March 27, 2008

This American Life

Ever since I started subscribing to free podcasts utilizing iTunes with my Ipod sync option, I have been incredibly thrilled with being able to take the news, comedy, radio shows and information with me wherever I go. Knowledge afterall is power, and what good is power if not the tools to helping our fellow man? But one show inparticular stands out to me as a crucial and important messenger for our times. In a time when we are forgetting the true heroes are not the ones who brag or stand mioghtily on hills, but those who mapped those hills for future generations. Not the ones who flaunted their millions, but quietly enriched the lives of those around them, silently, without benefit to themselves, that in itself being the benefit.

This American Life is a free subscription podcast available through iTunes that is truly inspiring. It relates us with real world history, and the forgotten heroes who should never be forgotten, for they are the flavour of our moments, and without them, life is nothing but a bland meal that does not nourish, nor fill the mind with sustenance. I take this moment to salute the people at This American Life, that it might continue to inspire, and be a light unto all men and women, so that we might return the miracle to those who need it where we may find them wanting.

March 25, 2008

2 Women Move To Better and Brighter

If Britney Spears can turn her life around, perhaps we can turn this nation around.
Britney Spears recently left the lime light to star on the tv series "How I Met Your Mother",
playing beside Sarah Chalke (Scrubs), as her innocent, but superficial and crazy receptionist.

I was really quite impressed by how sexy and funny she was in this episode.
It was just nice to see her changing her life and no longer letting the past drag her down.
People can be so cruel.

I recently found this out in WOW, and I'll never understand what it is about opening ourselves up
to the world that makes people so angry, but we don't get anywhere if we don't take risks,
and in the end, what doesn't destroy us makes us stronger anyway.
Anyway, they were both excellent in their new roles, and I honestly
wouldn't mind seeing Britney continue down this path for once.

March 21, 2008

Arthur C. Clarke, godfather of science fiction dies at age 90

Arthur C Clarke, most famous for writing the novel, 2001: A Space Odyssey, died today.
He was 90 years old. What strikes me on a personal level though,
is that he wrote the first real novel I ever read. Namely, Childhood's End
which I picked up when I was in second grade at the fragile age of oh, maybe 8 or 9 years old.

A brilliant author and remarkable man. He is survived by over 30 novels and short stories,
and had collaborated with such brilliant minds as Stanley Kubrick,
and was knighted Sir Arthur C. Clarke in 2000.

March 15, 2008

Foreclosed Pets

Why Foreclosed Home Owners Abandon Pets

Pets who are the casualty of foreclosures are often left indoors, without food, water or the comforts of a temperature-controlled environment. Experts say a dog will become dehydrated within 24 hours without water and could die in extreme heat within a few days. Like humans, dogs and cats can go for a long time without food but will quickly die without water .

How Can Home Owners Abandon Pets After Foreclosure?

You might ask yourself if these home owners feel no remorse when they leave a pet behind to die a slow and cruel death.

I'd like to believe that humans who were kind enough to take in a stray pet, or adopt a pet for their children, would be responsible caregivers, but some don't share the same sentiments toward pets as you and I. They don't look at a pet as living, breathing creature incapable of fending for itself. They see a pet as property, no different than a worn sofa tossed into the alley when the springs pop.

These types of home owners are often the kind who strip assets during foreclosure and sell everything they can rip out, including the kitchen sink.

Some pet owners don't think through their actions. They might naively rationalize their behavior by hoping that city officials or representatives of the bank will rescue the abandoned pets. Feeling desperate, they often can't think about the future beyond what it holds for themselves, forgetting their responsibilities toward their pets.

Why Foreclosed Home Owners Abandon Pets

First, examine why these home owners have lost a home through foreclosure. Foreclosures often are an undesirable result arising from one or more of the following events:

• Unemployment. They were laid-off, fired or quit job.
• An inability to continue working due to medical conditions.
• Incapacitation. Drug or alcohol addictions.
• Excessive debt and mounting bill obligations.
• Squabbles with co-owner or pending divorce.
• Job transfer to another state.

Moreover, people who have lost a home through foreclosure need to live somewhere else, which means they might have to rent an apartment, because they no longer qualify to buy a home . Many apartment buildings do not allow pets. So, they think of their own security first and leave their pets behind.

How To Help Save Abandoned Pets

In most states, by law, pets are personal property, which means they have little or no rights. Personal property left behind by home owners are subject to seizure by the lender that has taken the home back in foreclosure, but most REO lenders don't want to take care of pets. Some laws do not allow for forfeiture of personal property until a certain time period has passed, so lenders are prevented from removing the pets, and often discourage others from intervening.

• If you know that a home in your neighborhood is being foreclosed upon, why not ask the occupants if they have made plans for their pets?
• Some home owners might willingly turn over their pets to an animal welfare agency that specializes in rescuing stray and abandoned pets, if they knew where to take their pets.
• Leave animal rescue literature with the owners; it's better to offend and apologize than to do nothing.
• After the owners have moved, check on the home to see if any pets were left behind or tied up in the back yard.
• Call your local humane society to find out how you can help to rescue abandoned pets.
• Call a local real estate agent and ask the neighborhood specialist to inspect the home for abandoned pets. Most will gladly oblige at no obligation.
• In some states, animal cruelty is against the law. If you suspect animal cruelty, call the police.
• If you find a dehydrated pet, provide a small amount of water under supervision -- some pets can become so thirsty and weak that they can drown in a water bowl -- then call a vet before administering food.

Because if you don't speak up for these helpless animals, who will?

Thanks to Franny at Cats.about.com for her blog about foreclosed pets , which inspired this article.

Weintraub's Pets

Selling a Home Where Pets Live Pet-Friendly Home Remodels Buying a Home Pets Will Love

Weintraub's Foreclosures

Buying Distressed Homes How Foreclosures Affect Values Finding Foreclosures

Articles by Elizabeth Weintraub

Preparing for Open Houses Paying to Sell a Home Home Buying with Bad Credit

Related Articles

Are Pets Psychic or Just Super-Sensitive? A Pet Owner's Guide to Pet Sitters Home 4 the Holidays - Press Release Understanding Euthanasia - Veterinary Medicine The R Factor - Cats - Responsibility of Pet Owners

March 13, 2008

Coupon Events!

I'm getting ready for work this morning and a commercial comes on the TV,
and it's some overly excited lady talking about this amazing thing called a coupon event.
A full-fledged event for the poor to feel emotionally safe about using coupons.
Apparently gay pride wasn't enough. No, we need fuckin holidays to celebrate coupons too.
It's an event. With fireworks, and we'll all bring our coupons down and share stories of coupon using days gone by.
You should never be allowed to describe the use of coupons as an event.
It's not an event, it's a fucking coupon.

March 12, 2008

Police: Woman Throws Kids Off Bridge then jumps after

DALLAS -- Police said a woman threw her two children off the North Jim Miller Bridge
onto eastbound Interstate 30 and then jumped. Ambulances took the children
-- ages 5 and 8 -- to the Children's Medical Center
and the mother to Baylor University Medical Center shortly
after their falls at about 6:30 a.m., Dallas station KXAS reported.
Police said the woman and her boyfriend had an argument
and she pulled over on the bridge before throwing the children.
The mother and one of the children were hit by cars, police said.
Both children are in serious condition, but their injuries are not expected to be life-threatening.
The mother is in critical condition. Two lanes of traffic are open on eastbound I-30 while police investigate.

March 11, 2008

Today in Politics

Concerning Spitzer's involvement in a prostitution ring.
How can the news call this a victim-less crime? What about his wife?

Also how can the same associate press who cry out now Obama is being too harsh
about Hillary stating he could be a good VP but not ready for the presidency,
when they just last week said Obama has to take the gloves off?
How can they demand Obama has to get mean, then run crying when he does?

Sally Kern stated yesterday that homosexuality is more a threat to America than terrorism.
She's an idiot, 'nuff said.

Anderson Cooper - nice tree footage.

March 7, 2008

Theories on a "Lost" Dynamic: Ben and Juliet

It's easy to invalidate Ben's rant at Juliet.
To shrug it off as Ben having an angry brat
moment, but if Lost has taught us only one thing, it's things are never as they seem.

What if Ben is telling the truth?

We know there are some serious time issues
under way, most of us I think have known this
since the first season.

The series has always had a Montauk project
vibe to it in my opinion.

So, what if where Ben is from, he and Juliet are
"soul mates". That the woman the therapist I forget her name says Juliet looks like, is in fact Juliet.

I'm probably wrong and there's more going on, or less, but I think it's an interesting thought.

A thought that Ben really knows more here than he is letting on. That in his own way, it not only has merit,
but shows that at it's core, we will sympathize with him and understand everything he's done to some extent, some day.

And that the relationship between Ben and Juliet is more stirring, and tragic than we understand right now.

Please post your thoughts below!

March 6, 2008

Gary Gyax, Creator of Dungeons&Dragons dies at age 69

March 4, 2008 check Gary Gygax the creator of Dungeons&Dragons died this week, and Stephen Colbert in order to
find out how much Gary will be missed rolled a 20-sided die.
I grew up playing D&D with my older brothers in our home of Los Altos, Ca
and the adventures Gary gave to us was unforgettable.
Gary you will truly be missed as a pioneer of sparking a fire in the imaginations
that created a lifetime of adventures,
and inspiration for future games to come.

Growing up in a single parent household of five, made D&D one of our most precious experiences of childhood.
Gary will not be forgotten.

iGoogle, Do You?

Google brings default homepages to a whole nother level with iGoogle.

From the start I set iGoogle to my homepage and started playing. Everything is as intuitive as you can hope for.
Each tab can be drag and dropped to whereve you want it on the page, allowing you to prioritize the design to your taste.

You can create tabs to categorize the content into organized pages by subject heading.
I created a tab for News, Movies, Technology, Art, and Weather.
You can add videos and searches, Youtube, IMDb, and Geekbrief TV. Whatever your heart desires.
A smorgasbord of gadgets await for you to add in a single click to your customized pages.

I must say iGoogle really is a hit and gains a Kitty Safe Rating. so tell us, what do you think of iGoogle?

March 5, 2008

Placated by Press Secretary Perino

Dana Perino, the White House Press Secretary told us today that peace talks with President Abbas of Israel are moving along quickly.
When asked what she means by quickly, her rather cringeful response to the press was,
"Well, they're talking about different things than they were yesterday."

Are you fucking kidding me? How is that an answer? It's unbelievable how little the white house knows,
and how they play it off that they know more than they really do.

Really makes me shake my head how the wool is pulled over our eyes.

March 4, 2008

David Motari Kills Puppy ?

This video surfaced yesterday of a Marine Corp soldier throwing a puppy off a cliff almost definitely killing or severely crippling it.

UPDATE: I had removed his home address in respect of his family but please post your comments on how you feel about this situation as it seems people have many conflicting views.

[from http://federalism.typepad.com ]

UPDATE: A rumor has surfaced that David Motari works for Blackwater Worldwide. A Blackwater official has confirmed that no one depicted in that video is a Blackwater employee or contractor.

UPDATE : David Motari's “Bebo” profile has been switched to private : people outside of his “friends network” are not authorized to view his profile. He has ignore my repeated requests to confirm or deny that he is the “Motari” depicted in the YouTube video. I will keep you updated as this story develops.

UPDATE: Others have noted, and I agree, that we must await confirmation of the puppy killer's identity before taking further action. The matter is still under investigation, and we need to confirm identities. Once we have confirmation, we should do everything legally within our power to make the killer's life a living Hell. But we must await confirmation before taking further action.

March 3, 2008

Train In India Gives Birth To Baby!

A woman gave birth in India on a moving train, the baby was born 2 months premature, she was on the toilet in the train at the time, didnt even realize she gave birth. The baby fell down into the toilet, which opens out onto the train tracks and the baby fell from the train thru the toilet onto the pebbles on the trcks. The train was stopped, the baby was found, and is alive and well, but is in the hospital due to being born 2 months premature, other than that the baby is fine!

March 2, 2008

MY EBAY AUCTION!

Bill Graham the famous rock n roll promoter from the 60s through the late 80s, had a collection
of numbered, limited edition hand made silk ties made.

This is a limited edition #152 of 200, 100% Silk and Hand Made, Winterland Tie.

This particular tie is numbered 152 out of 200, all labels are clearly shown.
It has never been worn, well maybe once but not to any events.

Incredibly rare, and beautiful 100% hand made silk.

I have looked high and low all over for others of it's series, only finding one for $3000 about ten years ago
in San Diego, California.

I am personally selling this limited edition tie to help with bills and a new 12 string guitar to keep the love
of music alive.

Does Birth Define Religious Obligation?

Commentary to come...