"So What If A Guy Threw A Shoe At Me?"

Some guy at a news conference in Baghdad, Iraq threw both of his shoes at President Bush. I think this is the first time this has ever happened in the history of U.S. Presidents.

This is a video I could watch over and over again. Bush totally sees the first shoe coming and ducks out of the way and stands up straight with a smirk in his face. He then half-way duck when the second shoe comes at him while Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki stretches out his arm in front of Bush in an attempt to tip-off the shoe.

Later on at the news conference, Bush says, "So what if a guy threw a shoe at me?" and shrugs his shoulders.

Oprah Weighs 200 pounds

Who cares? Seriously.

The Associated Press thought this story was worth their time to write.

It's really not that special that Oprah weighs 200 lbs. A lot of people have done that before. I'm sure I can find some people right now that weigh the same.

P.S. I love this picture of Oprah. It's pretty much how I look all the time.

We're in a recession?

It's now official: the US is in a recession.

It only took a whole year to make this statement official. A look at my bank account statement could have told you that. Maybe the economists should have me on retainer as an advisor.

You Owe Us $0.01. Pay us, or else...

People who have probably more than enough money are getting bailouts up and down for mistakes they made and their greed.

However, a woman in Massachusetts was threatened because she owed $0.01--1-cent-- to the city of Attelboro. If she did not pay the bill of 1-cent, she would be charged $48 late fee and a lien would be placed on her home.

One penny! No one in the city could have just tossed one in for her?! Many people in the city of Attelboro offered to chip in the remainder of the amount due for the utility bill. A former city council member wrote a check in the amount of 1-cent.

I kind of wonder why the woman billed could not have paid the penny she owed. Regardless, this whole thing is ridiculous.

Read the full story.

Dr. Greene is Back?

This Thursday, NBC is going to be featuring an "ER" where Dr. Mark Greene is back.

Last time I checked, Dr. Greene died from growth in his brain. So I am not sure how this is happening.




UPDATE ON THIS STORY:

Michael Crichton died yesterday, November 4, of a private battle he had with cancer. Crichton was 66-years-old.

Crichton was a larger than life storyteller figuratively and literally. Standing at 6'9", Crichton is known for his best-selling novels, the "ER" TV series, and blockbuster movies. Some of my favorite books by Crichton include The Lost World, Jurassic Park, and Travels (Crichton's autobiography). Crichton was also well known for his controversial views about global warming.






More on this story.

Michael Crichton's website.

Clay Aiken Comes Out of the Closet

One of the top headlines today is that Clay Aiken is gay.

Duh!!!!! You would have to have never watched tv in your life, listened to the radio, and not know how to read (all of those, all together) to not have known this.

Good grief. There are better, more important things going on in the world today.

Oprah Won't Let Palin Sit on Her Couch. Reason: She's Not of the Same Race

Seriously?

Many reports claim that Oprah is refusing to let the Vice Presidential nominee, Sarah Palin, have an interview on her show. Yes, we all know Oprah loves Barak Obama and has given him tons of money and publicity and endorsements. But can a person who supposedly stands up for equality, the success of women, and loves a good ol' small town success story snub a person because she is from a different political party?

Yes, it's Oprah's show and she can have who and what she wants on it. However, it is hard for me to swallow all of that equality and empowerment talk if Oprah is willing to have child molesters sit on her couch, but not an upfront, successful person because she is not of the same race...political race.

Stupid Criminals and Other Shinanigans

• Paul Baldwin, 48, was ordered held on $10,000 bail in Portsmouth, N.H., in May after his arrest for stealing a can of beer, which seems expensive except that it was Baldwin's 152nd arrest. When a judge asked if he wanted a lawyer appointed for him, Baldwin said, "I don't need a lawyer. I've been in this court more than you have."

• A gentle armed robber was being sought in July in Poplar Bluff, Mo.; he took $25 from a man at gunpoint, but then hugged him before he left.

• Arrested in Tampa, Fla., in the span of 23 hours on July 1 and July 2: Mr. Telly Savalas Cheatam (grand theft auto) and Mr. Telly Savalas Wimbley (trespassing.)

• In July, St. Mary's Airport on the Isles of Scilly (off the coast of England) posted a vacancy announcement for air traffic controller that added, helpfully, that applications were available in alternative languages, "in larger text (or) Braille."
  
  
• Police were called to a home in Wichita, Kan., in June after two young men had been arguing over which was more deserving of the street name C-Thug. The fight ended when a woman old enough to be their mother came along and stabbed one of the "thugs."
  
  
• Illinois requires state employees to pass an annual 10-question, multiple-choice "ethics" test (whose format lends itself to simplistic answers that, for instance, most college students might handle easily). In January, ethics officials declined to accept the passing grades of 65 Southern Illinois University professors because they finished "too quickly." Asserted a reviewing state official, anyone who failed to spend at least 10 minutes on the test was being unreasonable.
  
  
• In August in Billings, Mont., federal officers recognized Wyoming fugitive Sterling Wolfname, 26, on the street, but the man tried to give a different name, seemingly oblivious that "Wolfname" was tattooed on the side of his head.

E85 Ethanol

I'm all for being green and saving the earth, but the more I hear about E85 ethanol, the less it makes sense to me.

E85 is basically gasoline, a flex fuel, that made from corn. It is made from the kernels of corn, the only part that can be more easily converted into a fuel blend.

Here is the problem: it is inefficient.

Ethanol has less than 70% of the efficiency of gasoline. So the more ethanol is in the blend, say E85 (85% ethanol) compared to E10 (1o% ethanol), the less efficient it is. Plus, heavier concentrations of ethanol can more easily damage a car's engine. That's why most tanks that can support an ethanol blend are only made for E10 blends.

Have you seen the price of corn today? It is 2 ears for a $1.00 at the supermarket! How many ears of corn do you think it would take to fill up a tank? Although, analysts say it is worth getting ethanol only if gas is more than $4.00/gallon if your car has already been converted for such a fuel. It is more expensive to produce ethanol, convert the corn, ship it in big trucks, and grow it. Mass production of ethanol could possibly cause a food shortage. Some corn growers lost a lot of their corn in the floods and other natural disasters. Look at what happened to rice. If there is a major disaster to corn crops, those dependent on ethanol will share in paying the price.

Some other food products are being looked at to make ethanol blends. Sugar ethanol is the next big thing, but I don't really know that much about it yet to have an opinion about it's efficiency or know how sweet of a deal it really is.

Church or Self-Help Group?

Maybe I am one of the few Christians to say this, but sometimes going to a new church seems like a cheap circus act. Many feature "hip" worship bands, huge screens, videotaped services, mood lighting, youth pastor that act like they are 14-years-old, etc. What gets to me more than anything in these "shows" are the pastors who hold self-help seminars rather than teach about God in fear they may offend a non-believer. This is probably why many people who go to church do not have a basic understand about God or what their religion teaches.

Every church has its strong and weak points, mine included. But what does it take these days for a church to get new members? Many of the recent churches I have visited have scattered their services with skits, pretend dialogues between God and a celebrity or movie character, notes that are expected to be written down up on the screens, and songs that ask God for scads of things or tell God about how great they are ("I stand...", "Father, I...", etc). These is more "I/me" language in the songs and prayers and less "You/God" language as participants seek to become better humans and acceptance within themselves.

The Wall Street Journal says this about many hip churches: "...seeker-friendly churches (have a) permissive dress code -- not only jeans, but shorts and flip-flops are often OK. The 'messages' (never sermons) jazzed up with video clips and hard-rocking nine-piece 'praise bands.' The Starbucks cart that often sits in the lobby (and the fact that worshipers can take their nonfat lattes into the pews). Their biggest concern, however, is with the spiritual teachings.

Most seeker-friendly churches -- some of which can draw tens of thousands of worshipers -- are firmly rooted in Christianity. They offer weekly Bible-study classes and make clear in their statement of faith that Jesus is the only way to heaven. But the sermons tend to be buoyant, hip and dedicated to self-help themes, rather than theology.

More conservative, traditionalist pastors say that approach opens the door to a mushy secularism, or a la carte theology, in which worshipers pick and choose from the messages they find most helpful, without ever understanding that Christianity requires obedience to certain inflexible principles."

Is the church becoming too convenient? What is it that draws hundreds of people to the new mega-churches while the smaller churches remain the same? Would Jesus like convenient or would He started turning over coffee tables? I don't really know the answer. All I know is that I am done with popularity contests and like my small church where everyone is up-to-date on their fellow parishioner and we have a small weekly family reunion....but I guess this is convenient for me.

Please enjoy the following pictures and church signs:

This is a high-tech, hip church and pastor

The COOL Church. This is where the cool kids go.



















This is the senior pastor of a church/gun show in Tucson.








uhh...clever












smart cookie















Amen! I'm glad someone else sees it my way.















Good grief! Seriously?















Mine, too.












You think they have hot wings there?













I wonder if He'll add me as a friend?














I wonder who attends this church?


















Huh?













I'm assuming they're "cool" because they have air conditioning.












Is this sign texting me? Who talks like this?











Someone has horrible theology. God would never say this. Read your Bible, sign writer.











I've got enough dysfunction.



















Do you think Jesus was a free thinker in the Bible? He didn't hang out with the popular crowd. Keep thinking freely or maybe you'll end up being a slave to today's pressures.












I think this defeats the point of forgiveness...but I'm still working on this one. ;)









Why wouldn't He?

The War on Meth: Meth is Death

Congress has a lot of hard decisions to make, especially making up names for initiatives they care about.

Watch this video and see their passion:



Congress Struggles To Come Up With Cool Name For Anti-Drug Initiative

"Operation Eagle Scream...Horse Kick...Bear Trap...Snake Bite..."?!?! "Meth is death..."? Uh...how hard is it to come up with a name for something like this? They should have invited me there; I have some good ideas: Operation Chicken Coop, Dog Bite, Cat Scratch, Kitten Whisker, or Do Meth and Get in Trouble.

This cracked me up really bad. And to think: Congress probably does waste their time on silly stuff like this.

Good thing The Onion is not real.

Shangri-La Diet

I've heard of crazy diets before: cabbage soup diet, honey lemonade diet, apple cider vinegar diet, etc.

I think the Shangri-La Diet, created by Seth Roberts, Ph. D, might top them all. Basically, one is to drink about 3 tablespoons of an odorless oil (like light olive oil) or sugar water and then one's appetite will decrease. However, from my understanding, you are supposed to hold your nose while you eat so you can't taste your food. (I tried holding my nose while eating cereal and it just seemed like nasty mush in my mouth.) This diet is about tricking your brain and stomach. The truth is, though, you can't really trick your body like that--at least not for long.

I was watching a review of the diet on TV earlier today and the diet success story person lost about 60 lbs. or so. However, he had been consuming 6,000 per day before starting the diet and then was down to eating 2,000 a day. Duh! If anyone ate 4,000 calories less per day, they would lose weight for sure. I don't even think I could eat 4,000 calories in a day anyways.

Yes, some fats like olive oil or the stuff with Omega-3 fatty acids are good for you. But anyone can consume these with a normal, regulated diet or even a supplement.

Here is a testimonial on Seth Robert's site that is supposed to be a positive account: "It's been two weeks since I started and oh-my-god . . . Within three days I was actually forgetting to eat." — Kathy Sierra, co-author of Head First Java". Uhhh... that's not cool; that's dangerous.

I can guarantee no doctor or nutritionist will say this diet is a good idea. I'm not even posting a link to the book or site because I think it is so stupid. Feel free to look it up if you need more convincing.

So Stupid It's Funny

I've always liked "Beavis & Butthead". The movie gets funnier every time I watch it.

Here is a little clip that we may relate to when we think about "la migra".

New Facility Dedicated to George W. Bush, Maybe

A group in San Francisco, the Presidential Memorial Commission, is hoping to get a new building dedicated to the current President, George W. Bush.

Most US Presidents have libraries, buildings on college campuses, or even airports named after them. However, to show their lack of appreciation towards Bush, the group wants to rename the Oceanside Water Treatment Facility to the "George W. Bush Treatment Plant".

The person who started the Presidential Memorial Commission, Wayne Pickering, says he wants to have an "appropriate and enduring legacy, for no other president in modern American history has accomplished so much in such a short time." The SFist thinks Pickering's ideas is "genius" and "an excellent idea" and have posted their interview with Pickering on their site.

The Presidential Memorial Commission is hoping to get their initiative on the November ballot in California.

I can't say that I am pro-Bush, but I think this is ridiculous and rude. Back in 2003 I did not agree with the war. I was put-down and ridiculed as a result. But, who knows? When we look at history books 30 years from now, will they say this unpopular really turned out to be a good thing in the long run? Maybe it will just say what most of us think: it is no good.

What I do know is that if I lived in California, I would not want my tax dollars to go towards making new signs for a water treatment facility. There are homeless, starving children--you know?

Alternative Means of Transportation

It's not a secret that I ride a scooter in an effort to save money...and to look cool. A dentist's office in Arlington, Washington has taken fuel efficiency to a new level.

In an effort to encourage his patients to use different ways to get around, Dr. Keith Leonard and nine other members of his staff got permits to ride their horses as a group to work. There were also two people who rode their bikes.

The real question is: What costs more to maintain? A horse or a car?

A little chihuahua has caught on to this trend and has found its own means of transportation. See the video here.

The Right to Bear Arms

Two law students, John Pierce and Mike Stollenwerk, started an organization in 2004 that promotes a US citizen's right to bear arms (the Second Amendment of the Constitution) with their "Open Carry Movement". Their motto is: "A Right Unexercised Is A Right Lost."

Everyone has an opinion about having a gun on them and/or in their home and others' rights to owning firearms. I personally don't really understand guns and know I do not want one in my home at this time. This is simply because I have no training in the use of a firearm, but know of the possible negative consequences in owning one. Then again, I have never had the experience of being attacked in my own home, have never had to live in fear for my life, and have never feared being attacked in the streets (because of my height of 6-feet and the safety precautions I take when I am out).

Anyhow, what I do know that almost every home in Switzerland has a firearm of some sort. The gun crime rate is very, very low. So low, in fact, that statistics are not kept on this type of crime.

Why are guns so accepted in some parts of the world, but not others? "Guns kill," is something one might say. But I have to agree with those who say people kill, not guns. Since the beginning of time, humans have been creative in the instruments they choose to used to harm others: stones, sticks, sharp objects, karate chops, poisons, etc.

Whether you agree one should always have a gun or not--or even sometimes, OpenCarry.org shows maps of the US that indicate how different states interpret the Second Amendment: from open carry laws in each state to travel rules of each state to how old one has to be to recieve a gun permit (as young as 14!) to guns on college campus, in restaurants and hospitals, etc. How does your state compare to others?

John McCain Hearts ABBA

John McCain recently posted on his blog at the beginning of this month that he loves ABBA. We'll I guess we have something kind of in common because I like the ABBA Teens (a.k.a.: A-Teens).

Here is the video on McCain's blog:



Here is the same song recorded by the A-Teens:

Don't YOU Know How to Speak Klingon?

(Picture caption translation: "The empire is watching.")

Believe it or not, Klingon is a real language. Yes, it was developed for Hollywood purposes, but it is more than a bunch of gibberish all thrown together that people who are not actors have learned to speak. The great thing is that people who have learned to speak Klingon also like to sometimes dress like Klingons, the characters from the show "Star Trek". That would kind of like a couple of people dressing up in traditional Japanese clothing when they would meet and practice the language.

The Klingon language is the fastest-growing artificial language today. With no irregular verbs, words that are spelled phonetically (which means they are spelled how they sound) and are similar to other existing words, and only 16 rules of grammar, learning Klingon is a popular hobby amongst those who have nothing better to do. A Klingon to English dictionary was made in 1985, but kind of as a joke at first. No one knew the publication would be so popular until a discovery was made that there are a lot of nerds with money to spare. About 250,000 copies of this dictionary have been sold under the Paramount Pictures copyright.

As with many things, the Klingon "language" was taken too far and to a whole new level. It has been reported that a man, Dr. Speers, spoke only Klingon to his son, Alec. It got to the point that government officials had to intervene because the kid at age 2 only knew how to speak Klingon and nothing else and would be stuck at school if he did not have a interpretor. However, it is said that Alec speaks English today and barely remembers his Klingon days.

Multnomah County in Oregon also has a Klingon interpreter on staff for their mental health facilities. Fox News in 2003 reported that county officials had to take the language as seriously as they would for someone who spoke Spanish, Russian, Dari, Tongan, or any other official language of the world. Who knew Oregon was so multi-cultural?

It has also been reported that more 11th grade boys in Toronto, Canada know how to speak Klingon better than they do French...and French is an official language along with English in Toronto. I am not sure that I can really believe that more 11th grade boys can speak Klingon better than French...my guess is that the kids saw "Klingon" on the language survey and thought it would be funny to check it off. But who knows? Maybe they are crazy about Klingons up there.

How did Klingon become the global standard it is today? Good marketing and The Klingon Language Institute in Philadelphia. The KLI is a non-profit organization that "exists to facilitate the Klingon language and culture." But the last time I checked, the Klingon culture is not real...it was made up by Paramount Pictures. Remember? The official site of the KLI shows one how to write phrases, how the language sounds, allows one to send e-cards, buy merchandise, etc.

Regardless of the cool-ness or nerd-i-ness of the Klingon language, the legacy of the "Star Trek" will live as long as people can speak it.

Alien Lovers, Rejoice!

Here is a video of Nancy Leider, a person (I think) who has met aliens from other planets. She has even met a 6-foot tall roach! Nancy is the emissary to the Zetas. I don't really understand a lot of what their site is talking about, but check out the video.

If Nancy has gone to so many planets and knows so many aliens, why is she here on earth? I guess I wouldn't want to party with huge roaches either.

On the flip side, here is some advice on how to avoid an alien abduction. The site I found it on is pretty great and funny. I guess this would be some good advice if I was ever worried about being abducted.:

A physical measure to help prevent an abduction from occurring is to make sure at dusk that all of your doors, sliding glass doors, and windows are locked and that all the glass openings to the outside are covered with a thick shade/curtain. If you leave any window uncovered, you will leave yourself vulnerable to having the paralysis beams enter your home. Zetans can pick locks as easily as any locksmith but they will not enter a vehicle or a home unless they know that their intended is either paralyzed and/or unconscious. They are fully aware that people will attempt to defend themselves, possibly by shooting at them.

Secondly, if you see a UFO or alien, DO NOT stare or attempt to get a better look. IMMEDIATELY go indoors and avoid all windows. If you can see them, then you can already be targeted for a paralysis beam to initiate a kidnapping.

Most alien abductions occur under the cloak of darkness (at night). However, there are reports of them also happening in broad daylight on deserted highways and in sparsely populated areas.

...There is a discarnate facet to abductions that also needs to be addressed. What I mean by this is that there collectives of pro-Zetan spirits (not all alien spirits are evil) that help cultivate the environment for an abduction to occur by physical aliens. If you can be aware of that sinister influence and deal with it accordingly, it takes some or all of the emotional wind out of the physical kidnappers and may prevent them from attempting a physical abduction.

Good spirits work through and around good people. Spiritually indifferent/evil spirits work through and around spiritually indifferent/evil people.

A spiritual measure to help prevent an abduction from occurring is to sincerely pray everyday for Protection, Healing and Guidance/Accuracy. "Prayer is talking to God and Meditation is listening to God." One needs to allocate time each day for being open to guidance in meditation. In turn, you may eventually get a warning about an impending alien abduction in the works or some other important advice.

To be forewarned is to be forearmed.

If you are intuitively tipped off ahead of time of the possibility, you can more successfully sidestep a dangerous situation and elude capture.

Ooooh...now we have been forewarned.

What If?: The Presidential Election

What if Presidential candidates were never seen? What if you could not even hear their voices? You would not even know their names until the person was elected. How would it change things if a candidates identity was completely secret until they won the election?

Think about it: how different would the US be today if all we knew about a candidate was what they stood for in writing? Imagine a circular or newspaper article that has Candidate 1's views, Candidate 2's view, etc. The only thing we would know to judge the person on would be on their views about the world and their country and where they stood on issues. If there was a live debate, the persons' voices would be disguised.

Doing this, though not very realistic for today's society, would take away any biases a person would have about race, religion, color, age, appearance, mobility, etc. I imagine this is kind of how it was during the first elections when all there really was to get the word out were newspapers and word of mouth. People who were hundreds of miles away from a candidate and never got to see a candidate campaign had to rely solely on what they knew about the candidate's stances on the issues that were important to the voters.

Would it be better if the "Race for the White House" was more like "The Dating Game"?:
Moderator: Candidate 1--What do you see as this country's greatest need?
Candidate 1 (in a robotic voice): Yes. Great question, Brian (Williams). I think this country
needs to get rid of the evils of "Barney, The Dinosaur" and all of its associates.
Moderator: Very interesting, Candidate 1. (Chuckles in disbelief.) Candidate 2, same
question.
Candidate 2 (in a different robotic voice): I think we need to provide free airfare to Cuba.
(audience gasps)
Moderator: Tell us more about that.
Candidate 2: Yes, Brian. Providing free airfare to Cuba to those who need major medical treatments, such as surgery or chemotherapy, would be more cost effective than providing universal health care to all of the citizens of the US. In my plan, all the undocumented people in the country illegally would provide health care locally in your hometowns. Therefore, the costs of health care would go down so much that health insurance would not even be necessary. So many of the fine immigrant in this country were once doctors and health care workers in their own country; so we would barely even need to provide them with any additional training. Plus, all of the illegal drug makers in jail would be commissioned, as part of their plea bargain before going to court, to be the manufactures of many of the popular prescription used today. Most of these guys were probably geniuses in their high school chemistry classes, right? We wouldn't have to really pay these guys to make medications, so those would be dirt cheap, too. (Crowd goes wild!)

My imagination does take me places. But maybe doing things this way (keeping a person's identity a secret) would make the election a more fair process.

What do you think?

Move Over, Chuch Norris!

I've never been a huge Chuck Norris fan. In my opinion, Richard Dean Anderson (the guy from "MacGyver" is the BOMB as he is my favorite childhood television action star. Well, he is also the only one I can remember aside from "Magnum P.I.".

Well, needless to say, I was shocked to see ANOTHER Stargate movie is coming out this July: Stargate: Continuum. Yes, yes...the Sci-Fi people did just come out with a movie in November 2007, but that wasn't enough. It didn't have Jack O'Neill in it (what's up with that?).

What's even greater is that you can pre-order the new Stargate: Continuum movie. Click here!

For those of you who are not as big of nerds as me, "Stargate SG-1" is a show that ran for 10 years about a group of people in the US military that found a way to travel to different planets. Strangely, the inhabitants of all the other planets all speak English and almost every planet looks like Vancouver B.C. , Canada (I still have a big problem with this, especially with a show that was supposed to take place in Honduras had pine trees).

Move Over, Baby Think-It-Over!

There is a new reality TV show coming to NBC I think all high schools should implement in their life skills classes: "The Baby Borrowers". I don't mean watch the show during class, but do what the participants in the show have to do to a certain extent.

The premise of the show is that a couple get to borrow babies for three weeks. These are not just any ordinary couples, though, they are teens. The show first ran in Great Britain with a different set of participants. On the show in the US, the teens will get to play house with their own "home" and career (just like adults). Then, over the course of three weeks, the young couples will get to take care of babies for three days 'round the clock, toddlers (three days), a pre-teen and family pet (three days), teenagers (three days), and then skip over adults to caring for senior citizens (for three days).

The babys' and toddlers' parents and nannies are in a home next door monitoring the care and treatment of the babies so the teens are not left up to their own devices.

I've seen the baby dolls the girls in middle school have to tote around. Being a "prevention specialist", I do not see how these dolls are effective. They have marker drawings on their face, tattered clothes, and a knob you have to wind when the baby cries. Why is it that only the girls have to carry these embarrassing plastic dolls around everywhere? I mean, I get the logic/text book reasons behind it. But what are the chances this doll is going to stay in the girl's memory as a prevention measure when she is on a date? It is more likely that she'll remember how much she hated the class that made her tote around the doll everywhere and warn her younger friends and family to avoid the class if at all possible.

On the other hand, though maybe not very realistic, making youth in high school (guys and girls) have to care for a real baby for three weeks will more likely make a more effective impact. I think more teens will see having to care for a child at a young age to be more of a nightmare than carrying a doll around. Talk about effective birth control. Being able to see the realities of parenthood really hands-on at a young age may help young people think twice about risky behavior. Plus, the young couples will get a chance to see how their partner will act in times of distress and what type of parent that person may be (better to find out now than later).

So yeah, making teens take home a real baby may make them hate their class even more, but would be worth it in the long run. And who is going to just let some 15-year-olds take their baby for a few weeks? (Although, there may be more takers than I think...vacation anyone?) But once teens see how their dreams and goals of going to college and attaining a career may have to be put on hold, they may make a more responsible choice about the actions that will affect their future.

I know this idea is not remotely realistic, but it's a thought about how prevention services within the schools today are working.

Here are some final thoughts:

If you get stuck with a Baby Think It Over, don't let your cats take care of it.















Michael Jackson probably would have benefited from a Baby Think It Over. Blanket's blanket almost fell off his head! (Or is that Prince Michael Jackson?...I can never tell them apart).


















I'm off to watch more TV.

You May Have Another...Child

During a memorial service, this mother holds a picture of her child who was killed in the May 12 quake. More than 100 children were killed in the school her son attended.









This man holds a picture of his young daughter, Bi Yuexing, his only child. She was a victim of the May 12 quake that destroyed her school.











Rescue workers line up backpacks found in the rubble of a primary (elementary) school that collapsed in the quake.


















The devastating earthquakes in China have claimed the lives of up to 80,000 people, including children who were the only child in their family. As a result, the Chinese government has given the green light to parents whose child was killed, injured, disabled, etc. to have another child. Grieving parents will be able to pick up a certificate that states they are allowed to have another child even though they already have/had one. This certificate will only be available to quake victims, which gives us just a small amount of insight as to how strict the one-child-only system is.

The one-child policy was made effective in the 1970's in an attempt to control the population growth in China. Loopholes to this law, very few however, have been made in several provinces. For example, if the first child born to a couple is a girl, they may have another child in hopes that they will bear a son, the traditional preferred family heir. Exceptions were also made to different ethnic group and rural families, and to parents who were the only child in their families. As a result of the one-child-only law, 400 million births have been "prevented".

If parents, pre-quake, had more than one child, the second (third, fourth,etc. child) was considered to have been born illegally. As a result, the parents were slapped with hefty fines. (The fines are one of the many methods used to "prevent" the birth of more than one child.) "Illegal" children are denied free education and other rights their "legal" sibling would have. Post-quake, if a "legal" first child was killed by the quake, the "illegal" second child would now become the "legal" child of the parents, after registration, and all fines will be dropped if the child is under the age of 18. This child would also be entitled to the rights their "legal" sibling had.

Several schools (an estimated 7,000 class rooms) filled with children on May 12, 2008 were destroyed in the earthquake. The number of estimated children lost to the quake has not been made as several thousands of people are still missing. The Chinese government has launched a full investigation as to why the school buildings were so unstable and who designed them that way. Once the people responsible for the construction/design of the school buildings are found, they will probably pay with their lives according to the Chinese government (as in the case of the tainted dog food a year or so ago).

The Chinese way of life is so different to me. I have never been or lived in a place that restricted how many children one was allowed to have. In fact, it is becoming more common in the US to see unwed young girls (under the age of 18) with babies (yes, more than one) of their own. Although I do not agree with a law that states a couple can only have one child legally, I appreciate the fact that the grieving parents are being given a chance to rebuild their lives and have a new family.

Click here to read the AP story that inspired this blog post. All photos shown are from the AP and taken by Vincent Yu, Andy Wong, and Greg Baker.

Vampires

Vampires thrive when it is night-time. Therefore, why don't more of them (in movies and such) live in Alaska?

(Forgive me if this has been a place of residence in recent movies for I have not seen these movies. I hate scary movies and would not know about this theme.)

Tasteless Censorship

American Airlines in Japan has blocked South Park's website in their Admiral's Club. Yeah, it's their club and web service people are using. However, the reason they've blocked the site is because it is, in their opinion, tasteless.

When you try to get on to the site, this is what comes up:


South Park is tasteless...but not a girl in an ill-fitting suit in heels and a mini-skirt? According to my sources, the previous picture on American Airlines' site was a girl in heels, mini-skirt and top that was barely even a top. Is this a joke? Are they poking fun at their opinion of South Park by posting a tasteless picture of a girl?

All I can say is that if I was in Japan and really wanted to go on the South Park's site and this popped-up , I would be seriously annoyed because: 1) the hypocrisy is idiotic and 2) South Park can be really funny. Mmmmmm-kay?

This story was found on Consumerist.com. Cick here for their full story.

Pesky Fleas

People Seriously Buy This Stuff?

Drugs are a huge epidemic. They ruin lives and families. This is not news to any of us. With this in mind, people have decided to make ridiculous products that glamorize illegal drug use by selling look-a-likes they like to call "legal" versions of the illicit drugs.

The website's target audience is computer geeks. How old are a lot of computer nerds or when do people first become computer nerds? Right, when they are teenagers.

"Blow"

"The Blow Energy Drink Mix Vial is a great way to caffeinate anything - drop
one vial into 16 ounces of your favorite beverage and enjoy with a friend. This
is strong stuff!"

Yeah...show your friends how stupid...oops, I mean cool... you are with "Blow".

Ruin their life too.

The official Blow website's homepage features scantily-clad model-thin girls and annoying music you can't turn off. "Get Blow" on the side bar pulsates and glows so it is noticeable. Blow is sold with a mirror and a fake credit card for cutting...even though this is a drink mix like Kool Aid.

The merchandise is sold in vials in "bricks". Get it? So clever...and cute as is comes with stickers and temporary tattoos. Also featured are Stash Box Sampler's Packs, "Recreational User Packs", and the "Master Case" which is "the Fiender's Hook-Up". VIP cards (gift cards) that can be personalized with youth own are also offered. Click here for videos.

This stuff on the official website is marketed to young girls.

Yeah, Cocaine: the legal stuff.

"The Cocaine 8.4 oz. Energy Drink Can has returned under a new label: "Insert Name Here:". This is the same drink that was loved and loathed - it debuted to much notoriety (and caused much anxiety in the FDA... society?...) and quickly became a media sensation.

Undeniably, the drink provides an impressive energy boost and has an interesting flavor unlike other energy drinks out there. Frankly, we all feel it tastes like Atomic FireBall Candy... in liquid form. The drink is 3 and half times as powerful as Red Bull® Energy drink with a Caffeine content of a staggering 280mg! Note: Currently, cans are repackaged with a plastic label that hides the original Cocaine label underneath - small cut at the seal will with a knife or scissors will let you see the old label. Eventually the new label will be printed on the can.

Cocaine was banned in schools, stores, communities and eventually by the FDA itself - all due to its provocative name, the beverage itself is harmless, though its caffeine levels, like coffee, make it unrecommended for pregnant women, children and those who are overly sensitive to caffeine."

Cocaine's official website encourages young people to market theirproduct by offering assistance with college tuition to those who do the best job pushing the stuff. Young people are also encouraged to take pictures themselves with cans of the drink. There is a pic of an adult male with two young kids (maybe 8-ears-old). Protective services anyone?

They mention that the state of Texas has banned the drink (YES! GOOD!) and give "users" advise on how to keep the stuff on the market.

Youth can also become members, like on MySpace. There are kids there who are maybe no older than 14 who are members.

They do sell Cocaine merchandise people can purchase. There is also a little blurb at the bottom of their home page called "You are what you do" that is a video about celebrities who have died from drug use. In my opinion, this is simply not enough. Where is the responsibility?

This Meth product is coffee.

"Meth Coffee descibes their product perfectly.....

'Mental clarity!

Mind-altering euphoria!

Nail your ass to the chair with Meth Coffee, a smooth, rich roast supercharged with maximum caffeine and dusted with yerba mate, a powerful natural stimulant kept secret by shamans of the Amazon until now.

This vibrationical catalyst for upstarts, earthquakes, and brain shifts is roasted for you by a master druggist, bionical brain chemist, and coffee viscologist within hours of receiving your order to guarantee maximum potency.'

E-Z re-sealable interlock bag keeps product fresh for repeated consumption."

This is disgusting... And it is also a rip-off at $14.00 a bag for some cheap crap in a metallic bag. Meth is a huge problem in the state I live. It has devasted so many lives of people I know. On top of it all, the website that sells this stuff features a promotional video.

The Meth Coffee website allows one to become an "affiliate or dealer". Seriously! The pictures on their site show people in work attire made up to look like meth addicts--like it's a cool thing. One can even buy Meth Coffee merchandise. Who would wear that?

Here is their message to dealers: " Easy access. Price savings. Everything you wanted in a drug. Meth Coffee offers a great way for you to help your favorite customers get high and stay high! Just grab a form, fill it out, and you've scored access to the Meth Coffee Dealer Network's freebies, referrals, and more! See details below." The background picture is a needle full of something being injected by a user into their own body.

Let's not forget about the affiliates: "Seeking Meth Coffee lovers with megapromotional PR prowess and powerful web publishing skills. If you have a web site and the gift of persuasion, why not profit from it? Become one of my affiliates, and I will pay you 12.5% of the gross sales* on every customer you send my way that pays." The image on this page is a person showing their product off over a purple velur cloth.

All of us who care need to write, call, etc. to the makers of the product and those who sell it. Maybe they have had perfect lives and have not experienced the negative effects of the real, illegal drugs they are marketing as the legal version in their own lives or those they care about.