Okay, the man is an old creep. Who ever heard of him before? I had no idea who he was or what he said yet I kept hearing about the backlash. What's going on here? Finally, I find out what all the hoopla is and I'm surprised. People are mad as hell about the comment and, after all the hype, I'm surprised it wasn't worse. Maybe I'm naive, maybe I don't understand. But, there are people out there who say way worse things everyday, a thousand times a day (albeit recordedly), and get paid for it.

But, that's different. We can insult other people of our own race but not people of other races. What kind of message does that send? Someone, somewhere was after Imus. They got what they wanted. But, at what cost? The backlash here has been huge. Personally, I think unjustifiably so. You're upset, fine. But, think about why? Is it what was said or who said it and how often it was repeated over and over and over and over again. How did you hear about it? Did you hear him actually say it? Do you even know who he is? He is an old, rich, freaky white guy. What more do you need to know, right?

Wrong. If he had been anyone else, it would have been different. Don't argue with me, you know it would have. If it had been a rapper, everyone would have been glad it wasn't worse. How can you justify allowing one group to say something and banning everyone else from saying the same thing. You're sending a mixed message. If you don't like one person saying something you shouldn't allow anyone to say it regardless of their race, religion, creed, etc. What Imus said, like so many things that go awry public, was a failed joke. Do you think he came up with that on his own? He heard it somewhere else. Furthermore, it's just like our mothers and grandmothers told us, just ignore it. People like Imus say things to get a reaction. The more you react the more power they are given. Granted, he got in trouble. He was fired.

But, though he's pushing 70, he'll work again. Probably back at NBC, or CBS, maybe both simulcasted on MSNBC. The whole thing will eventually blow over and he'll be back where he was a month ago. And, he isn't sorry for what he said. Like anyone who gets in trouble, he's sorry he got caught. The joke (it appears to me it was intended as a joke) was in bad taste and went awry. He got in big trouble. He tried to get himself out of the hole he had dug to no avail. I'm sure he would take the words back if he could. Not because of what they meant or how many people the words hurt but, because it blew up in his face.

Wouldn't it be better if he were truly apologetic because he understood what he did wrong rather than just knowing he got in trouble? He's like an old dog. He went on the carpet and a day later you rub his face in it. He doesn't understand. Because he doesn't understand, he can't know the behavior that needs to be corrected. Nothing will change. Especially because there is a major double standard. We need to change the culture and accepted behavior of the country as a whole. That means, if Imus can't say it no one can say it. If Johnny down the street can say something Johnny down the street can say it as well as Jane to the north and Jane to the south. Complete acceptance or complete disapproval. You cannot have it both ways. Choose your battles and know what you are fighting for.

Imus has apologized up and down and, whether he means it or not, the team has accepted his apology. What more do you need to know? Let it go, move on. They have. If you don't like it why do you keep propagating it? Acknowledge that you disapprove of the behavior (in everyone please) and move on. I have heard enough about the whole thing. I'm tired of listening, talking, and discussing it. What's done is done.

Let's move on, shall we?

http://www.execstrategies.com/Author/GOMO!.htm
*you need to highlight the address, copy it, and paste it into your browser for it to work*

I think we should get rid of all words that are negative, hurtful, degrading, etc. and only use positive words in order to show others how we feel we should be treated. No, it isn't time for a group hug. It will never be time for a group hug. I love you all but not in that way. Rather, let's all just smile and know that we hold love in our hearts for all mankind. Love shouldn't be conditional.

My grandmother always told me that "hate" was a four-letter word that was not to be used in any circumstances. You can dislike something someone does but you shouldn't include the person in your dislike. People don't always know what they do. We should give them the benefit of the doubt and help them to become a better person. In doing so, we become a better person ourselves. We can change the world one person at a time. But, we have to start with ourselves. Next time you start to say the word 'hate' or think about using it or use it, stop and think about what you are thinking or saying. Hate is a destructive emotion. Refine what you mean or replace it with the word "love". It may not be true but you might make yourself smile. For instance, I LOVE daylight savings time. I'm laughing because it's so ridiculous!

Love daylight savings time....


What a riot!

I feel better now. I just need to stop laughing.

Love daylight savings time!

I crack myself up. You should try it sometime.

Laughter is powerful stuff.

Catcha around.


 

Alas, the lucky bamboo (which isn't actually bamboo) that I got for my birthday (in August) is all but dead. I swear I did not kill it! The stalks just keep dying. It starts with little yellow spots. Then the leaves turn yellow; then the stalk. Then, it dies. I think they sent me a diseased plant. I followed all the instructions! When I got the "lucky bamboo," some of the leaves had yellow spots already. I removed the offending leaves but, alas, to no avail. It was a big, beautiful, two-tier arrangement. There are six stalks left. It saddens me.

Oh, well.

Anyway. It is beautiful outside!!! The sun is shining and it's almost 50 degrees!! It's a little cool and breezy in the shade but the sun feels fantastic! How I have missed the golden orb.

I just wish people would stop letting their dogs "doodle" in the yard! It's disgusting! Make your dog(s) go in your own yard where only you will step in it! I can't walk in the yard. I have to trip through it, maneuvering around the gigantic piles! Okay, there was only one pile today. But, that's just today. Now that it's getting nice, all the dogs will be out running around in the middle of the night plotting where to strategically 'go' to the best effect.

There was a boy, just yesterday, with three gigantic dogs standing in the yard. Waiting. If I hadn't seen him and he hadn't seen me seeing him, he would have let the dogs 'go' in my yard. It's just not nice! Don't let your dogs 'go' in other people's yards. It's rude and distasteful

Moving on. Anybody notice that tax day is today? Except, that it isn't today? Sure, it's Sunday. I get that. The post office is closed. But, shouldn't tax day be tomorrow in this instance? What's with it being on Tuesday, April 17? I don't get it. Granted, I'm sure that there are thousands of people who are shouting and jumping up and down because they get an extra day. Meanwhile, my taxes were done the beginning of February. The date doesn't matter to me because I'm already done. But it perplexes me. I can't recall tax day falling on a Tuesday when the 15th fell on a Sunday. Anybody? Does anyone know why they pushed it back a day? I want to know!!

I don't know if the lilacs are going to make it. I don't know if anything is going to make it. It was so warm the end of March. Everything was blooming and green and colorful and pretty. Then, April came and dumped snow on everything. It has been cold the entire month of April. (Yes, all two weeks of it.) It doesn't look good for the early plants. One lilac bush is completely bitten. It hasn't a ghost of a chance of seeing flowers this year. I'm not sure about the little bush though. A lot of the leaves are pretty bitten. The flowers don't look too bad though. I'm holding out hope. The rhododendron plants look a mite bitten too. The flowers look okay though. I guess I'll just have to wait and see. Hurry up and wait. The story of my life.

It's very cloudy and looks a little like rain. I don't think it will rain though. It's rather cold, dry and windy. Whatever rain there is, I am sure will stay to the south. It's barely 40F outside. So very cold.

Anyway. It has been nine years since I became a vegetarian! It's kinda hard to believe. It's also hard to believe how much meat people use and put in! There's hardly anything pre-made that is suitable for vegetarians. I find it rather bizarre. For instance, Hostess uses animal fat as their shortening for their whatever you call it (snack treats? You know, twinkees, cupcakes, donuts, etc.). People are amazed when they find out. It's just crazy.

I would think that a species so highly intelligent and evolved could survive without killing animals. People just really like meat, I guess. I understand, sort of, kind of, not really, but I can pretend to understand. I come from a meat eating family. My dad grew up on the farm. One of his brothers is a pig farmer. It's the way he was raised. I just can't. It's something people don't understand.

It can be rather frustrating to explain it to people. They ask a lot of questions that I think are rather silly. Questions like, "So, what do you eat?" I eat food. I just don't eat anything with a face. No, it isn't "religious." I'm not a "religious" person. I am a "spiritual" person though. I just don't think it's right. I'm no extremist. That's my cousin. He is a strict vegan. He's been a vegan since before I became a vegetarian (though, not long before, six months to a year). I understand that almost entirely. I have a lot of admiration for him. He isn't preachy at all either. That's what gets me about people. We all have our own beliefs and values and shouldn't try to push them on other people. Still, I don't know how he does it. He lives in California. That's how he does it. There are very few vegetarian choices where I live.

It's very expensive too. All health food is though. Yet, society wonders why Americans are all so overweight. It's because we can't afford to be skinny! The produce looks horrible, is rotten in two days, and is expensive. Shelf stable foods are a dime a dozen and, with all the preservatives, last forever! Metabolism has a lot to do with it too. You can't tell me otherwise. You take two people. They eat exactly the same thing and exercise the same amount and everything. One is a skinny as a bean pole and the other is overweight. Society will say that the overweight person needs to exercise more and eat better. Society is wack. It doesn't make sense. Can't you see? It is absolutely ridiculous.

Anyway. I am positively freezing!! I am so tired of the cold weather. I'm going to become a hermit and move somewhere warm... Doesn't that sound nice? At least the warm part. We're half-way to May though, right? It should warm up in May. Shouldn't it?
 

The sun is shining!!!! AND, it's 45!!! Spring is here! (e:flower3} For today, anyway. All the snow is gone; there isn't a cloud in the sky! It's good. Goooood.

My ethics paper is very close to being done. Next Thursday is the last day of business ethics!!! Whooo!!! Some of the girls (including moi) in my class are going out to dinner after class to celebrate. It'll be fabulous!

I can't believe the semester is almost over already! The summer 1 semester starts May 1. Unbelievable. Still, I have no freakin clue as to what I want to do! Would somebody tell me what I want to be when I grow up? No, not a Toys-R-Us Kids. People keep telling me I can do whatever I want. But, I don't know what I want. Oh, well. I'll figure out something; I always do.

It looks SO nice outside. I should finish my paper. I should study for my final exam on Wednesday.

I think I'll take a walk instead! It's been so cold and windy the past week or so. All the snow, clouds, and icky weather! I think I'll take advantage of the nice day before it's gone. The weatherpeople say it is supposed to rain tomorrow and snow on Sunday.

Is it summer yet?


* It is COLD out! Brrr....the sun is really deceiving. I finished my ethics paper!!!! *
 

The snow is almost all gone! It didn't drop below freezing; so, the rain never changed over. Thus, it's been raining and raining and raining. What weird weather we've been having.

I need to work on my ethics paper. It's due a week from today. I haven't started it yet. I had good intentions. Really, I did. I was going to start and finish the paper during spring break. No, really, I was. I didn't happen though. Oh, well. I changed my topic anyway.

I was going to write my paper on the Catholic Church. I mean, it's like a gimme! Then I found out that the teacher is a Catholic and, rumor has it, was a priest. Religious fanatic. Veering away from that idea. The paper is worth half my grade and grading is entirely subjective. Yeah. So, I've changed my topic to Wall Street types. Still easy right? Anyone remember Enron or Martha Stewart? It'll be fine.

Getting back to Catholics (Catholics might want to veer away for this entry--check disclaimer). My dad is a Catholic. I was half-raised a Catholic. It's half of what's wrong with me. My point is I'm not dumb on the subject. I know too much on the subject. Still, I don't get it. It makes NO sense whatsoever. My parents are still married; but, it's my dad's second marriage. Thus, he can never be a member of the Catholic Church again. What's up with that? Murderers can be members of the Church and be forgiven all their murderous sins. But, divorced? Banned for life; all hope for you is lost! It's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Plus, they don't officially "recognize" my parents marriage because they don't recognize my dad's divorce from his ex-wife. (Technically, she divorced him to marry another man. She's baptist and is going to heaven. My dad is Catholic and the Church is doubtful.) So, since the Church doesn't recognize their marriage, I don't think they recognize my legitimacy as a legitimate child. It doesn't make sense.

I won't have any part of it. I think the Church is full of crap. They go against all their own rules and then tell me that I have to work my tail off to even think about the possibility of maybe getting into "heaven"? Whatever. I'm not into people telling me what to do, what I can do, and what I cannot do. Furthermore, they're all a bunch of liars anyway. Liars may be a strong word. They are distorters of the truth. How's that?

What's the difference between a cult and a religion? Number one definition of a cult from dictionary.com is "a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies." All religions are cults. They're just socially accepted cults. Anyone heard of idol worship? "Thou shall have no idols before me." It's one of the main reasons the rest of the Christian religious sects don't understand the Catholic sect. All the saints, and Mary, and people are treated like idols. No one prays to "God" in the Catholic Church. They pray to Jesus (Jesus is not God), to Mary, to Saint (insert saint's name here), but not to "God".

Furthermore, the Church is based on pagan traditions yet they say pagans are evil. Also, the word pagan is taken out of context these days. Everything in the Bible is a story, an allegory. It isn't true. But, the Church has been forcing it down the throat of the people as the "Gospel Truth" for centuries. Half the Bible was written long after the death of Jesus. Furthermore, there is no star of Bethlehem! It's something that was made up much later in order to better compete with other religions of the time. Everything was added and changed to better compete with other religions of the time. Jesus wasn't born on December 25. There were shepherds living in the fields, tending their flock at night. Not in December. The earlier gospels don't mention anything spectacular or unusual about the event (of the birth of Jesus). It was added later to sensationalize the story. God eating (symbolic ritual of eating the flesh and blood of Jesus or any other god) traces back to ancient religious rituals. The early Christians didn't just come up with this stuff. It was plagiarized!

Sigh. Anyway. The world around us is one big lie, err, misconception. I'm tired of people telling me wrong truths. They really believe this stuff they have been spoon fed for hundreds of years. I'm not going to "Hell". There's no such thing. If you insist on its existence, this is "Hell" for surely I am being punished.

I'm frustrated. I'm a proponent of truth. It's all messed up.

For all intents and purposes, today is OVER!!!

This is the first (1!) time today I have been on-line let alone the computer!! I've been going through withdrawal!!! It has been a day, too.

First, I wake up this morning to four (4!!!) inches of SNOW! It's April for cryin out loud. Unbelievable. I had my senior project presentation today. Huh? Okay, here's the deal...

I'm finishing out my B.B.A. (Bachelors of Business Administration, if you must know ). In order to get my degree, I had to take a Strategic Management class which is the "capstone" for the program. It combines everything you supposedly learned (finance, marketing, management, and ethics) into one hands-on can you apply it? class. The senior project is a BIG case study/analysis thing which we had to present to a panel consisting of one local area business person and one faculty member. My business panelist was on spring break last week so I couldn't contact him until Monday (I was ready to present last week!). Somehow, I managed to get it set up for today!!! (It's due no later than April 20). I was all nervous this morning. I haven't slept all week because I kept running my presentation through my head. I mean, I have slept but not very well. I have a tendency of tossing and turning for a couple of hours before getting to sleep (it's rather annoying). ANYWAY, my paper (16 pages) and presentation were finished April 1. I hate waiting; I'm a tad impatient (just the tinsy-est bit).

So, I'm scheduled to give my presentation at 1:30. Of course, it's been snowing ALL morning and, at that time, the snow was in the process of changing to rain. ARGH! I got there (the presentation was at the school), walked into the room I had been assigned and the computer cabinet was locked. So, I had to get the "adminstrative assistant" to open the cabinet for me. When we got back to the room, the business panelist "Bill" was there waiting (he was early). THEN, the room I was assigned had an older gateway, which did not have USB ports in the front!!! Unbelievable. (My power point was on my flash drive.) I couldn't get the back panel of the cabinet open; so, "Bill" helped me pull the CPU out and we found the one USB port. The one port had something already plugged in. I followed the cord to a dangling connector. Let me tell you, I pulled that sucker out! Finally, I was ready to present. Sans one panel member. She "Robin" showed up and was very familiar with "Bill". They started talking about kids and stuff. It was like trying to present to a reunion.

Anyway, they were nice enough to let me make my presentation. "Robin" has a background in communications and doesn't know much about business; so, she didn't have any questions for me. "Bill", however, apparently has a background in finance and had a slew of financial questions for me. All of which I answered! (Sort of, more or less, generally speaking. I usually have an answer for anything; it just isn't always traditional, conventional, right, or make sense. )

I'm glad it's over. "Robin" taught (just this semester) one of the classes I "took" (it's over but the rest aren't--it was a 12 week course versus the traditional 15) AND she is my advisor. Needless to say, we know each other. She thinks I'm great. I do, too. Anyway, she said I did a great job. I can tell you what grade she's going to give me for my presentation! (The panel members evaluate the presentation and then send the score to the teacher.) I'm a little (teeny bit) concerned about "Bill" but I'm happy, no--more content, I think, with my performance.

Anyway, the snow changed to sleet which turned to rain. Now, the weatherpeople are predicted thunderstorms overnight with the possibility of hail. This system will, in turn, change back to snow overnight. It's ridiculous. So is this entry.
 

I can't tell you how many, many things I am tired off.

I'm tired of the cold for starters. March started out frigid and ended quite pleasantly with temps in the 70's for crying out lout. Now that it's April, we get temps in the 30's and SNOW! Snow for the love of fred. Inconceivable. Unbelievable. It barely stuck but that's not the point. I'm tired of being cold. Stupid Michigan weather.

I've been cold since the new furnace was put in a year ago January. Some new-fangled energy efficient two stage model that requires the fan be on ALL THE TIME!!! Thus, there has been cold air blasting out of the vents for the past year. I'm sick of it! If I'm not freezing, it's one hundred and ten outside and I'm roasting to death. Generally, this happens only happens three or four months out of the year. I'd much rather roast than freeze to death. Although, I do have more trouble sleeping when it's hot. Not that I don't have trouble sleeping anyway.

Which brings me to another point, I can't sleep! I'm tired of being tired. Ever see that Garfield comic strip where Garfield is half asleep and barely makes it to his bed because he's so sleepy and THEN he gets into bed and his eyes pop open? He ends up standing in the bed with one foot in the bed and one foot out of the bed. THAT is me. Every night. My whole life. Thus far anyway. I've tried "everything". I'm just not a sleeper. Except, I LOVE to sleep. I find it extremely difficult to do so. Once I do get to sleep, I find it extremely difficult to wake up in the morning. Oh, well. I'm kinda used to it now.

Life kinda sucks doesn't it? Freakin phone is constantly ringing off the hook starting at nine in the morning (it's my wake up call from some anonymous salesperson trying to sell something to my voicemail). Constantly being 6-12 times from 9-12. I'm one of those people who doesn't answer her phone. I just stare at the caller id waiting for the call to go to voicemail, occasionally yelling at the phone to stop calling me. It's amazing how many people are out there selling stuff that they aren't "selling". That kills me. "What are you selling?" "Ma'am (I HATE it when they call me ma'am, I'm not sure if it's as bad or worse than when they ask for a parent), I'm trying to sell you anything." "So, what do you want?" "I'm offering you an opportunity to acquire (insert product, timeshare, whatever)." They may not be selling something but they are trying to get me to give them money for something I don't want. Sounds like a sales pitch to me. OH, and the people who do leave voicemails always act like they know you. "Hey, guys! It's (name); I've been trying to reach you! I've got a great deal lined up for you." Something like that. Those are actually kinda funny.

Yeah, I get a kick out of those. I'm positively freezing. I should be used to that by now. My fingernails are eternally purple (or is it blue? It's kinda a purplish blue). (Do your nails turn purple when you're cold?) I swear, it is warmer outside (it's about 45 F) than it is in here. I am obsessed with weather.com. I think I check it more often than I check my e-mail!

Which reminds me, I read a thing in TIME about our society being addicted to data. I think he's right. It's gotten out of hand. He made a funny point about not being able to wait the 60 seconds for the e-mail to check for new e-mail. Because, you never know if anything new has been delivered in between the time when you last checked and the 60 seconds when the e-mail will check for new mail. Like 30 seconds is going to make a big difference. (I'm guilty of the same. It's like waiting for a phone call and picking up the receiver to make sure there's a dial-tone.)

Gosh, I haven't checked my e-mail in like an hour! I should go do that...

I have officially set up my blog. Now, (wouldn't you know it?) I can't remember what I wanted to blog about!!! Oh, well. I'll have lots to say later. At any rate, since you are here, I might as well tell you to rummage through my port. Especially, "One Act to Another"  and "Fantastical Forsaken Sig Shoppe" . Furthermore, if you stop by "One Act to Another"  please post a celebrity. It's a fun game and I'm always looking for more posters (people posters not poster-posters like movie posters) because, sometimes, the game gets a little slow.

I found this website (not this one, I'm getting to the website I found), which claims to help you to "Own the Internet". Agloco dot something or other. The premise is this. Advertisers, marketers, own half (probably more, I know) of the internet with their ads and with their spyware sneaking into your system to figure out what you're into to better market to you. Why not get paid for it? (Sans spyware.) You can check it out further at http://www.agloco.com/r/BBDC4202. IF you happen to decide, "Hey! That looks interesting. I want to be a part of it!", please join using the provided link or try to make sure to enter my id: BBDC4202 in the referral section. You get extras for all your direct referrals (so make sure to tell your friends if you're interested).

Hey, look at that. I guess I had something to say afterall.

Catcha around.

~forsaken