I just spent hours cleaning up my desktop.
I couldn’t stand looking at it anymore.
From books to read, to writing samples, to resumes—I filed. I deleted. I let go.
You see, I never delete anything. Ever. I always think I’ll need it—maybe tomorrow, maybe two years down the road, or maybe even in the after-life. And I never do.
But I keep it—nonetheless. And I’m admitting right here that I’ve become a digital hoarder!
Time to Move On
If anyone ever stole my laptop they would probably hand it right back. That’s how bad it was.
There were things on my desktop that I know I thought were very important when I saved them there—and now, for the life of me, I can’t remember why I even bothered. Like a book review—of a book I hated. A copy of my resume from 2008. Directions, vet bills, recipes (like I cook) food lists, to-do lists, and of course a whole file on cover letters that were never answered.
Why do I do this to myself?
More importantly, when did my desktop become analogous with my busy life?
In fact, my desk top had become a digital history of the past two years of my life. And apparently they’ve been pretty chaotic. Yes, I’ve always known this, but to see it online brings a whole new perspective. So I spent the morning filing, deleting and not worrying that an apocalyptic virus will wipe out my digital life. And if it did happen, I’d survive.
This digital hoarder has cleaned up her act!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Tuning in to the Charlie Sheen Show
I really don’t want to add fuel to the fire of this latest celebrity meltdown, but ... the other day a good friend of mine stated that she thought Charlie Sheen is simply acting—and that the media—and all of us who watch it—are taking the bait hook, line and sinker.
I couldn’t help but think, maybe this is true.
After all, Charlie Sheen is an actor—it’s part of his psyche—it’s in his blood and his blood line. Yes, a growing part of me thinks that we’re all getting “punk’d” —that this a massive social networking experiment to prove what we already know about ourselves but will never admit to: That 99% of the time we’ll slow down to rubber-neck at a bad car accident—then drive on and hope that someone else calls the police.
“Winning” at “Loosing”
The other half of me is horrified at the obvious decline of someone who is in need of some big-time help. Where is the man’s family? If I were his mother, sister, aunt, ex-wife or even distant cousin, I’d be horrified and ready with the straight jacket and a one-way ticket to a lock down rehab regardless of whether he thought of himself as a “winner” or not.
Or would I?
I watch shows like A&E’s “Intervention” and cringe as these ordinary families go through the hell of a family member’s addiction, then sit down and beg for them to get help—even when the help is free. There I am—glued to the T.V. watching someone else’s problems—serious problems I frankly wouldn’t trade for one day of f Charlie Sheen’s Two and a Half Men salary.
But the question still remains:
Why do I come back week after week to watch?
Is this my own version of a really bad car wreck?
A prime example of hoping someone else calls the cops?
Celebrity Docu-Dramas Gone Bad
I don't have to state the obvious here, but I will: It’s been a bad week for celebrities. First this Charlie Sheen show, then Mike Star the former bassist for Alice in Chains is found dead from an apparent drug over-dose, and now I come to find out that Demi Lovato was just released from rehab and that she is rebounding from one of the “darkest periods of her life.”
O-M-G!
Wait a second, who the hell is Demi Lovato?
There I am—glued to the latest entertainment headlines for any up-to-the-second update on whatever manic malcontent unfolding in Hollywood, only to find out that I have missed Demi Lovato’s talent all of these years!
(Ok, I use the word “talent” loosely here—and when I refer to “years” —I really mean “minutes” because this Disney Darling looks like she’s only about ten.)
Time to Tune Out?
I’m starting to think it’s time for me to just tune out. You know—turn off twitter, log out of Facebook and power down the laptop. Frankly, I’m starting to think that it’s time for me to get a life—-me and the more than 2 million fans following Charlie Sheen on Twitter.
I couldn’t help but think, maybe this is true.
After all, Charlie Sheen is an actor—it’s part of his psyche—it’s in his blood and his blood line. Yes, a growing part of me thinks that we’re all getting “punk’d” —that this a massive social networking experiment to prove what we already know about ourselves but will never admit to: That 99% of the time we’ll slow down to rubber-neck at a bad car accident—then drive on and hope that someone else calls the police.
“Winning” at “Loosing”
The other half of me is horrified at the obvious decline of someone who is in need of some big-time help. Where is the man’s family? If I were his mother, sister, aunt, ex-wife or even distant cousin, I’d be horrified and ready with the straight jacket and a one-way ticket to a lock down rehab regardless of whether he thought of himself as a “winner” or not.
Or would I?
I watch shows like A&E’s “Intervention” and cringe as these ordinary families go through the hell of a family member’s addiction, then sit down and beg for them to get help—even when the help is free. There I am—glued to the T.V. watching someone else’s problems—serious problems I frankly wouldn’t trade for one day of f Charlie Sheen’s Two and a Half Men salary.
But the question still remains:
Why do I come back week after week to watch?
Is this my own version of a really bad car wreck?
A prime example of hoping someone else calls the cops?
Celebrity Docu-Dramas Gone Bad
I don't have to state the obvious here, but I will: It’s been a bad week for celebrities. First this Charlie Sheen show, then Mike Star the former bassist for Alice in Chains is found dead from an apparent drug over-dose, and now I come to find out that Demi Lovato was just released from rehab and that she is rebounding from one of the “darkest periods of her life.”
O-M-G!
Wait a second, who the hell is Demi Lovato?
There I am—glued to the latest entertainment headlines for any up-to-the-second update on whatever manic malcontent unfolding in Hollywood, only to find out that I have missed Demi Lovato’s talent all of these years!
(Ok, I use the word “talent” loosely here—and when I refer to “years” —I really mean “minutes” because this Disney Darling looks like she’s only about ten.)
Time to Tune Out?
I’m starting to think it’s time for me to just tune out. You know—turn off twitter, log out of Facebook and power down the laptop. Frankly, I’m starting to think that it’s time for me to get a life—-me and the more than 2 million fans following Charlie Sheen on Twitter.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
The Cost of Free Speech
Yesterday the Supreme Court upheld the right of Westboro Baptist Church to protest at military funerals with violent anti-gay messages that has provoked outrage across the country. In this free-speech ruling, the court ruled that the first amendment even protects messages like:
“Thank God for Dead Soldiers”
“God Hates Fags”
“God is Your Enemy”
The Right to Free Speech Doesn’t Always Make it Right
The court’s 8-1 decision in Snyder v. Phelps shields the Topeka, Kan.-based Westboro church from being sued for intentional infliction of emotional distress despite speech that Roberts called “hurtful.” The ruling didn’t reverse the myriad of funeral-protest restrictions that states have imposed, and it still permits governments to reasonable regulate the time, place and manner of public speech.
“Given that Westboro’s speech was at a public place on a matter of public concern, that speech is entitled to special protection under the First Amendment,” Chief Justice John Robert Jr. wrote for the majority.
“Westboro’s funeral picketing is certainly hurtful and its contribution to public discourse may be negligible,” Roberts acknowledged in his 15-page majority opinion. “But…speech cannot be restricted simply because it is upsetting or arouses contempt.”
The Cost of Free Speech
When I first read the article I was outraged like many people.
It’s just sick.
Seriously? These assholes can’t find anything better to do with their lives? Like, oh—I don’t know—maybe…give food to the hungry? Provide shelter to the homeless?
But as I read more about the ruling and the people behind it, I began to see a glimmer of hope. The family in this case, were not left to deal with these “crazies” (as I call them) alone while they face one of the darkest periods of their life. People in their military community, people in their neighboring community, and people in their church community stepped up to protect this family and fight against these protestors who apparently have nothing better to do with their lives but picket a military funeral.
I can’t image what my family would do if this happened at one of our funerals. Actually, I know what would happen—and one of my family members (probably a few of them, in fact) would undoubtedly end up in jail. I actually have two uncles buried in Arlington National Cemetery and if this happened when they were put to rest, one of my family members would have issued the “call.” And it only takes one call to alert the men and women who fought alongside them to “deal” with the situation.
Meet the Patriot Guard
In this particular case, this family did not see the protest at his funeral because of the makeshift shield of American flags, motorcycles and people that the Patriot Guard established between the church and the protestors. The Guard, founded in 2005, provides shields at the invitation of soldier’s families. Needless to say, Patriot Guard co-founded Terry Houck was not pleased by the court’s ruling.
“I do understand their decision on our First Amendment rights; however, it is morally wrong and it is spirituality wrong, and all of us who stand together at these funerals disagree that a small group of fanatics can hide behind a false religion and continue to inflict emotional abuse as those families bury their loved ones.”
Speaking of it being spiritually and morally wrong, Pastor John Henry of Central Community Church in west Wichita, the site of the funeral for Spc. Tom Moffitt, a Wichita soldier who was killed Oct. 23 in southeastern Afghanistan, said that although the Supreme Court may have ruled correctly on the freedom-of-speech issue, the biggest problem with the protestors is the way they misrepresent Jesus Christ.
‘Ya think?
"For people who claim Christianity and anything to do with Christ to be so mean is out of character for who he was and what he stood for," Henry said. The Phelpses’ have picketed at the church during Sunday morning services because they think Henry isn't hard enough on homosexuals, he said. They come out screaming obscenities and flashing obscene signs.
This is What We Fight For
Veterans find it hard to square the ruling with the constitutional right that they swore to protect.
"We fought for the right to freedom of speech, but we need to strike a balance between protecting free speech and protecting grieving families," said Paul Rieckhoff, executive director of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, a nonpartisan support group.
I think everyone should be thankful that we live in a country that will protect even the most misguided of all Americans. This is a right not every country has and one that needs to be carefully upheld in our courts and protected each and every day.
“Thank God for Dead Soldiers”
“God Hates Fags”
“God is Your Enemy”
The Right to Free Speech Doesn’t Always Make it Right
The court’s 8-1 decision in Snyder v. Phelps shields the Topeka, Kan.-based Westboro church from being sued for intentional infliction of emotional distress despite speech that Roberts called “hurtful.” The ruling didn’t reverse the myriad of funeral-protest restrictions that states have imposed, and it still permits governments to reasonable regulate the time, place and manner of public speech.
“Given that Westboro’s speech was at a public place on a matter of public concern, that speech is entitled to special protection under the First Amendment,” Chief Justice John Robert Jr. wrote for the majority.
“Westboro’s funeral picketing is certainly hurtful and its contribution to public discourse may be negligible,” Roberts acknowledged in his 15-page majority opinion. “But…speech cannot be restricted simply because it is upsetting or arouses contempt.”
The Cost of Free Speech
When I first read the article I was outraged like many people.
It’s just sick.
Seriously? These assholes can’t find anything better to do with their lives? Like, oh—I don’t know—maybe…give food to the hungry? Provide shelter to the homeless?
But as I read more about the ruling and the people behind it, I began to see a glimmer of hope. The family in this case, were not left to deal with these “crazies” (as I call them) alone while they face one of the darkest periods of their life. People in their military community, people in their neighboring community, and people in their church community stepped up to protect this family and fight against these protestors who apparently have nothing better to do with their lives but picket a military funeral.
I can’t image what my family would do if this happened at one of our funerals. Actually, I know what would happen—and one of my family members (probably a few of them, in fact) would undoubtedly end up in jail. I actually have two uncles buried in Arlington National Cemetery and if this happened when they were put to rest, one of my family members would have issued the “call.” And it only takes one call to alert the men and women who fought alongside them to “deal” with the situation.
Meet the Patriot Guard
In this particular case, this family did not see the protest at his funeral because of the makeshift shield of American flags, motorcycles and people that the Patriot Guard established between the church and the protestors. The Guard, founded in 2005, provides shields at the invitation of soldier’s families. Needless to say, Patriot Guard co-founded Terry Houck was not pleased by the court’s ruling.
“I do understand their decision on our First Amendment rights; however, it is morally wrong and it is spirituality wrong, and all of us who stand together at these funerals disagree that a small group of fanatics can hide behind a false religion and continue to inflict emotional abuse as those families bury their loved ones.”
Speaking of it being spiritually and morally wrong, Pastor John Henry of Central Community Church in west Wichita, the site of the funeral for Spc. Tom Moffitt, a Wichita soldier who was killed Oct. 23 in southeastern Afghanistan, said that although the Supreme Court may have ruled correctly on the freedom-of-speech issue, the biggest problem with the protestors is the way they misrepresent Jesus Christ.
‘Ya think?
"For people who claim Christianity and anything to do with Christ to be so mean is out of character for who he was and what he stood for," Henry said. The Phelpses’ have picketed at the church during Sunday morning services because they think Henry isn't hard enough on homosexuals, he said. They come out screaming obscenities and flashing obscene signs.
This is What We Fight For
Veterans find it hard to square the ruling with the constitutional right that they swore to protect.
"We fought for the right to freedom of speech, but we need to strike a balance between protecting free speech and protecting grieving families," said Paul Rieckhoff, executive director of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, a nonpartisan support group.
I think everyone should be thankful that we live in a country that will protect even the most misguided of all Americans. This is a right not every country has and one that needs to be carefully upheld in our courts and protected each and every day.
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