that we overlook the jobs we would like to do. Think what the world would be if everyone enjoyed their job. Think that the waitress would smile and wish you a good day. The cashier may say hello first and strike up a cheerful conversation while checking your groceries. Maybe everyone would smile a bit more.

I do wonder, however, if everyone had a job they enjoyed, then who would do all of the jobs. I think in that question I am projecting my distaste for some jobs onto everyone. For instance, I have no desire to clean, but someone may. I also have no desire to cook, but someone loves to.

If we all loved our jobs, would we get cases of the Fridays?

Stop and Smell the Roses

Sometimes, I think I allow myself to get a little too stressed out over things that are not so serious. By those things, I mean practically anything. The report that is due, the numbers that don't quite match, the approaching deadline. My biggest is people who blow off what is important to me so I have to wait until it fits in their timeline, and in the meantime I can do nothing with it. So there the item sits. Waiting to be completed, decided on, or whatever, but I can do nothing.

I think at times like these, I do need to stop and smell the roses. It is springtime, and beautiful. My flowers are blooming-- all the flowers are blooming. Well, except my orchid. How do you keep those alive? Do they ever bloom again? I can't figure out what I need to do with it, the leaves are still green but there are no buds and no new growth that I can see...

I think I got off topic a bit. But I guess this blog is my thoughts. I never promised a clear consistant stream of thought.

The color of a car

Today, on my way into work, I got thinking about people and the color of their car. I routinely watch people when we are all stuck in traffic and I can look into their window and see what they are doing. Today, however, I got looking at the color of their cars. What does the color of your car say about you?

My guess is that we use our cars and more particularly the color of them to define who we are. Now what is that guy with a green car trying to say to everyone about himself? I don't know. I've never owned a green car. Well then, the grey, the black, the blue, the white or the dark red? I can say that I picked blue (or dark blue pearl to be specific) because the car I wanted came in that, light blue, or white unless I wanted to order one rather than buy off the lot. I thought the Dark Blue Pearl was the least grandmotherly of the colors.

My point today, and yes I am getting there quickly, is that everyone is making (or like me trying not to make) a statement about themselves in the color of car they pick. But today I passed a guy in a yellow car. Two days ago, I saw a guy in a lime (yes, brilliant vibrant lime) green car. Often I see metallic orange, pea green, and the list could go on. What statements are these people trying to make?

Harlequin Romance

Yes, that's really the topic-- I really thought about harlequin romance today. Now before you judge me, I can honestly say I have never read a harlequin romance novel. I thought of it today because the morning radio show that I listen to on my drive to work in the morning was having a contest. They had a bunch of guys come in and attempt to be the next "Fabio"/ cover of a harlequin romance novel with Kris (one of the morning D.J.'s).

This got me thinking (and after I voted on which guy I thought should win as the contest is judged by listeners and the photos taken are on-line at www.hot995.com). Who was the person that came up with harlequin romance novels in the first place? These bodice ripping, lust filled stories have to have a background of how they came to be. So I looked.

Harlequin is a book publisher with its head office in Toronto Canada. They are a division of Torstar Corporation a Canadian Media Corporation. Quoted from their site, "The series business, the foundation of Harlequin's success, offers women a range of romantic reads from traditional pure romance to suspense and inspirational romance."

Maybe I need to go and get one of these to read...

Today, I whine...

Everyone should be allowed to whine from time to time (I think I take extra liberties on my time to time but maybe that’s another discussion for someone else’s blog). Today, I want to express my views on a guy who hit my car today. Yes, hit my car. Now I wasn’t driving, Ryan was. Driving through a Home Depot parking lot when an elderly man backed out of his space without looking, backed into my car, and didn’t realize what was stopping him so he kept going backward while Ryan honked the horn to get the guy to stop backing up.

Not to sound ageist, racist, or generally mean to other people, but the man was elderly and didn’t speak very good English. He did not want to deal with insurance, but he did say he would pay for the damages. So he was nice, but not very good at driving. I believe that we should all be retested for our licenses every few years rather than pass once and just keep on renewing. I propose that every 4, 8, 10 years (just a reasonable amount of time), mandatory retaking of the test. I know this is an added cost. We should pay for it too. It is a privilege, not a right, to drive a car, and I think we all need to be more respectful of that as well as be more respectful of those around us.

Finally, if you back up in a parking lot and something stops you... just stop your car and find out what. Maybe next time it’ll be a person instead of my car.

America's Wang

Yes, that is what it is... The Washington Monument. A symbol of power for the United States, paying tribute to our first president, and standing erect as can be.

Today this monument reopens to the public with enhanced security measures in place since the September 11 terrorist attacks. Once again, we Americans -- all people as a matter of fact -- can come to Washington DC, get in line, get a ticket, then use that ticket to take a ride in an elevator to the top of the Washington Monument. They also have a museum and shop, in case the ride is so good you must have a souvineer to remind you forever of your experience.

So, in short, America's Wang is still erect, but now protected for all to enjoy again.

The Nations Moral Dilemma

Here I go, getting into the nation's problems... I promise, I don't mean to be all that serious but this is weighing on my thoughts lately.

Terri Schiavo. Yep. I'm going to weigh in. But not on the moral issue of whether her feeding tube should be in or not. Not on the medical issue of if it does for 15 more years will she recover. No, instead I want to look at the circus that this issue has become. What I feel is a family issue (meaning personal and to be kept within family members and close friends, not the entirety of a religion and all the neighbors as well as congress, the federal and state court system, etc, etc, etc...) is being posted all over the media. I don't like being seen before I've showered in the morning, but every morning on the news I see the same pictures of Terri Schiavo where they compare a photo of her before the mishap and that video of her watching someone wave a balloon in front of her. But you know what, I'll leave all that alone too.

Instead, I want to create some thinking of the other people this event is affecting. Yep, I said it; more people are affected than Terri's husband, mother, father, and brother. First what about everyone else who has loved ones at the hospice she is being cared for at? They have to wait until security allows them in past the crowds of protesters and media. What about those people at the hospice whose family choose to visit less to avoid the hassle of getting in. Also, I read an article about a grade school that is located near the hospice. They have moved classes elsewhere as it is difficult for the parents and school busses to get around the protesters lining the streets.

So to sum up, many people who are not involved in this issue and possibly do not want to be involved have been disrupted so that this family can host their disagreements in a public forum.

Can you really post on a blog every day?

People do. It seems like writing in your diary (or "journal" if you are worried about the 12 year old girl stigmatism). Do I have things happening every day that I can write about? Yes. That I want on the internet? Maybe. Or, maybe not. I could write about my job, my hobbies, and so on... make this a log of my life. But if I do that, the log just may it would float down the river . Not too interesting. And then just maybe I don't want to share.

Instead of making a log, I like posting random musings on everyday things... like my thoughts on people who use cell phones while driving or while walking through the grocery store. Also, my thoughts on those hands free headset/ earpieces. Some people look like a telephone operator or a pilot with their huge headset and microphone. Others have the little ear bud and wire... Simpler, but are they talking on the phone or to themselves? It's hard to tell.

Wow. Apparently I could do a whole posting on that topic. Maybe I worry too much, but what if I talk about lemonade flavored Gatorade versus lemon flavored XS Sport Drink? I thought about it because of a blog I read (http://enormouz.blogspot.com). But if I say the wrong thing will I upset the author of that blog? (probably not, he's not easily offended... go ahead, read his blog, really, even comment if the mood strikes you)

This (although a long post) leads back to my previous post about blogs in general. What are the social rules of them? If you know, please inform me if I'm breaking them. If there aren't any, maybe we should write some.

The wonders of a simple blog

Talking with my mother last night, we began discussing blogs. What makes a blog interesting to read? You read about the popular ones in the paper. One woman was asked to turn her life story (which she kept torrid details in) into a book. A man has begun a blog to post people's secrets on. What makes these interesting to us as humans? My first reaction is sensationalism. We love to voyer into other peoples lives (I'm not any better, I love to read the secrets at postsecret.blogspot.com). I wonder, though, if it is that at all. Or are we all just happier knowing that we are not the only one. Happier sharing in someone elses experiences because we realize that the image portrayed on the television or in the magazines, although not like us, is not like everyone else. Instead, we are like everyone else. We have lives that we live. We have friends, enemies, relationships that sometimes go sour. We just need to be reminded that we are all right, really.

The color Green?

March 17 comes as every day of the year does... Except this day is given the color green. Green for the color of Shamrocks, and green for the spring to come. Green for Ireland, and for a ton of other symbolic things that I really know little about. I have never done much celebrating of this holiday, and I have done even less research.

So short and sweet is my happy holiday post. It's St. Patrick's Day... A Catholic holiday or a time to drink green beer. However you choose to celebrate, enjoy. (and if you choose the green beer, have an extra pint for me!)

It only takes one person. . .

Often we hear that it only takes one person -- one vote -- one voice -- to make a difference. I like this thought. My opinion does count, as long as I believe it does and I use my voice to make it heard. My vote counts in every election (well maybe not these last two presidential ones, but that's not the topic today).

However, that one person can do a pretty good job of screwing things up as well. Not in the voting or vocalizing arena. One person can create such a negative image that it is pretty much irreversable. One mistake can cause a lot of harm.

Think about that. Both sides of the argument. One person can make a difference -- positively or negatively. I will. Expecially before I do something that may have an effect on other people.

Just my thought for today, and yes there is a long story behind it. If you really need to know, ask me and I might just share it.

Secrets

I was driving into work today and the radio show I listen to was talking about this new blog, "postsecret.blogspot.com" It is a bunch of secrets that some guy collected and has posted. They are all anonomous. Some people have shared simple secrets, like they don't wash their hands after peeing. Others shared dark secrets like cutting their neighbors cocaine and almost killing the neighbor, or having an affair, or feeling guilty about a friend's suicide.

So, naturally, I looked up the blog when I got to work. It is interesting. And frightening. What a work of art, other people's anonomous secrets. How many people share the same secret? The little white cards could have been written by anyone. But frightening, because we enjoy other people's secrets so much. The radio show had listeners call in, anonomously, and share secrets. One guy shared that he has been having an affair with a prostitute for 6 months. He pays about $400 a week for her. I want to judge him, but I know I shouldn't.

This blog also makes me wonder what secrets do I have that I have told noone? I know there are some, but I couldn't come up with one that I would write on the card and mail in. Not a one.

Random Questions

So I am getting into this blog thing. . . meaning I took some time today to complete my profile (that is if it can ever be complete with me being a constantly changing person-- but I digress). I get to the "Random Question." What is this? A random question? For me? I wonder if it is a test that I can get graded on (a nerdy part of me loves to get good grades). Or do I find out who else got the same question and I get to read their answers without being graded against them?

No, I just get to answer it and other people can learn about me based on my answer.

So I give it a try. The question is "The first time you had your shoes taken off were you suprised to find your toes still there?" What? My toes still there? Of course they were there. Wait, the first time my shoes were taken off-- How old was I... did I even know I had toes? Too complicated, and what type of impression will people get of me if I give a drawn out answer on a profile question.

I request a new question. "Why is the color blue rasberry flavored?" Now that's a good question. I really don't know the answer. Nope, better get a new question. This one borders on being graded.

"Create a tagline for a new line of plastic bedsheets." I do not want to touch this one. . .

"The love potion you made tastes terrible. How will you drink it?" Well, I don't plan on drinking it. Why would I want an artificial love potion love? How do I know if it's me or the potion? What happens when the potion wears out? I just don't want to go there. Love me for me, or don't love me at all.

So no "Random Question" for me. Sorry. I hope no one is dissapointed, and that everyone gets to know me without it.

In the New Year

For New Years Eve did you plan a night out, a party, a quite evening with family. . . I planned an evening with my husband. Whatever you or I do, it is done in celebration of one more year past and in celebration of a new year-- a blank slate.

The next thing we do for New Years is make a resolution. You may resolve to stop smoking, to loose weight, to clean out a closet, or to organize the sock drawer. Whatever the resolution, it is announced to friends and family, then there is the attempt to keep it for the next twelve months. It's usually a good thing we don't have good memories. . .

I wanted to resolve to loose weight, stay in shape, eat better, etc. I realize, however, that I'll most likely keep one of those resolutions for a month at best, but more likely a week.

So this year, my resolution is to think of myself less and others more.

I received an e-mail on New Years Eve from a good friend who I have not seen in years. She reflected on the current tsunami tragedy, the state of affairs in Afghanistan and Iraq. She mentioned friends that she had not keep up with, and now that tragedy has struck she is looking to find that they are okay. With this sentiment, she looked under her Christmas tree at the gifts she had received this year. She thought of how necessary they were, and decided to "trim the holiday fat." In this spirit she asked her friends and family that when the notion of giving a gift occurs to them, to send her an e-mail or a card. Then take the gift money and donation it to a worthwile cause. Her request is that her friends and family think of others outside that immediate circle of loved ones.

Thanks to her inability to sleep on New Years Eve and to her e-mail of that time, I resolve to think of the world around me and not just my friends, family, and the immediate area around me. I resolve to work on doing what I can to better others and by doing so better myself.

I hope everyone who reads this stops to think about their resolution. What did you resolve to do this year?