As I checked out the various news sites for their coverage of the speech, as is typical I was disappointed in the bias shown by the placement and content included excerpt leading to the article.

First thing that bothers me is the headline of the “related” article directly beneath the front page feature.  This related article spot is not always present, but often.  Look at the content, “Equality talk often lip service.”  If you read the article, overall it is an interesting dialog on some issues at hand in our society, but including this summary headline with the negative slant directly beneath the Romney coverage creates a slant by association.  In now way be fooled into thinking this is not an intentional, calculated placement.

Second, though I find the title of the article creative and applicable, there is one statement that bothers me.  The summary “…explained how his faith would affect his presidency…” is again misleading; the point of the speech was to say his religion would not influence his presidency.  Of course he did cover the essence of what value his having a strong religious belief contributes to his morals, ethics and a backbone that should be considered an asset to a presidential candidate, but the theme was to instead point out that religious affiliation should not be a consideration or criteria when considering a candidate.

It is subtle and often not-so-subtle things like this that irritate me in all news coverage.  Being a major news organization, I always hope to see bias relegated to the opinion section, but in truth it is nearly impossible not to include your own viewpoint when writing.  I wish when it came to politics we could see the straight story rather than being fed what we should take out of the facts.

Today it is front page “headline” news that she ran a red light while driving in Hollywood.  Sheesh.  Ok, that is bad driving, but come on, who out there hasn’t accidentally done this at last once in their life.  Yes, it is terrible that her kids were in the car and that she might have caused an injury ridden accident, but isn’t that true of when anyone runs a red light or stop sign?

I went and looked at the video, and yes, she did in fact consciously push through that light.  Did you happen to notice photogs gathered around her car in the middle of traffic with flashes constantly firing?  Literally in front of her car and right in the traffic.  In the very same tape you can hear her honking at these pap’s to get out of the way.  I would venture to say that all that activity was a bit distracting for safe driving habits, perhaps?  Seems a bit hypocritical to be pointing the finger of scorn so vehemently when such actions are considered just part of the job for those that are pushing this very report.

Again, I am no fan of the lady, definitely no Chris Cocker with a tearful rant about leaving her alone.  Really I just get more exasperated over lame news being featured on a global news network.

See the “reporting” for yourself:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/showbiz/2007/08/15/anderson.mormon.film.cnn

When will Mormon’s ever catch a break?  They get it equally from the right and left wings who just can’t stand to see a good group of people without beating them down.  We don’t expect to be favored in the news, but we do expect some unbiased treatment.
I’ve read up on this event, and it is a tragedy.  There is a lot of persecution of the Mormons leading up to this that no doubt played into this group’s poor decision making and abominable actions, yet that still doesn’t excuse it.  Do we condemn an entire religion and people based on the actions of a few that took a wrong path?  Are all Catholics child abusers because of the actions of some priests?  No.  Are all Islamics bomb carrying radicals?  No.  Same applies with Mormons, so why can’t the press include some of these concepts in their coverage of such obviously biased, non-documentary creations?  Because they want to believe what they are saying, so they publish it to the world as if it were true.

This kind of thing makes me sick because of the number of people that will watch it and assume it is true.  Is there any doubt that the positioning of this movie and the coverage it has already and will create was timed at this point in the election process of a Mormon presidential candidate?  Just keep watching for what comes next, because there is sure to be more propaganda thrown out there.

“He told a teller to ‘hurry up,’ but when she asked him if he had a bag to put the money into, it must have flustered him,” Bisio told The Detroit News for a story Tuesday. “He ran off without any cash.”

Come on guys, if you are going to rob a bank, at least put some thought into it and bring the necessary supplies.  Mask, check.  Weapon, check.  Hooded sweatshirt or hat, check.  Bag for the money, check.

Another in the long line of stupid criminal stories, but then, isn’t that somewhat redundant?  Criminals are by nature typically stupid.  I guess we rarely hear about the smart ones because they figure out ways to perform their dastardly tasks without detection and in much lower profile crimes.

At least this guy had his pants cinched up so he didn’t get caught with them around his ankles while trying to flee.  He’s one up on all those baggy pants hoodlums caught because of their fashion choice.

Of course, any time a new service is launched that offers a unique view of our world, the right to privacy concerns are raised. In this case I am not sure I agree with it though. The New York Times has an article highlighting a specific instance of a lady voicing her privacy concerns that is just one small point in the growing debate.
Google Earth was one of their first to bring up such concerns, providing a very public view of satellite imagery. Of course this is done in a resolution that is less than personally identifiable. Later lawsuits requiring search engines to reveal search habits and history of individuals were an even greater concern. What they know about us online is scary. Now, with street level photography if you happen to be doing something less than flattering at the moment such a camera equipped vehicle drives by, your actions might be immortalized for some time to come.

The concern here is your right to privacy vs the First Amendment right to document public spaces. I really am not all that torn on this issue as I feel public spaces are just that, public. Of course I live in a fairly rural area, so the likelihood of me being document is next to nothing. Still, I feel like if you are doing something in public view, you better be sure it is something you don’t mind the world seeing. What is the difference between what you are fairly consciously allowing your neighbors to see vs the whole world seeing that same thing? If you want something private, close the curtains or be sure you are doing that where noone can see.

This is not to say I am in favor of virtual peeping, but in our world of increasing digital exposure we need to face reality. If you are out in public, there is a good chance your presence can be documented in some fashion. How often have you noticed that as you are casually at the park or anywhere, you happen to get caught in the background of someone taking a photo. Have you ever taken time to look in the background of your own photos or video to see what you didn’t notice you were capturing? It happens innocently all the time.

I am increasingly intrigued by new technology that links together all the digital media being published out there. I am extremely confident that YouTube and Flickr are just the tip of the iceberg as to what the near future holds in social networking media. As more of this media is publicly available, more technology will be developed to create better access to it, stringing together the collective effort into a massive mindshare. I find it exciting rather than intimidating.

In the case of the “cat lady” mentioned in the NY Times article above, I think her complaint is petty but still representative of the concerning being voiced. Her blurry view of a cat in the window is the least of my concerns, but apparently high on hers. At least with Google they offer the ability to request the removal of a photo, though in her case I am not sure if they will honor it.
So, word to the wise, realize public these days really means wide open to the view of the entire world. Be aware and mindful of it, and you have nothing to fear!

Spain claims that if the ship is Spanish in origin, they should be entitled to the treasure. I am no history expert, but didn’t Spain get most of their gold by pillaging other countries, particularly in Central and South America? I understand there is some legal precedent to at least having a partial claim, but come on. Would you have found it without this company? If you want it so bad, go out and find it yourself. Finders keepers I say!

Perhaps we should be tracing the ship back to its historical origins and finding where the gold and silver were stolen from, then see what ancestors deserve the proceeds. I seriously doubt they would want to do that…history can be an ugly thing to open up.

Are we just so enthralled by peeking into these famous peoples’ lives?   Do we get a kick out of seeing that yes, even famous people have problems?  Maybe deep down (or perhaps not so deep) we want to see these people that seemingly have more than us in life, at least in money and fame, get knocked of their pedestal?  Whatever it is, the media loves to run with it because obviously people are eating it up.

I wonder what gets said in the entertainment news editors office when a new tidbit of hurtful gossip blossoms into something they consider newsworthy.  “Hey, looks like the Baldwin divorce is heating up.  How can we exploit this and make their lives that much worse?”

Not that I condone what Alec said in his voice mail to his daughter; I don’t.  I ask you though, who hasn’t said something anger that they later regret?  Especially when dealing with kids!  We are all just lucky no one cares enough to post our recording online and have it make national news.  Give the guy a break and let them deal with their problems behind closed doors, in counseling, or however they need to; not in the public headlines.  This coverage is definitely not helping things.

Will the media mongers feel a sense of accomplishment if they get Alec to finally get off 30 Rock like he has tried in an effort to focus on his family issues?  Or, will it take Alec loosing completely custody rights of his daughter to get that thrill they need?  Why do we feed these animals the hits to their articles that get them looking for this kind of trash?

Hey, life isn’t always a rosy, but we don’t need to make it worse either.  I too check out the accident as I drive by, but I don’t stop in the middle of the street and throw out insults to make them feel worse.  Find ways to help the broken family deal with their hurt, not throw salt on the wound and tug at it to make it worse.

Now I know this is not the case for everyone, and I realize that I am on the computer far more every day than many people, but they are becoming more and more in the workforce like me. Whatever job you may do, we are seemingly always pressed for time or late for an appointment. As we rush through our day, are we simply and too much of a hurry to enjoy the journey?

This morning I found a link to a Washington Post article that discussed an experiment they made it speaks to this very fact. The Post engaged in a world renowned violinist to play in the halls of a busy subway terminal in downtown Washington, DC. They speculated and asked others to speculate on what the results would be, whether people would stop and listen or hurry on their way. They went so far as to install a hidden camera to record the results as complex, beautiful music was played on a $3.5 million violin. Would the busybodies of that morning have their minds and souls pricked to the point that they would take a moment out of their busy day and rush to get to work to listen and appreciate this rare moment they were being presented with?

Now keep in mind the location they chose for their experiment was one that feeds into our nation’s capital, so likely the majority of the travelers that morning represent government workers; integral minds playing a role in running the systems that control our nation. These are people we would hope are better than the average at intellectual capacity, and therefore have a sense of life’s finer things and beauty. At least that is what I think.

Now of course I predisposed you to the outcome of this situation with my title to this article. With over a thousand people passing by during the 45 minute experiment, only a small handful chose to stop and listen even for a few minutes, and even fewer through a dollar or two into his open case which was presented for donations part of the experiment.

So I ask you, and myself, is this a sad commentary on the way we are treating our typical day in much of our lives? Are we in such a rush to accomplish things and is our need to be to her destination on time so important that we missed the small opportunities to appreciate the beauty around us? Do we let the drudgery of a daily routine turn us into robots such that we are unable to let the right side of our brain remain open and available? It is not every day that we have a virtuoso on the corner playing a complex musical solo, but there are many things that happen all around us that if it would stop and take a moment to enjoy them our lives would be enriched by that small break in our day.

Perhaps I’m waxing too philosophical at the point being made by this experiment provided by the Post, but I feel in reading this article I have had a small light bulb turn on my mind. Though it is difficult to measure these little things and enrich our lives, is what makes us who we are. That is hard to understand when getting the next project on or earning that extra dollar is much easier for us to measure and it affects us in a more outward way. But why is it that we work so hard? Is it not to provide the time and means to enjoy ourselves? We work so hard to accrue vacation days and the money to go on vacation and to splurge on those trips were gadgets or other things that bring us enjoyment.

Give the article a read, and one of the videos at least and see if it makes you stop and think like it did for me. If perhaps we were to focus just a little more on those little enjoyments we can get each and every day, perhaps we would be better, happier people for it. At least that’s my thought for the day, and that might to try and make that thought stick from this point forward.

Link: www.washingtonpost.com

On this site I generally steer clear of very personal topics such as religion, race, etc. I prefer to talk about things that are either common sense or just plain funny to talk about without being offensive. There are plenty of hot headed sites out there that love to rile people up in the interest of generating traffic or voicing their opinion. Me, I’m just happy to write a few things that I either find funny or feel strongly about. I just can’t leave this one alone though.

Honestly, I don’t care what religion you are. Perhaps care is the wrong word. I care that people have something to believe in, to give meaning and provide a foundation for values and morals. I am happy to share how I derive my beliefs, but I am also happy to leave people to their own. I have my strong beliefs and I am happy if you have your own or none at all. You can have a sense of ethics, values and morals without religion. That is a basic premise of our modern society, to each their own. I don’t mind anyone that feels strongly enough about their beliefs to actively try and share them with others, as long as they are sharing this with people that are interested in hearing it and the message is a positive one.

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, i.e. a Mormon. I grew up as one and have made my own adult decision to remain as one and raise my family as such. I served a two year mission for my church and shared the message of love and Christianity to anyone who was interested in mine. I shared a message of love, hope, peace and values. I did not share a message of what is wrong with everyone else and try to beat down the “competition.”

I simply cannot figure out why people feel so strongly about bringing down the beliefs of others to the point they have to actively campaign against them. I have often laughed at these types that show up for church gatherings and not only protest the meeting of well intentioned, value driven people, but even do it in such a belligerent and insulting fashion to try and pick a fight with anyone taking their bait. I really can’t laugh at it any more.

These groups and individuals don’t just proclaim their beliefs and invite others to see what truths they have to offer. They are not even borderline bigots, they are bigots. They will resort to childish name calling, slander and all they have to offer are the same message of half truths and lies in an attempt to deceive. I have looked at some of these message in the past and they are well written, placing truthful statements alongside lies and shaded comments strategically designed to trick those that don’t know better. I am sure some of these types really believe they are doing “good” in what they are attempting, but truly believe most are doing it for some other agenda, likely a personal vendetta for who knows why.
No wonder so many people have such a misunderstanding about Mormons and what the believe. Not only do people not get the opportunity what we actually believe, they are bombarded by ill-intentioned falsities produced by people with an agenda. The problem is we are a loving, long-suffering, turn your other cheek Christian group of people, so we typically take our beating and move on. Every time I see something like this new campaign I shake my head in disgust and wish we could do even more. I am the hot head of the bunch, so I make sure and not cross paths with people like this. I don’t need the stress and I would likely take the bait and join the fight.

All we ask is that we be allowed to live and let live. Share uplifting messages and share in our family values. Is that too much to ask? Why work so hard to bring others down. It simply doesn’t make sense.

Popular news is already covering this legislation because this is the first US city to implement such a ban. I have to hand it to San Francisco, the city and part of the state that likes to regulate everything; they tend to be on the leading edge of suggesting things to control. I don’t think that’s necessarily has to be a law, but at times this is the only way we can implement changes in society.

Remember the old days of the big debate between paper and plastic? Typically you still have the option these days but more often than not you get plastic unless you specifically request paper. In the end both options have their pros and cons, but from what I’ve seen that almost everyone gets plastic these days. Plastic bags are small, lightweight, and easy to dispose of; and all of their attributes are the reason that they are a problem as well. We are a throwaway society, no doubt about it. We like our convenience and we are slow to adopt programs that involve recycling or anything that requires a little extra effort.

I come from a biology/environmental science background in college which contributes to my “green” attitude towards a lot of things, but admittedly I’m as guilty as anyone when it comes to being lazy on something. That said, whenever I have lived in an area that has offered recycling, even had an extra cost, have taken advantage of it. It still amazes me that where I live now there are no recycling programs whatsoever. Even if we can’t recycle, though, we can do all we can to limit our waste and over use of natural resources.

Plastic bags are one of those little conveniences that we all take advantage of simply because it’s there, and we don’t even think about alternatives. This is one area that my wife has excelled, having grown up in a family that thinks Green and living in an area in Northern California that focused on it. One little thing that she does (usually) is to take with her reusable cloth bags when she goes grocery shopping. The funny thing is her mother did this all the time and it was a regular thing in the store she shopped at. In fact some of the stores offer them as their only option. Where we live my wife gets strange looks often from other customers seeing her groceries bagged into these cloth alternatives. The store she regularly shops at now has employees that recognize her and periodically she receives a positive comment or two.

Admittedly there are times when we request that you plastic bags though because it’s a convenient (cheap) way to get plastic bags that we use when we really need something disposable. Even then, I think we often use a plastic bag when it is unnecessary simply because again it is an easy and convenient option. This is one convenience though that I’m willing to give up, and largely my family already has.

Take a moment to look at the statistics of how much oil is used each year simply to provide plastic bags for grocery stores in San Francisco alone. Along with the use of oil, there are the tons of debris generated as these are thrown away from their one-time use. So today I propose everyone reading this site do your small part even before it is regulated to contribute to this change. Start using cloth bags that you can reuse each time you go to the store. Do your part to reduce, reuse recycle. Unnecessary plastics bags at the store simply gotta go.