'Tis the Season.....For Giving!

For those who know me, they know that I love charities and around this time of year I try to donate to as many as I financially can. I am sure there are others out there who feel the same and may be leery at times to donate to certain charities due to not knowing where their money really goes. Well, I wanted to share this great website with all of you. It's called CHARITY NAVIGATOR. It's a fantastic website that tracks and reports on basically all federally registered and recognized charities. You can verify a charities authenticity, see their financial status, spending, and rating....anywhere from a 1 star charity to a 4 star charity.

Check it out - it just may give you that extra confidence to give a little more this holiday season. I am sure it is very much appreciated! :)

Happy Holidays!

CHARITY NAVIGATOR

SNOW snow SNOW snow !!

I am so happy it's snowing! The first snowfall of the year and it's this big ole storm! I know, many think I am nuts because I love the snow, but I guess I am "New England made" and happy to be so! Currently, there is about 6 inches outside, but tonight it should be at least a foot. Weeeee! 4-Wheeling, Snow Mobiling, snow boarding, ice skating, snow ball fights, or just the pure beauty of it is what makes winter so fantastic to me. It breaks up the year, it makes Christmas "right" to me, and it just makes me feel good! I wasn't in much of the Christmas spirit until today - the snow perfected the feel for me. Now, I am officially excited!

I went around the property yesterday trying to get into the Christmas mode and collected a bunch of different evergreens to make some wreats and xmas swags. I still have to stop by the local greenhouse and get some ornamental berry branches (have to plant some of my own this spring so I won't have to go purchase them for others in the future) and then put them all together with some raffia & cinnamon sticks. I also have to dry some apples and string some cranberries along with popcorn. We decorate the trees outside with natural, edible "ornaments" for the wildlife to munch on for the holiday season - I enjoy watching them dance merrily around the trees, pecking and nibbling away. We need to buy still a tree...we don't usually chop trees, we purchase new, root-balled trees, then after the season we plant them. Though we weren't here last Christmas, I saved the tree in a large planter. I knew we were planning on moving so I saved him...he sits happily in the ground on the side of the house near a stone wall :) We considered chopping our own this year - with 30 acres there are plenty of areas that could use some thinning to promote healthy & continued growth, but I didn't find any that particularly called to me. I don't know.....we aren't doing the tree thing until next weekend anyway so I guess we will have a decision by then on which way we are going to go.

Did some online Christmas shopping - nothing too extravagant. Just a few things here and there. Even after all that, nothing put me into the true Christmas mode...it takes the SNOW. And it's here! WooHoo!!!!!

I shall be on my way ... the dogs absolutely LOVE the snow too and I have to get the camera ready to catch their delight.

I Learned Something Today ......

Theodore Roosevelt on Immigrants and being an AMERICAN

"In the first place we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag, and this excludes the red flag, which symbolizes all wars against liberty and civilization, just as much as it excludes any foreign flag of a nation to which we are hostile...We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

Theodore Roosevelt 1907

What I Believe...

I have been asked many times on here and in life when I state that I do not subscribe to any organized religion, but do believe in God, "So, what do you believe?" I thought I may now take the time and try to combine many of my posts and opinions into one clear post to attempt to explain how I view things.

I believe in God - I believe that God is in everything. Every tree, every animal, every drop of water. God is an essence, God is an energy, God isn't a person, a place, a thing. God IS.

When in comes to organized religion I feel that all religions are basically worshiping or honoring the same essence, the same God, just do it many different ways - the unfortunate part is that man has manipulated many aspects of different religions where the core values of love, peace and acceptance has been lost. Human emotions and ignorance, with arrogance, has plagued many portions of that message.

Let me give an example of how I feel: let's take a Christian view for a moment since many seen to subscribe to that path. Christians believe that God created everything - God created every star in the sky to every bug on the ground. He created everything. In understanding that, we can take a step further and recognize that he created many different kinds of things. There are elm trees, maple trees, lady bugs and water bugs - different species yet the same "things". The same is for people - we have Asian people, Puerto Rican people, people with blue eyes and some with brown. But, the main thing is underneath all that exterior, we are the same. We all bleed red, we all have the same organs, we are all human, we just have differences - God created differences. He created different trees, yet inside there is bark. My point is that since God created so many different people, with different physical features, different thoughts, different cultures, why would we not assume he created different ways in worshiping Him? Why can't we accept or believe that He also created different religions that all look different, have different customs, have different exteriors yet in the core all are honoring Him, the same God, the same essence of energy, of love, of life? We may not all call that energy God, but maybe we aren't supposed to. Why would we all refer to the same God as the same word? We don't all refer to little red objects that grow on a tree with the term APPLE....every language calls that same fruit a different name - yet it still is the same fruit.

Bottom line, I wish people would recognize that just like God created so many aspects of this world that boil down to the same point - yet it seems hard for others to accept that same concept for religious views and beliefs.

I believe that the core essence is, and should be, that we are all on this Earth together to love, to get along, to accept each other and our differences and to live and let live. What is good for me may not be good for another because God just may have another plan, another path, another mission for that person. Christianity may be the choice for one, yet Islam for another - and that just may be how God planned it.

Just like God created different people and cultures, languages and customs, and we have to learn to live with each other despite those differences, maybe he created different religions for the same exact reason.

Prison Reform

Anyone who knows me on a personal level knows that one of my "passions" in life is crime and the Criminal Justice System. As a child, my Grandmother used to laugh because while other kids were watching cartoons after school I would turn on Divorce Court or The Judge. I have always been intrigued with the law and also the criminal mind. I have followed that passion to a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice and soon will be going for another in Psychology - then maybe my Masters. Forensic Psychology has always been intriguing to me. Will I do anything with these degrees? Law school even? Probably not. I enjoy the learning and knowledge aspect of it although I do feel that practicing Criminal Forensic Psychology would be a dream career.

With that stated one problem that I read about, research or take a great interest in is our prison system, sentencing and supposed rehabilitation of prisoners in this country. I believe this is a very important issue that is largely ignored by American citizens and is overlooked often though it contributes to a huge portion of the foundation in life that we take for granted everyday.

Though violent crime has been declining in America since the year 1994, by the year 2004 nearly 3.2%, or 1 in every 31 adults, were either in prison, jail, on probation or on parole. From the years 1995 to the year 2004, the prison population has increased 3.4% annually. Looking at a larger scale, in the 1970's, there were approximately 200,000 inmates in the US Prison system. Today, that number has risen to 1.8 million which represents an 800% increase over the past 30 years. Add that to the number of individuals on parole, probation, or some other corrections supervision, and that number rises to a staggering 6 million people. With a steady rise of individuals convicted of crimes we need to ask the question of how can we modify the corrections system in the United States to be more effective in reducing the incidence of crime?

In my opinion, prison being used as a form of punishment has been a complete failure in this country. The majority of incarcerated individuals are for non-violent crimes with the rate of inmates increasing and violent crimes decreasing. I feel that just locking up individuals, whether for non-violent or violent crimes, is obviously not preventing the use and sale of illegal drugs or preventing re-incarceration. The United States Department of Justice conducted a study of 15 prisons over the span of 3 years in the year 1994 of the re-arrest, reconviction and re-incarceration of former inmates. The findings showed that that robbers (70.2%), burglars (74%), motor vehicle thieves (78.8%), larcenists (74.6%), in for stolen property (77.4%) and those in for using, possession, selling or using drugs (70.2%) had the highest re-arrest rate. 2.5% of released rapists were arrested for another rape, and those who served time for the crime of homicide, 1.2% were re-arrested for homicide over the 3 year span. These statistics are a red flag that the current corrections system we have in place today within the United States is not effective in anything except removing the individual from society for a period of time. At some point, it shows that they will be released and returned to the same life. Prison needs to be looked upon as a reformatory institution instead of a form of punishment or we will never reverse or decrease the number of convictions or crimes.

The prison reform issue is not so simple that just one person's opinion will not change it and frankly, I am sure my stand on what should be done might be laughable to many but I have thought about this topic many times and for many hours and so have some suggestions that may help pave the way to a "better" system.
First, I feel that all prisons should be mandated federally and take the decision away from each individual state. Because each state mandates different amounts and funds for corrections, there are different levels of services, education, counseling, and conditions depending on the state. Smaller, richer states, like Connecticut for example, can afford to fund their corrections departments to make, what have been referred to as, country club prisons where as other larger states, with higher crime rates such as Texas, do not have the funds to create country clubs and house inmates in deplorable conditions. Are prisoners getting a "better" form of punishment in a prison that does not offer services and luxuries as some other's do? I feel that if we had prisons within this nation running, operating and providing blanket services across the board, that is one way to help allocate funds where needed and offer services equally. A rapist in Delaware is no worse than a rapist in Massachusetts, so their punishment should not differ either. I feel that each state is doing their own thing and making it difficult to get a hand on crime and punishment in the United States as a whole. In my opinion, the first step would be the taking away of the control and decision making of prisons, sentences and services from the individual states and adhering to one federal standard.

Funding for prisons would be a standard % allocated from each state, depending on state size, population, and income ratio, would be paid into the Federal Prison System. The funds would then be allocated to the prisons throughout the country. There would not be any need for each state to handle the allocation of corrections funds within their budgets. They pay their % to the Federal Government and it would be allocated from there. This would ensure that each prison would be getting the funds as needed, depending on size and inmates, and also a standard of living and services.

As for services, I feel that prison needs to be looked at as more of a reformatory than a location to house individuals for punishment. The punishment portion is being removed from society and living within the prison walls. While in prison, most basic rights should be removed including the right to privacy and other luxuries as television, microwaves and stereos. Now that they are there, we need to find a way to reform and deter future criminal acts. This can be accomplished by implementing a few changes.

First, I feel that the entire parole system should be abolished. If you are sentenced to one year in prison, you should spend one year in prison. There should not be any early release programs offered any longer. The removal of this system would open funds for parole services and officers and back to the overall prison budget. Now that there are all of these prisoners within the system, serving sentences, without televisions and luxuries, that need to have their time utilized. That should be done with education, counseling and work/training programs.

I would assume that most people released from prison, not taking anything from the years they were in prison except aggravation and a hate for confined rooms, are only being released back into the life they were originally removed from. As part of the seclusion of prison life, we need to educate these inmates and teach them skills and train them for a productive life within society. Running the prison as almost a mandatory secluded college campus is how I look at it. Each prisoner has a full schedule each day with school, training, work, rest, eating, then sleep. Personal time is kept to a minimum for letter writing or rest. If an individual does not have a high school diploma, they are mandated to participate in a GED or High School Equivalent program to obtain their certificate. Also, local companies or industries around the prison can be asked to participate in a work program. Each inmate will be required to learn and implement skills through training programs. For example, a local furniture manufacturer can cut their own costs by affiliating with the prison to have prisoners within that prison manufacture furniture. This would be free labor for the manufacturing company and a skill/trade for the inmate. Depending on the prison term, each individual inmate might be able to obtain numerous skills since the inmates will rotate throughout the different jobs and programs offered. All of this would be done on-site, within the prison.

Counseling will also be offered to each and every inmate. Depending on the individual, counseling can range from general social counseling to drug and alcohol counseling. Counseling in general is beneficial to any and all inmates since committing a crime to end up in prison is enough to validate an issue within that individual to warrant counseling. Requiring an inmate to participate in counseling is not an option and I do not feel it is against their rights or considered cruel and unusual punishment.

Finally, a life skills program should be implemented. A life skills program would guide and teach each inmate the basics skills needed in leading a productive, moral, decent life as a citizen within this country. This program would offer information and skills in many areas like basic information on checking accounts, money management, and budgets all the way to the stock market, mortgages and time management.

With these programs and services offered throughout prisons within America, we can assure that each released prisoners has at least had some form of reform and redirection than the life they were leading prior to be convicted. This can only give both the released inmate a solid foundation to reenter society with a new outlook.
Turning our attention to individuals who are convicted and sentenced to life and or death sentences, these services would not be available to the extent they are for inmates with a release date. Lifers and people on death row should all be housed in separate prisons than the individuals with a release date. Lifers will have basic services such as libraries with books, magazines and newspapers, but there will also not be any microwaves, televisions or Blockbuster nights. Counseling will be available and inmates will also be required to participate in work programs but more for labor and service for the prison itself (laundry, kitchen, etc). There would be longer periods of solitary confinement then a non-lifer and no additional education classes.

Because inmates will be separated depending on if they are serving life or not, this could mean sending a prisoner outside of the state they are convicted in. Once you are convicted of a crime, whether your term is ten years or life, you will be placed where there is room. This could be at a local facility or it could be across the country, but unfortunately, that is one of the rights you lose when you become a prisoner. Every attempt will be made to place the inmate as close to their home state as possible, but this in no way is a guarantee. I am sure the family and friends of the inmate will not approve of this because of the potential travel demands to visit, but again, this is prison and not a recreation camp. This will just be another example of how the actions of one can produce many victims on many levels.

The death penalty should not be abolished within this country but should only be assessed if there is absolute assurance that the proper individual is convicted. This can be determined by a complete confession and/or DNA evidence. I do not feel the death penalty should be an option as a sentence unless absolute certainty as been determined. Because of this absolute certainty, there is not a need for ten years of appeals and lethal injections can be carried out in a timely manner.

In conclusion, I do feel that this reform can only help deter potential criminals by making prison seem more as a complete taking over of their life, with the potential of removal from the state, required schooling, work and counseling, and the basic thought of an extreme daily regimen and not just some time in a cell. With the aggressive daily activities and education, hopefully this will deter an inmate from returning to a life of crime by being released with an education, skills and self-esteem. This can only be accomplished by blanketing our corrections system under one form of government and assuring the proper services are implemented

But does anyone really care? I don't believe so since most people I speak to don't care about the criminal, nor do they care to consider anything beyond the "he did bad, he should go to jail" aspect. If we expect to actually be able to live in this country as a "free" citizen, we better stop and take action now. If not, all we are doing is breeding slicker, more experienced, and more aggressive criminals who will not think twice about taking those freedoms away.



This is an original article written by myself and also posted on Helium.com

Religious Tolerance......

Being from a land that supposedly embraces freedom, embraces many cultures, customs and religions, one would assume that tolerance would be a critical vein that threads through our every day lives; but unfortunately that is not always the case. Many forget that this country was sought, conquered and established based on the desire for religious freedom and the tolerance of other's to practice as they see fit. Christians have staked their flag on the mountain, claiming this a Christian nation and the atheists have taken that flag, stomped on it, and declared it's their religious right to do so. Who is right? Aren't we all? Shouldn't we welcome new culture, religion, and beliefs into this great nation? Doing so would just broaden our offerings, enhance our freedoms and teach us all a new view, a new understanding, and a new way to bring those freedoms to the forefront.

I believe that we all need to learn to be tolerant of one another's religious beliefs along with the lack their of. Children need to be taught to be tolerant of many religious creeds, sects, beliefs, customs and practices. Rather than pushing the banning of teaching of religions of school, I believe that there should be a mandatory teaching about the world's religions beliefs and customs within a regular curriculum. An academic understanding of the world's largest religions would not only give the children of this nation a wealth of knowledge and history, it will more importantly teach children to understand their neighbor and tolerate their choices due to actually having knowledge in what the religion is and about rather than speculation and fearing the unknown.

Once we learn to practice our given freedoms, which wold be to practice tolerance, only then will be truly able to practice our religious choices in spiritual peace.

This is my original article created for Helium.com

Does God Hate Gays?

Does God hate gays? Is the word 'hate' in God's dictionary? The term 'God' has a different meaning to many, but for all the people I know, God represents love, acceptance, peace and warmth. How could anyone who loves you, who created you, who protects you and embraces your every quirk, imperfection, and idiocy, with love and a gentle hand, hate anyone?

God loves all people, for what we are and who we are. We are all here for one reason or another, and to be so arrogant to sit and judge another, to actually claim that one is better, deserving or higher than another is actually proving themselves to be less like God and more like his adversary.

You don't have to be religious to be tolerant, to be accepting, to be loving. People should treat people as they wish to be treated; and I don't know many who say that they don't want to be treated with respect, dignity and love.

God doesn't hate gays, God doesn't hate anybody. People, humans, mankind created and spreads hate and when we are at the receiving end of that hate, God is the one who is there to erase it away.

Also posted as my original article on Helium.com writing community.

Pumpkin History

Pumpkin History



References to pumpkins date back many centuries. The name pumpkin originated from the Greek word for "large melon" which is "pepon." "Pepon" was nasalized by the French into "pompon." The English changed "pompon" to "Pumpion." Shakespeare referred to the "pumpion" in his Merry Wives of Windsor. American colonists changed "pumpion" into "pumpkin." The "pumpkin" is referred to in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater and Cinderella.

Native Americans dried strips of pumpkin and wove them into mats. They also roasted long strips of pumpkin on the open fire and ate them. The origin of pumpkin pie occurred when the colonists sliced off the pumpkin top, removed the seeds, and filled the insides with milk, spices and honey. The pumpkin was then baked in hot ashes.

History of the Jack-o-Lantern
People have been making jack-o-lanterns at Halloween for centuries. The practice originated from an Irish myth about a man nicknamed "Stingy Jack." According to the story, Stingy Jack invited the Devil to have a drink with him. True to his name, Stingy Jack didn't want to pay for his drink, so he convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin that Jack could use to buy their drinks. Once the Devil did so, Jack decided to keep the money and put it into his pocket next to a silver cross, which prevented the Devil from changing back into his original form. Jack eventually freed the Devil, under the condition that he would not bother Jack for one year and that, should Jack die, he would not claim his soul. The next year, Jack again tricked the Devil into climbing into a tree to pick a piece of fruit. While he was up in the tree, Jack carved a sign of the cross into the tree's bark so that the Devil could not come down until the Devil promised Jack not to bother him for ten more years.

Soon after, Jack died. As the legend goes, God would not allow such an unsavory figure into heaven. The Devil, upset by the trick Jack had played on him and keeping his word not to claim his soul, would not allow Jack into hell. He sent Jack off into the dark night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved out turnip and has been roaming the Earth with it ever since. The Irish began to refer to this ghostly figure as "Jack of the Lantern," and then, simply "Jack O'Lantern."

In Ireland and Scotland, people began to make their own versions of Jack’s lanterns by carving scary faces into turnips or potatoes and placing them into windows or near doors to frighten away Stingy Jack and other wandering evil spirits. In England, large beets are used. Immigrants from these countries brought the jack o’lantern tradition with them when they came to the United States. They soon found that pumpkins, a fruit native to America, make perfect jack o’lanterns.

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Source:
The History Channel: http://www.historychannel.com/exhibits/halloween/pumpkin.html
The University of Illinios: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/Pumpkins/history.html

Bellagio Faux

I went to Home Depot to get some paint and decided to check out that little area they have showing all the neat painting techniques like sponging, ragging and such. The Bellagio Faux finishes really caught my eye. I checked out the handy little description pamphlet they had and it seemed easy enough: paint base color on wall with roller, brush on this Bellagio Faux stuff, smooth with a trowel. Hey, I can handle this!

I decided the color scheme I wanted to achieve and brought all the necessary items over to the little Home Depot gnome that was mixing the colors at the paint counter.

"Ah man, you don't want that stuff. Everyone comes back and bitches that it's too hard and comes out like crap."

Yes, that was an exact quote that this sales man of the year stated to me, as I placed the paint gallons on the counter.

"Yeah, well, I think I am going to try it out. It doesn't look too hard and I love the effect it makes," I said, basically brushing off his obvious attempt at being lazy and not wanting to mix me a few gallons of paint.

"Well, all I know is that you buy this and that's it, it's yours and I can't guarantee how it's gonna look, you know, because this stuff isn't easy, like, professional painters use it and stuff, ya know," the Depot gnome rambled.

"I gottcha, chief," I replied, shoving the color swatch in his face that I wanted.

He mixed it up and reminded me again that he warned me.

I paid for my paint and supplies and headed home. I have to admit, now that I was sitting there in the car, my head started to process that this little redecorating adventure I have embarked myself on just might not be as easy as I was trying to convince the gnome to be. I think at that point I was more on the defensive that this Twinkie was trying to tell me that I was basically going to fail at this and no one tells me I can't or am unable to do something. So now his actual warning and concern was setting in. Oy vey.

Well, to save you from the extended version of this story, I started the Bellagio Faux painting and it is coming out awesome! After you get the hang of how to spread it with the trowel it comes out fantastic. It reminds me of the stone walls in Italy or some long lost Roman Empire. It looks magnificent and I have completely impressed myself!

So, basically, if someone at the Depot tells you "it's too hard" - don't listen to them. Go to the Behr section of paints and grab the Bellagio Faux supplies and such and go for it. It looks awesome, it doesn't take long, and you will be extremely pleased with the results!

Politics and Religion....again

Yeah, I know I spoke about this just the other day, but it came up again in conversation and the person I was speaking to about it just does not get it. I asked this person, "Why does a candidates choice in religions matter in their ability to be a great president?".

"It's a reflection of their morals and values," they say.

What???

Do you know how many people I know that lack a moral bone in their body yet call themselves Christian?

In fact, I know more people who are not practicing ANY religion who have more values and morals than ones that do! In fact, it amuses me because some of these immoral people seem to believe that if they trot on off to church on Sunday, pray, and ask for forgiveness or some crap like that, it seems to be all good.

Huh?

I am sorry, the religious flavor of the month, to me, does not reflect in any manner a person's personal values and morals. Values and morals, to me, are more a learned behavior from an upbringing and not in religious teachings. Why is that that the majority of this country is Christian yet the divorce rate, drug problem, crime rate, etc are so high? Does that make any sense to your logic, people? Because someone says they are Christian, goes to church and wears a crucifix around their neck, they must be good, moral people with strong Christian values? Explain to me the divorce rate? The child abuse cases? The neglect? The infidelity? I would assume the majority of those naughty people are Christian!

Again, though, it all shouldn't matter. Politics and religion don't mix. The job of the president has nothing to do with the gospel. The ability to be the leader of this country is not based on the God or Gods they pray to or not. One has absolutely nothing to do with the other. Why is this so hard to understand!?

Ok, ranting ending, but it all really does get to me because I clearly cannot understand why people seem to believe that the two (religious preference and the ability to be president) go hand-and-hand.

Teachers, Students & Sex?

Former teacher arrested in kidnapping, rape of boy - Aug 13, 2007

What is going on lately? Is the teacher/student relationship situation a new one or is it just being exposed more often than before? It seems a day doesn't go by where there isn't some story in the news about a teacher and a student - some remarkably young - having some twisted sex-capades relationship. What is more interesting to me is the extreme differences in sentences and punishments these people get. Some get a simple probation sentence for as little as a few months to years on end, and still others actually serve jail time. But does jail actually teach a person that the relationship they have engaged in was completely inappropriate. It didn't for Mary Kay Letourneau who after her relationship and 2 children with her now former student was released from jail and married her victim.

Teen Ex-substitute showed students porn - Aug 9, 2007

I have had this teacher/student debate with many people - and not surprisingly many men who I speak to seem to believe that there isn't a problem with a young teen man and some bimbo teacher getting it on. But, ask them about if it was their teenage daughter and some stud professor and their opinion drastically changes. How ironic? The point, to me, really isn't the maturity or the ability of the student to handle the relationship, it has nothing to do with love, and it even has nothing to do with sex, in my opinion. My issue is that there is a level of respect, there is a line that certain professionals should not cross, and there is a level of responsibility and dignity that should be held in positions of authority, which to me should be held by teachers.

Teacher Gets 12 Years in Jail After Pleading Guilty to 17 Sex-related Felony Charges - Aug 6, 2007

With many professions comes a list of boundaries. There is a list of rules and self-discipline that has to practice such profession. One of those career paths and positions is a teacher within the school system. As a figure of authority and an example of a functioning, proper adult, teachers should conduct themselves with a level of professionalism above and beyond many others. Writing love notes and giggling with one of the students you are supposed to be guiding and enriching is no where near that level of dignity and professionalism I was speaking of earlier. In fact, I think at that point you have completely fell off the path entirely.

Teacher Babysitter Accused of Sexually Assaulting Boy, 13 - Jul 11, 2007

People may not think it's a big deal. Again, many men feel that a teen boy boinking his teacher is not detrimental to his mental or emotional health in any negative manner. Other's feel differently and I do also. I believe that engulfing a young man with budding and raging hormones, unfamiliar feelings and emotions, tied together with a woman who is supposed to be a role model, someone to admire and look up to, can cause life-long emotional scaring and issues. Not to mention, this role model of sorts is surely guiding this kid to lie, be deceitful, to sneak around, etc - great life lessons, Ms. Teacher of the Year.

Popular High School English Teacher Caught in Parked Car With Boy, 16 - Jul 11, 2007


So what do we do? Do we give psychological testing, more thorough investigations of potential teachers who enter the school systems? Do we instill stricter "do not contact" rules and regulations in regards to teachers and students after school? Do we start instituting "Teacher Danger" teachings when we teach kids about strangers and pedophiles?

Music Teacher Faces 35 Felony Charges for Sex With Girl, 17 - Jul 2, 2007

Nah, I think we should toss them all in jail, give them severe psychological counseling and cut this petty slap on the wrist crap with probation. These people have to be exposed, be embarrassed and be outted as the sicko's they are - and maybe that will give them a reason to look in the mirror, see what they have become, and engage in the therapy that they need to seek and correct the issue within themselves that would make them become attracted to and actually participate in a physical and emotional sexually charged relationship with a child/teen.

Unsolicited Phone Calls

When the world created the "Do Not Call" list, I thought I was in heaven. That in combination with Caller ID and Anonymous Call-Blocking, I thought my phone would never ring unless it was an actual legit call. Boy, was I wrong.

Like everything else in the world, once we find a way to block or fix an annoyance, someone finds a way around it; and unless you are a lawyer with a lot of time on your hands, who has the time or resources to fight these people? Each and everyday I get calls from this place and that place and when I advise them that I am on the "Do Not Call" list, they advise me that the list I speak of is for telemarketers, and they are NOT telemarketers. Oh, well, excuse me then. They are "offering" me a service or a product, or something that is free. Ok, free. Is there a "Do Not Offer Me Anything" list then? Because I am tired of the "free" "offer" basic harassment phone calls.

Just today alone, I have been contacted about lowering my interest rate, about obtaining information for an online school, and also one about refinancing my home mortgage. Now, how can those three instances not qualify for the "Do Not Call" list?

One representative advised me that I requested the information. When I inquired when, where and how, all I could get was that my name and number was supplied by a third party website online. Oh, ok, so now it's my fault you are harassing me. Because I surfed, for example, a website and inputted my information, for let's day, to get a free booklet in regards to foot fungus, that means I am interested in getting a "degree" with University of Phoenix Online? Really, now? Ain't that interesting.

I have resorted to just not answering my phone any longer. It's sad, though, because I might actually miss an important call one of these days, providing they don't leave a message - which I do notice many people also hate doing. I look up each number that calls, and providing it is actually a legit number, I email the company a nasty gram about removing me from their database. Do they? We'll see. But I am sure right after they do, my name and number will get passed along to the next organiztion with a "great offer".

So, what do we do? Nothing. As many fixes we find, the harassers will find a way around them. I guess I will just have to sit back, watch the phone ring, and whine in a blog about it instead. ;)

Freedom of Religion?

As far as I know, this country was based on the desire to obtain religious freedom. We as Americans like to boast about our great freedoms in this country and those same freedoms are what so many foreigners immigrate to this county to take advantage of. So why is it that Americans can't seem to tolerate, accept or at times even see the person beyond their religious choice?

What started me thinking about this today is the focus on the current political candidates religion choices. Who is Christian? Who is not practicing a named religion? Who has, God forbid, chosen another religion besides Christianity? Why is this such a focus? Do we not have any other great issues to concentrate on?

Personally, I don't feel that a candidate's religious practices, or lack their of for that matter, should even be looked at or discussed when it comes to the position of president in this country. The point of separation of church and state can't be more critical in this situation. The president of this country should not be making choices, concluding their views, or running this country based on their religious beliefs, their congregations desires or the words of their bible, text or creed. The fact that a candidates spiritual choices or views are being sought out and exposed in this race truly bothers me and leads me to believe that people within this nation are truly forgetting why they are actually able to practice what they seek.

The President of this country should lead the people in choices and direction solely based on the desires, needs, and cries of the country as a whole. Abortion should be legal or illegal based on the desires of the nation, not the desires or beliefs of their church, for example. "Under God" does not state a Christian God, or a Muslim God, it's a generic term to be taken and applied in a personal manner. This doesn't signify that the President of this country should be Christian, not Mormon, not Pagan, not Muslim. We need to have a President who will do what is best for this country, the best for this economy, what is best for this nation to stay strong, united and protect the freedoms we have and should cherish. Regardless of the religion I practice, I do not want a President who is basing his political views or choosing what is best for me and my fellow Americans by basing it on his God and His view. To me, if any candidate is running their campaign train on their religious views is not the President for this free country. What he or she does in their free time, the God that he and their family wish to worship, the rituals and customs they incorporate into their personal lives, has nothing to do with their intelligence, with their ability, or with their effectiveness as being a great leader for this nation.

We need to ban the bible from political elections, we need to stop the religion debate, we need to focus on the values and views of the candidate when it comes to this country and it's people. When you were hired for your job, was your potential performance based on your religious view? Isn't it illegal to be treated differently or not be considered for a position due to your religious beliefs? Well, then, why is that not the same for the position of President of the United States? Whether someone attends a Sunday Mass each week will not determine their ability to run this land of the free.

Wake up America and focus on the real issue, focus on ability and leadership, before you bring into office a potential poison to the freedoms that you are currently exploiting by focusing on the one point that may turn around and bite you in the end.

MySpace Pisses Me Off

Ok, I am pretty freakin' annoyed today with the wonderful free of charge online community called myspace. I have had a myspace account for awhile and have enjoyed the people, friends and family I have connected with using their service. About 9 months ago I decided to venture off and create a group that focused on a topic that I have interest in: Crime and Criminals. It discusses crimes of today and of yore, the legal system, the infamous serial killers and such that have come to be known, and the psychology of crimes and criminals. It was, to me, a great little group in which I had about 2,000 members which isn't that bad in my opinion for a little group without solicitation or SPAM invitations to join. It was full of mature people, lawyers, prison guards, social workers and even a few forensic psychologists. We had missing children organizations and many family of victims looking for help, answers or even just support. I thoroughly enjoyed the discussions we had there.

I put together daily news posts along with weekly information articles, sparked debate and discussion as often as possible, basically I actually cared and enjoyed the conversation and the work that I had to endure to keep it running. It was part of my daily routine and a joyful one too boot. I even created little banners and actually starting this group was what got me to learn html and simple text editing.





Well, I went to pop into my group and I noticed it wasn't there. PooF! It be gone! I frantically searched around the site, poked around everywhere and it was just - literally - gone. I had no emails, messages or anything of the sort to explain why or how come. What emails, messages and bulletins I did have was from many confused members asking me what happened and why the group link was returning as "invalid group id".

I, of course, frantically contacted the twinkies at myspace 'help' and to make a long story short I have basically been told that my group either a> never existed or b> violated "some" terms of service....but since they keep no records of deletes or reasons, for that matter, they can't tell me anything.

Huh?

Ok, let me soak this crap in for a moment. So, either I and about 2,000 other people all had the same off-the-wall dream and/or fantasy about this named forum...or I did something naughty but no one would know anyway so who gives a flying fig newton?

Oh man, this pisses me off. Because myspace is a free service, the jack-offs know that we, as the users of this free service, have absolutely no repercussions in any matter pertaining to content or anything for that matter regarding groups, etc. So, the great Tom Doucheries of myspace can ooopsie and delete your account, profile or group and who can do anything about it? They can notice that a server is getting a weeee bit too overloaded and dump about 1.2 million users data so they can housekeep and keep everything in free and super duper order. Well, isn't that special?

I know that many may feel that this is something so petty to be angry about, it just pisses me off that I feel that to get any respect or be treated with dignity that you have to have legal hold over some companies or service providers. I mean, if there is no way to be able to hold legal action over some businesses, they truly don't give a crap. Why? Why is it that we can't just respect and treat each other as if we all were paying customers? In actuality we are - we all feed and provide for each other. We all have a hand in each other's fate and survival. Why should myspace take advantage of the fact that I am a free user, that has no way to prove, disprove or force them into being courteous and just screw me and millions of others at will? To actually suggest that I envisioned this group and was delusional or something to the fact that it existed, to me, is just infuriating. How difficult would it have been to email me, if in fact, I was violating a term of service? Send me a note that the account was in jeopardy? Yeah, nothing - because you just made either an 'ooopsie' and deleted it or didn't want to buy another server to handle your network, you cheap bastard.



So, you know what? F*#@ myspace. Screw them.

Tom can go f*#@ a duck for all I care.

My New Blog

Tell me you all are as excited as I am about this new blog?

Let me introduce myself.

I am The Paper Froglet!

Yeah, I know, who the shadazzle am I, you ask? Trust me, no one special. I am just starting this for no real reason except to inject myself into the world of blogging. Well, and also to see if I can really make any money off these Google clicky things on the side of this blog. See, I am quite honest too. Anyway, I guess I will blog about mundane things, hopefully something people will read more to pass the time than anything else. I am not very interesting nor am I very intelligent so I am not sure how much actual tangible information anyone will gain from my rambles......maybe a chuckle at least. I can accept people laughing at me :)

So, I hope to see you all come back soon and check out what crap I am spewing about.

Oh yeah, and just because you are my new pal, feel free to just randomly click some banners and links on the side. I am po' people - help a green one out, will ya?