|
|
I find it absolutely laughable that anyone thinks that there is any privacy on the net! I hear all the bs about facebook and privacy. I am not sure what is more laughable, that people have an expectation of privacy when they do anything on line, or that facebook actually honors and acknowledges any of this.
If you put your information on the net, there is no guarantee of privacy. Not on facebook or anywhere else, including your bank.
So folks get over it. Having a facebook account is not required or a right as an American citizen. If you don’t want your information on the net, don’t put it there. That is the only guarantee of privacy.
But the true question remains, what is on facebook that is so private? Farmville, your birthday, your friends of whom half you likely don’t even know.
So please get over it, there is no privacy on facebook. It would defeat the purpose. If you don’t like it close your facebook account and quit hitching!
Aside from that social networking sites have a shelf life of about 5 years. Facebook is a close to going the way of myspace for the next new thing.
 Share on Facebook
I am typing up this review on my new iPad. A lot of people seem to want to know what I thinkof my new gadget, so here it is.
It is cute, it is fun and I am really enjoying surfing the net more like the rest of you. Whenever I get on my computer, inevitably I end up working. With the iPad, I can actually enjoy the net.
I love the book reader and the music. That is great. I bought this instead of. Kindle, and I am glad I did. For those into the book reader, there is a kindle app that has a lot more books. And speaking of apps, they are addictive like crack. No matter how many you have, you can always have more. I have my own zen garden and fish pond, who’d have ever thought!
All in all it was a great purchase. It actually does have some work purposes and will be quite useful for design interviews and meetings.
And maybe now i will post more blog articles.
Share on Facebook
 On April  5, 2010 29 miners were killed in a mining accident in Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia. For those of you that have never been, West Virginia is a hidden gem, or ay one time it had the chance to be. West Virginia is a beautiful state. But it has been destroyed over the years by strip mining. This began when the were no viable alternatives, but there are now viable alternatives.
On April 20, 2010, 11 oil rig workers were killed when a BP oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico. Over a month later the oil still gushes. The government blames the oil company, the oil companies blame the manufacturers and the manufacturers blame the government. Around and around it goes, and the oil still the oil gushes.
I went to Iowa on vacation this past summer. I had heard about wind power, and I supported any efforts to provide alternate sources of power to people. I live in Pennsylvania, I had seen a few wind turbine
s here and there in my travels. We drove from Pennsylvania to Iowa. When we came up from the south to Spencer, I saw the most amazing sight. It truly was. There were wind turbines every where. I was first impressed with the majesty these contraptions possessed. The are so silent but so powerful. Then I realized the non-evasive nature of these powerhouses and what they could do to change the world. I was, am now and always will be in awe of their power and their silent glory.
So, the oil co
mpanies hire lobbyists to go to Washington and bribe the politicians to ensure their bottom line. The politicians need campaign money, because it cost a lot to campaign 24/7/365. So oil keeps gushing, mountains we have no business destroying keep getting stripped. The oil companies keep making money and the politician keep getting elected. People keep dying, but that is just a consequence, collateral damage, a means to an end. And let’s face it all that matters is the end is the bottom line.
The only way to end the insanity is for the people to speak. We need to find some of the same fire Americans had back in the day and we need to stand up and be heard. Or the politicians and
the oil companies will keep destroying our country in order to ensure their bottom line.
It is time to get pissed America. Do something, even if is is small. Call your congressman, volunteer to help a cause, organize a rally. There are alternatives out there and they are amazing. If you don’t believe me make the drive. From Pennsylvania to Iowa, be sure to go through West Virginia. See what they have done to that beautiful state, and then go to Iowa and see the wind turbines with so much silent power, and then get pissed.
We need to stop thinking of this as stopping global warming, and start thinking of this as stopping the destruction of our planet, therefore saving our own lives. Human instinct tells one to do anything to survive in a life threatening situation. We are here folks. Our lives are all being threatened by these big companies ensuring their bottom line. Is it really worth it? It is time to fight.
First and foremost, and due to the present situation tell BP to stop their oil from destroying our oceans. First the oil now toxic dispersants? What the fuck? Where is Al Gore? Talk about making a bad situation worse! There seems to be no end in site, containment contraptions, golf balls and web cams. These are the solutions? Where was the risk management and the emergency planning. Did they really think this would never happen. Why weren’t there plans for something like this.
The government needs to place a moratorium on all BP’s crap until they can at least stop the oil.
Obama, stand up for us. You said you would but the health care law although better than what we had previous, does nothing for most Americans, and the financial reform ditto. But this is insane, BP is threatening us all with their need to ensure their bottom line. And how dare they ask “how could this happen to us”. Self important arrogant pricks!
Share on Facebook
America has been living beyond it’s means for generations. The American way can be summed up as ‘whatever you have, mine has to be better’. It is insane how people buy house they can’t afford, drive cars they have no business driving and so on. Credit is out of control. Borrowing was supposed to be something you did in absolute emergencies, not because you want a new iPad, and you don’t have cash so you charge it. What the fuck?
It ids time for everyone to take a great big bite of reality. Unless it is food and you are starving, a house, a car or medical bills, pay for it with money.
I hear all these people complaining about fees and interest, you knowhow you avoid that? Pay cash.
Seems like such a foreign concept. I know it can be done. I own my own business, and live everyday and only buy what I can afford. Including my business. I have been self employed since 2006. And it all gets done and we live to build another site. And we do it all without loans and lines of credit. If we can’t afford it, we don’t buy it.
Cut up your credit cards, stop living beyond your means and you won’t have to pay interest and fees. It can be done, we are proof!
Share on Facebook
5 Days of Art in the cultural district. Go to http://www.lookinginlookingout.com/ for more details.
Share on Facebook
Take Action @change: Don’t Let Texas Rewrite History http://bit.ly/ctpKfI
Share on Facebook
To whom it may concern:
I watch as the War on Health Care in America goes on. Some days I am hopeful, other days I am disgusted. I hear of death panels and the like. And wonder how on earth the media can even honor something so ridiculous by reporting it. It seems so much false information is reported, and people are willing to believe whatever supports their agenda, without the benefits of facts and some basis in reality. I hear the speeches given by President Obama, and I truly believe he wants change. Yet his hands seemed tied, past presidents have not let that stop them, and I truly believed when I voted for President Obama, that he was a man that would not allow the bickering, bi-partisanship and lobbyists to delay such a necessary and important need in America.
I have experienced first-hand the effect of the Health Care Crisis. I am currently a small business owner in the South Hills of Pittsburgh, PA. Our family does without insurance to make our dreams of owning our own business a reality. I have a 16 year old son I hope never becomes sick enough to ever need serious medical treatment, because I fear I cannot provide it due to the cost of insurance and health care in America. When I priced family plans, the cost was ~$1000.00 per month. As a small business owner, that is not even an approachable amount for my budget. So we go without and hope.
The reason I am writing today is to tell you a story of a brother and sister with similar situations and opposite outcomes. I would also like to add, that I do not blame the lack of health care in America for my brother’s death, it was caused by the poor decisions he made, I do however feel he would have had a much higher chance of survival had he had the ability to receive proper care and the medical industry actually had the proper system to allow all Americans the right to care and the training to treat addiction like the illness that it truly is.
Matthew, a 26 year old body builder and general laborer was uninsured. In the last 18 months of Matthew’s life, he was admitted at least 22 times to emergency for drug overdoses, his drug of choice was GHB. At the time of his death, GHB was legal and promoted to build lean muscle to body builders. Since his death and due to the dedication of Trinka Porrata and Project GHB, it is now illegal in the US.
Each time Matthew was admitted to the hospital, he was stabilized and sent home. He had no insurance; therefore there was not motivation for the hospital to treat him. The hospitals provided the minimum of care necessary for them to keep their federal funding, no more, no less.
On September 1, 1999, Matthew Michael Coda died from a drug overdose. The signs were all there, and his family did everything in their power to get him help. But with no insurance he was never offered proper treatment or follow up care.
Around the same time, I was experiencing many of the same troubles. I worked as a Quality Assurance Manager for various local software companies. I made good money and I had good insurance. I got involved in a bad life and much like my brother Matthew, I also made poor decisions. Several years ago, I made the decision to change my life and I have never been happier.
Before my recovery, I was drinking and using cocaine daily. I was admitted to the hospital more than 20 times for suicide attempts and lived I lifestyle I am not proud of. When I worked I had great insurance. The hospitals were more than happy to keep me as long as I wanted to stay and provide follow up care. I remember one time, while getting my stomach pumped hearing the doctor say “You never see people with insurance like this in here for things like this”. I was half conscious and completely disgusted by what I had heard. Each time I was admitted I was treated and given follow up care. Once I had pushed my life to the point that I had to receive welfare, I was in an equally well insured system and again I was provided care. Because I was a single mother at the time, I was given access to government sponsored insurance; my brother on the other hand, had no children and was not eligible to receive assistance.
Today I am alive, and run my own business. I have put my past behind me, learned from my mistakes and moved on. I have never been happier and can’t believe at one time I wanted so badly to be dead.
This story is for one a failure on the part of the health care system and society. The other is a story of success. These were siblings who came from the same family and grew up together. They came from a suburban, Roman Catholic upbringing and attended private schooling. Although life was not perfect, these siblings were given the same set of values and skills necessary to make good decisions and survive. Today, the insured sibling is alive and giving back to society, while the uninsured was put to rest and now lives only in our hearts.
It is a shame in America today so may die so pointlessly, because we lost the War on Drugs years ago and now we are on the verge of losing the War on Health Care.
I am urging America to please open their eyes and see the truth for what it is. We need Health Care Reform with a public option, to put a plan in place without this would be a bigger failure than the system we currently have. There is no more time to wait and no other action to take. Too many people have already senselessly lost their lives. Put an end to the bickering, the bi-partisanship and the needs of the lobbyists’ and big insurance.
America elected Barak Obama because we are desperate for change. I understand true reform takes time, but how many Matthews do we have to lose while we are waiting? Next time it could be your brother, your son, your uncle, your cousin or your friend. Is that a chance you are willing to take?
Thank you for your time and consideration
Krista Marie Trovato
A Very Concerned Citizen
Share on Facebook
If the media doesn’t back off and he is charged, it will be impossible for him to get a fair trial.
Am I the only one who is curious of what a 20 year old was doing in a bar drinking? (I know we all did, but shouldn’t the question be asked?) Last time I checked the drinking age was 21 nationwide. Please correct me if I am wrong.
TO ALL THE YOUNG GIRLS: If you are invited into a VIP room, it isn’t becuse they want to be your friend! And yes NO means NO, but when you put yourself in a situation like this, these guys are expecting that you put out. So consider this before you accept the invitation to join the guys in the back room!
And if he did in fact force himself on this girl, what is up with that?? He is not bad looking, he is rich and a super bowl winner. You would think getting a ‘date’ would be the least of his troubles.
I suspect that there was more bad judgment than crime. But I think that Ben is causing too many distractions and his personal drama will affect the team, so he should think before he acts. And with all the media coverage a trial would be a total farce! Most people have decided guilt or innocence by now.
Share on Facebook
What message are we really sending to future generations. To celebrate a holiday that in effect marked the beginning of the genocide of the Native Tribes of what later became America. It seems like we can Hallmark any occasion. I understand the modern mind set on the holiday is a day to give thanks. It was originally a harvest celebration to show thanks for the harvest. But really who are we trying to fool? By sugarcoating American lore, are we depriving our children of learning from past mistakes leaving them vulnerable to repeating history?
In October 1621 the first Thanksgiving was celebrated.
The Pilgrims had landed in America in March 1621. The trip to reach the new land was difficult. Of the 110 Pilgrims that set sail, less than half survived the winter. Once here, they were unsure how to survive in this new land.
Captain John Smith was approached by Samoset & Squanto. Samoset and Squanto taught the Pilgrims how to farm the land, build shelter and survive in the new world.
The Pilgrims would not have survived without the help of the Native Tribes.
In October they celebrated the harvest with their new friends and allies.
Pilgrim Governor William Bradford proclaimed a day of thanksgiving to be shared by all the colonists and the neighboring Native Americans. This is the event we learned about in school.
In 1622, the Pilgrims harvest was not as bountiful, they still had much to learn of this new land. They shared their stored food with newcomers and the Pilgrims ran short of food.
1623 brought a spring and summer that was hot and dry. Many crops did not survive. Governor Bradford ordered a day of fasting and prayer, and it was soon thereafter that the rain came.
To celebrate their good fortune November 29th of that year was proclaimed a day of thanksgiving. This is believed to be the real true beginning of the present day Thanksgiving Day.
The custom of an annually celebrated thanksgiving, held after the harvest, continued. In the late 1770’s, During the American Revolution a day of national thanksgiving was suggested by the Continental Congress.
In 1817 New York State had adopted Thanksgiving Day as an annual custom. By the middle of the 19th century many other states also celebrated a Thanksgiving Day.
In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln appointed a national day of thanksgiving.
2 years later in 1865, soldiers were organized to begin the invasion of Powder Run Basin. They had one order, ‘Attack and kill every male Indian over the age of twelve years of age.’
During much of the time that America was proclaiming Thanksgiving a holiday, thanks was shown by slaughtering the native tribes and stripping them of any rights and liberties. But somehow we seem to get past the wrong we have done and continue to give thanks. Our history should teach the truth not some painted lore, and hope that future generations can learn from the wisdom of past mistakes.
While America was giving thanks, the Native Tribes were being slaughtered, sold into slavery and discriminated against. It was not until 1970’s that America even acknowledged the wrongs that had been done to races of people. A few items of interest:
In 1637 the colony of Massachusetts the Pequod Indians were the first slaves, but as they “would not endure the yoke,” they were sent to the Bermudas and exchanged for African-Americans in the hope that the latter would bear slavery more patiently. The first exchange of Indians for frican-Americans was made in 1637, the first year of the Pequod War and was doubtless kept up for many years.
On May 26, 1637, Captains John Mason and John Underhill attacked and burned Pequot forts at Mystic, Connecticut, massacring 600 Indians and starting the Pequot War.
On June 5, 1637, English settlers in New England massacred a Pequot Indian village.
In 1639, Captain William Pierce of Salem, Massachusetts sailed to the West Indies and exchanged Indian slaves for black slaves.
In 1675-1676, King Philip’s War erupts in New England between colonists and Native Americans as a result of tensions over colonist’s expansionist activities. The bloody war rages up and down the Connecticut River valley in Massachusetts and in the Plymouth and Rhode Island colonies, eventually resulting in 600 English colonials being killed and 3,000 Native Americans, including women and children on both sides. King Philip (the colonist’s nickname for Metacomet, chief of the Wampanoags) is hunted down and killed on August 12, 1676, in a swamp in Rhode Island, ending the war in southern New England and ending the independent power of Native Americans there. In New Hampshire and Maine, the Saco Indians continue to raid settlements for another year and a half.
On March 1, 1790, the first U.S. Census count included slaves and free African-Americans. Indians were not included.
In 1870, Buffalo herds are diminished to a crisis point for Plains Indians.
On February 28, 1877, the U.S. Government seized the Black Hills from Lakota Sioux in violation of a treaty.
In 1802, Federal law prohibits the sale of liquor to Indians.
It took until the 1970’s when Nixon’s “Special Message on Indian Affairs” was presented. President Nixon delivered a speech to Congress which denounced past federal policies, formally ended the termination policy, and called for a new era of self-determination for Indian peoples.
Really it took until the 1970’s!
This is only a sampling of what was done to the Native Tribes. The full timeline can be found here.
Perhaps I take the historical value of Thanksgiving too literally. Or maybe I think about it too much. Or maybe I was foolish to trust and believe what I was told as a young child to only feel deceived in the end. (Wait until my christmas post for more informaion on that). I feel as though a meaning for this holiday has been manufactured to make it mor convenient for our history. And I hope that by writing this I make just one person think beyond the turkey and pumpkin pie and be truly think of all that has been truly sacraficed to further an agenda. And perhaps even consider for a moment, what could have been had the new settlers to this world had the civility, love for mother earth and need for peace that the native tribes valued, and consider who were really the savages.
Share on Facebook
|
|
Loading ...
Recent Comments