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?