MySpace is Your Space

By now it’s no secret that schools, employers, parents and
authorities alike peruse the site. I still cannot understand
why the hell some people post pictures or blogs knowing full
well anyone could potentially find it. I said it once and I’ll say
it again, IT IS PUBLIC! Meaning, if you post a picture of yourself
drinking a beer or smoking a bong and your only 14 year old, you can
get nabbed for underage drinking. If you tag a wall and take pictures
of it, you could be nailed for vandalism. While I don’t believe in
censorship, in fact I think a strong adverse reaction is nearly
guaranteed, I think people need to exercise better judgment.

There have been numerous sexual attacks and murders
steaming from the social network. In many cases while
Myspace claims to be on the look out for pornography,
profanity and other such inappropriate things on profiles
(especially those of miners), I personally have yet to see it.
Frankly, it’s really annoying. I swear the majority of people
are naked, okay at least half naked! You might as well just google
some porn, be forewarned that google may cough up your name
to the feds though!

Isn’t anyone interested in having privacy anymore? In actuality
I don’t want to see pictures of the guy I broke up with or my
ex-roommate’s inferred porno tape. Have we all gotten that
freaking trashy? I find myself less and less interested in this
site and more interested in going out and having a life! It’s a
great tool for staying in touch with friends. For those who
can’t seem to keep it in their pants, you’re annoying the hell
out of the rest of us. Some people may have actually used this
as a social networking site and not a free personal ad space!

From what I’ve been hearing the site stands a good chance of
being shut down for not enforcing their censorship procedures.
It has also been reported that terrorist groups like Al Qaeda are
using the site for information. I’m not sure if I believe that or not.
Either way, privacy and freedom of speech are about to change.

"Just One More Step"

Sunday night I had the privilege of hearing Aron Ralston
speak on behalf of my cousin's foundation (for information
on Katie's foundation go to www.KateSvitekMemorial.org).
Wow, what an amazing guy! It was really a pleasure to listen
to him retell his story. I had a brief opportunity to speak with
him and aside from being adorable I was taken a back by his
charisma. I strongly encourage you to pick up his book
"Between a Rock and a Hard Place."

His Story

In short, Aron (then 27 years old) set off on a solo mountaineering
expedition in a remote part of Utah. With only several liters of
water and maybe a days a supply of food Aron set off on his adventure.
While repelling down the canyon Aron found himself atop an unstable
boulder which seconds later would be crushing his hand against the
canyon wall.

When the boulder came to rest Aron was trapped and unable to
free his hand. Five nights and six days later Aron was forced to
either amputate his hand or die their in the canyon. Astonishingly,
sleep deprived, starving, dehydrated Aron mustered enough
strength to perform the amputation. At death's doorstep Aron
managed to find a family who guided him to the search
parties that were literally just beginning to look for him.
Some how he managed. Truly it was a case of mind over matter.
The human spirit and the human mind are such incredible things.
By all medical accounts, Aron should have been dead.

Aron had brought his hand held digi (digital video camera) with him.
During his time in the canyon Aron had begin to record his last will a
nd testament. Leaving words for his family and friends to remember
him by. In doing so Aron said he recalled various memories of his
family and all of his friends. He also said in recording these memories
he found himself smiling a great deal and that was what sustained him.
The thought of his family and his friends. During his speech, I found
myself saying, "I couldn't agree more." I'm so lucky to have such an
amazing family and such incredible friends. I have not but one doubt
that the memory of my family and friends would have carried me through
such an event as well.

"Just One More Step"
Aron said, that he continued to mutter the words "Just one more step,"
after he freed himself and was bleeding, searching for help,
closing in on the end of his life. I again shuck my head in silent
agreement. I thought to myself that I've been in situations
when I've uttered those exact words, "one more step."
I really think that the human mind is so remarkable!
There are in fact those times when you put on blinders
and just say to yourself...don't think about it, just do it!
Later on when you arrive at point b (where ever that is)
you just say how the hell did I ever survive that?
How was I able to make it?

Tying it to Katie

After his experience Aron traded in his job as an engineer
to continue doing what he loved, climbing mountains.
Aron now works as part of a search and rescue team in Aspen.
He says after this situation he decided to focus on his
interpersonal relationships as they are what really saved
him in that Utah canyon. He continues to climb and has in
fact designed some of the prosthetic attachments which he
now uses to assist him in his expeditions.

Again when he spoke of following his dreams and investing in
his personal relationships, it resonated with me. I thought
of all you that I care so much for. I thought of Kate and how
she always followed her heart. Though we are all forever
traumatized by her loss, she followed her dreams until the
very end. How many people can you say that about?!
Kate had a love for nature and understanding of the outdoors.
Absolutely nothing got in that girls way! I really admire that.

Seeing the Beauty

Our neighbors have long since stopped coming to check
on me when they hear my screams. In all likelyhood they
know I just ran into another silverfish or water bug.
My roommate can attest to this as she has had to rescue
me on many occasions when the bottle of raid proved no match
for some spider. My step father has mentioned many times
that I have an unnatural bond with my hairdryer.
Somehow after seeing Aron's slides and looking at these
stunning canyons I can see how Katie would fall in love with nature.

Sometimes, I think my view of the world is somewhat
narrow. I have an amazing view of the entire Manhattan
Skyline (not from my apartment of course, but from the
corner of my street), looking at it at night, with all of the
lights is just beautiful. Being a city girl, I know more about grit
and broken sidewalks then I do about long stretches of desolate
desert. I know more about skyscrapers and architecture then
I do about the brilliant colors that exists in these far off places.

We start heading into southern Jersey or western Pennsylvania
and I start losing it because the houses are miles apart and the
grass is not only real, but it's green! If I had to close my eyes
and imagine some beautiful spot, it would be out west. It would
be some long stretch of desert where vibrant reds and oranges
drape a lonely landscape. It would be some place I've seen
in mind and some place I would have never expected myself
to admire the way I do. Isn't that strange?

Well, no One Ever Said I was Graceful!

Okay, so I’ve long since come to the realization that I’m far
more quirky then graceful. This week, I’ve managed to actually
get scolding coffee up my nose, broken my little toe (again) and
I’ve managed to get sick. This past weekend while trying to look
cute, I went to take a sip of my drink and yes…I got the straw up
my nose! It’s not the first time that has happened though.
At least I managed to narrowly escape being hit in the face by a pigeon,
which not be the first time that has happened either. I remember
when I was driving back to Boston (from Philadelphia) with my friend
Dave a bird committed suicide by flying into his windshield.

Do these things happen to anyone else or should I be walking
around with some kind of caution sign on my back? Before I write
anything of relevance I felt that I needed to get that off my chest,
so thanks for hearing me out. In the words of Elaine Benice
"All right, all right, look, I don't have grace, I don't want grace,
I don't even say grace, okay?”

What Would You Do?

I was watching the news this morning and there was actually a
lot that struck me today. However the most interesting segment
that I really wanted to draw some attention to was regarding
child abduction in broad day light.

The NBC Today Morning Show crew put the public to the test
by planting a child and assailant (both actors of course) in a
New York suburb. The child was screaming "Help Me...Someone
help me! You're not my Dad!" Apparently it took hours for
someone to actually approach the man and attempt to intervene.
People walked past the screaming child and gawked, but no
one said or did anything. Eventually, these two men approached
the assailant, but it would be hours before these proactive citizens
walked by.

I could see why someone might not approach the pair.
Some people might have been concerned for their own safety.
Personally, I might have thought it was a step father and step
daughter arguing. In cases of parents publicly disciplining their
child, while I might completely disagree I wouldn't intervene.
It's similar to when a woman was raped on the subway years
ago and while people witnessed it, no one said or did a thing.
I would like to believe I would at least call 9-1-1.
It's bizarre, the stuff that people are made of.
I would definitely be interested in reading
more studies regarding this subject, so if you know of any,
please drop me a line.

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Finally, Some Relief for Darfur

Looks like yesterday around 11:00 am, the questions of
contributing financial aid was voted on.
Thankfully the amendment passed...providing Darfur
with nearly 50 million dollars. Thank God!
While I'm somewhat relieved, I was very disappointed
to find out the amendment pass by 5 VOTES!

Please find the official voting results by clicking here.
I find it very disturbing that so many people
were willing to seal the fate of these people by not
contributing aid! It's humbling to know how
many independent organizations agreed with me and
contributed their own aid. Unbelievable!

I'm kind of torn, I'm so happy that something is finally
being done (without the help of the UN, which I feel is a
farce anyway). It's still very sad to know the margin
by which humanity prevailed.

*Thanks for the tip PHG!*

Holocaust Number 2!

Again, people are not paying attention to this. Genocide is
taking place in Darfur Sudan and has actually spread across
the border to Chad. The Janjaweed (Arab Muslim Militia) have
been brutally murdering African Muslims.

It's unclear if the Janjaweed are backed by the Sudanese
government. Really, does it matter who they are backed by?
This is the kind of war we should be fighting. The UN has been far
to slow resolving the matter. Every minute the United Nations
deliberates on how to approach the situation a daughter losses
her mother, a father losses his son. Shouldn't someone be putting
their money where their mouth is?

In many cases we are far to late. Women have been savagely
rapped and beaten, children have been tortured and murdered.
These are crimes against humanity and guess what, it's been going
on for two years already. The violence has just escalated.

We said after the Holocaust, we wouldn't wait to intervene in
these kinds of things again. Since that pledge, Guatemala,
Rwanda, Bosnia, Congo, and now the Sudan. Yup, we've done a
great job of living up to that promise. Instead of putting
the focus where it should be we've turned our back on people
who really need help, to direct our attention to Iraq and Iran.
Basically oil comes at more then the cost of the fluctuating
American dollar, it comes at the cost of life...all over the world.

Creating a Serial Killer

So I've been doing a lot of reading on this topic, especially
after the recent and tragic murder of Imette St. Guillen.
It is a morbid fascination I know. It's one that a lot of
people share with me though.

For a while profilers, pathologists and therapists
agreed that sociopathic behavior, commonly associated
with serial killer, was a biological and neurological disorder.
In other words it is more the result of nature as opposed to
nurture. Previously, the consensus had been the issue was
developmental upbringing. Making the behavior the product
of nurture rather then nature. The more I read, the more
I believe it's a combination.

Sociopath is defined as "Antisocial personality disorder
(APD) is a personality disorder which is often characterized
by antisocial and impulsive behavior. APD is generally
(if controversially) considered to be the same as, or similar
to, the disorder that was previously known as psychopathic or
sociopath personality disorder."

Being a disorder that could be classified as neurological,
there is some chemistry involved (at least I subscribe to
this as one of the catalysts in the make-up of a serial killer).
Neurology is pretty interesting stuff. Different parts of the brain
impact different behaviors. The parts of the brain I find most
fascinating (in reading about serial killers) are below

The limbic brain

More or less, the entire emotional wiring of an individual is
triggered in this part of the brain. This portion of the brain
controls Moods, feelings, and emotions such as: Hunger, thirst,
sleep, joy, happiness and sadness. It is located in the internal part
of the brain. It's other function is basically the middle man
(receiving and communicating sensory information) to and from
and the cerebral cortex. Another interesting fact is this part of
the brain that houses the the limbic system (the Hypothalamus)
is about the size of a dime and accounts for 1/3000 of the brains total weight.

The cerebral cortex, in short controls the bodies
physical actions and reactions.


The temporal lobe

This portion of the brain is responsible for processing and interpreting
auditory stimuli. It does play a strong role in emotional processing.
It is located close to the temple on either side of the head right above
the ears. Because it is not well protected, only a thin skin/skull protecting
it. Hence it is very vulnerable.

This all contributes to the genetic composition of a sociopath in
that in many cases as children these murders were abused as
children and or sustained some kind of head trauma. Abuse
contributes to the developmental composition of a
child on an emotional and physical level.

In doing some research the most logical equation seems to be one
I found in Court TV's Crime Library. Essentially there are the chemical
and developmental variables but additionally there are social
circumstances or situations which surly contribute. In other words
Chemistry (nature) + Development (nurture) + various
social factors = One scary person (with a higher threshold for pain).
I'll have to do more on this topic later, but
I thought it was pretty interesting.

Stop Stalking Me!

The internet is getting kind of scary all together.
This morning a co-worker of mine informed me that you can
actually check to see when, where and for how long someone
checked your email message for. That is a little much. I don't
think I even want to know! This site is http://www.didtheyreadit.com/ is
encouraging this bizarre stalker culture. How accurate can that
be anyway? I leave my gmail open all day! Somedays my responses
are faster then others because I don't have a ton of work.

If you used this stupid thing, you would think I was looking
at your email all day. Wow, we must be the most distrustful nation
ever. If someone says they didn't get my email, or they accidentally
deleted it or whatever, I will take their word for it. Why is it necessary to
know all this? Doesn't anyone have a life anymore? This is becoming so
frightfully unhealthy.

Where is the privacy? My co-worker also introduced me to the website www.reunitetonight.com. In fooling around with the site, while getting
some work done this morning, I was pleased to find that the information
provided was totally inaccurate. This particular site provides
unlisted home address, phone numbers and email for free.
If the number is unlisted wouldn't you think there is a reason?
I 'm really developing a love hate relationship with the net these days.
Not only is this all very disrespectful of personal privacy, but
think of the individual security breeches. Christ, does everyone
need to have all this information about me?

NewFane, VT Files Articles for Impeachment

Impeachment is the word in NewFane Vermont.
Reportedly, yesterday Bernie Sanders (House, Independent Rep.)
began to file articles of impeachment against Bush.

Citing that he mislead the country into war against Iraq
in addition to participating in illegal spying. Sanders stated
"[Bush] has been a disaster for our country, and a number of actions
that he has taken may very well not have been legal."
Republican Jim Barnett (Chair of the Vermont Republican Party)
fired back, "We should not be impeaching presidents just
because we disagree with them."

Needless to say, Barnett goes on my list of ignorant,
dumbasses. Sorry Jim, maybe your friends and family
aren't in the military. Seriously, it's not that we disagree
with Bush...It's that he is flat out WRONG! Boys and girls
aren't just dying on our side, there are Iraqi casualties as well.
There is a lot of blood being shed and for what?
These people went over to fight because they
thought they were protecting us, they thought
there were WMDs. They thought wrong.
We all thought wrong. Because what you told us, was
WRONG! Why should they die in vain?

Frankly, I'm a little shocked by the Bush Administration.
I figured, even if there were no WMDs that we
would still find some WMDs (if you get my drift).
I think what VT is doing is great, however if you impeach Bush,
wouldn't that make Cheney first in command?

While things are pretty bad, putting Dick in
charge would make them worse. Wait, who' am I kidding?
He is already in charge. When you impeach a president
does the whole administration go with? I'm not 100% sure
but, I don't think that is the case. Lets make the world a
little safer and just impeach the entire administration!

Morning Rant-Can you Please Teach me how to be a Conservative?

Outside of Denver Colorado a public high school geography
teacher (Jay Bennish) sits at home on paid leave.
In a speech to the class Bennish compared Bush to Hitler.
It just makes me laugh. Bennish is far from the first
person to draw this comparison.

If you listen to the whole tape, Bennish sounds (at least to me),
to be playing devil's advocate. He was provoking class discussion.
DEAR GOD, NOT THAT! Is it seriously a crime to
encourage thought outside the box? If you listen to the
whole damn tape, Bennish's spiel was about encouraging
"More in depth thought."

In any event, 16 year old Sean Allen recorded the class
lecture. Allen's father took the recording and released
it to local radio stations, creating a bit of a stir. *Is that
even legal without the permission of Bennish? Isn't that
defamation of character?*

The public school then began to investigate Bennish
some what intensely and asked that he take a paid
leave of absence while they continue to probe.
The investigation revolves around whether Bennish
violated the schools policy of "presenting a balanced point of view."

Can you hear that? That is the sound of me falling out
of my chair, rolling on the floor, laughing my ass off!
It is such a contradiction. In playing the recording on the air
Allen's father failed to present both sides. Rather he failed to
"present a balanced point of view." Bennish cannot defend himself
if he isn't taking part in the interview and the entire tape is not
being played.

Furthermore, these parents never discussed the curriculum
with Bennish. They never raised the issue with the principal
or even the school board. Nope. Straight to the radio station they went.

I understand that a UCLA Alumnus group was actually offering
$100.00 per taped evidence of any professor's leftist rant.
Maybe I have watched Swing Kids to many times! Doesn't
this entire incident only support the media's interpretation of
Bennish's (tenuous) comparison between Bush and Hitler?

If you really want to punish the guy, don't send him on paid leave.
Send him hunting with Dick Cheney!! (No, that will never get old)

Maybe we Should Elect George Clooney in 2008!

So I'm a little annoyed this morning. No, not because Jake Gyllenghall
didn't receive an Oscar for his performance in Broke Back. No,
not because Jon Stewart has refused all my advances!
It is because the current political climate.

This is no bash against Hollywood. In fact I'm proud of Hollywood
lately. This year's nominations point to a new fade in the film
business, that seems to be art imitating life. As much as we
may want to ignore the injustice in the world, some how when
it's up on the big screen, it becomes harder to escape. Go figure!

In any event, I was reading the paper/watching meet the press
(yay for multitasking) on Sunday morning. Generals
and former Vice Presidential candidates argued over the right to
invade another country (for what is essentially a crude black
liquid running through the ground).

I continued reading about the ethnic cleansing going on in the Sudan.
Hundreds of African Muslim men, women and children are being
cleared of the Sudan by Arab Muslims. The Bush administration
acknowledges the genocide, which is taking place near a war which
we are currently a part of, but they do nothing. So I'm just
wondering when Don Cheadle will be staring in his next tear
jerker based on an event that would should and CAN still end.
Sure people will pay attention when HBO makes another
"Sometimes in April."

I'm just so sick of these roundabout answers from politicians.
Once I was done reading about the current atrocities, I returned to
listening to some General avoid the question of whether
or not we are winning the war in Iraq. Talk is cheap!
I'm firm believer in actions speaking louder then words.
Albeit, it would help if Bush could pronounce words correctly,
but I suppose that is neither here nor there. It drives me up
a wall when I hear politicians say well, we have an outline or a
"Plan" to start withdrawing troops from Iraq!

That's great, so let's hear it. I want to know the details! Shit,
you released all the other details of incidents and governments
workings, which essentially helped the enemy! So let's hear it.
I'm sure our enemy will be pleased to know we actually do plan
on evacuating the middle east! This goes back to what I've said before.
The administration is like that guy you date (I know I've dated him)
who makes public his intentions to screw all the women of
New York City and basically posts it on fifty foot high billboard.
Only, to ask you twenty four hours later how you figured out his
scheme. Uh, gee let me think! However, when it comes to
something that is some what inconsequential to the guys on
the other side, we (the American people) still can't get a
straight answer. Is it because we aren't entitled to one?
Or is it just simply the American people can't get a
straight detailed answer because there isn't one?

People are brutally being murdered and treated like
roaches, while we grill politicians for answers they refuse to give.
Why aren't we paying attention to what really matters?
For all those conservatives who are so concerned
with saving the unborn. Well here is a new fight for ya!
Save those who are born, who are young, who are old, who
are suffering and in pain. Save them! Or should we
just make this a job for George Clooney?

*Sorry folks, I realize I need to proof this, but I just wanted to
post before I lost my train of thought*

Walking Rage - Get the HELL Out of my Way!

Who are you kidding, you know you have it too!
I'll be the first to admit I have a problem. It's almost like
Jekyll and Hyde. Every day at approximately 5:30,
I turn into an angry speed walker! I'm walking from
East 45th to 8th and 42nd (Port Authority). So please,
get the hell out of my way!

Most of the time I'm rushing to get the bus home and
avoid sitting next to the rotund, smelly, lady who
takes up both her seat and mine. Who, for some
reason, insists on eating pistachios (constantly
elbowing me in the chest while cracking them open)
only to leave the shells all over the floor.

As fascinating as lightbulbs are, perhaps rush hour is
not the best time to take pictures of whatever. Is it to harsh to
suggest that there be some kind of curfew for tourists?

Maybe they should be allowed out between the
hours of 6 am-10 am and 4 pm to 7 pm. Or even
better, how about a tourist lane on the sidewalk,
so the rest of us doing the commuter strut can hustle
back to where ever we have to be, like an hour ago!

Bite Me!

So in catching up on the news this morning I came across a
really nasty story. Apparently in Westchester New York,
Gareth Whyte bit his girlfriend (Dorothy Pritchett)
in the face, ripping of a piece of her cheek and then spitting
it back her, in some Mother's Day debacle.

Well, I think someone may have been watching Silence of
the Lambs a little to much. I cannot imagine how traumatic
it is to actually have someone bite off a piece of your
face, only to spit it back at you.

While the skin graphing has been successful, Pritchett remains
scared. She has reportedly become agoraphobic as a result of the
violent attack. This is one of the many cases of domestic abuse
which for some reasons seems to sneak by under the radar.
In two words, fucking disgusting. Whyte is looking at 15 years in
prison.

His sentence brings me to another issue. While this is a repulsive,
horrible crime, he is getting fifteen years. Convicted child rapists
and cop killers get only two or three years. Doesn't that seem odd?
These are all serious crimes. seems to be very little if any consequences.
WTF? Good God, there are just so many things wrong right now,
I can't even think of a place to start. I realize pointing out problems
doesn't solve them.

Where do you begin when everything seems like a "Catch 22"?

Wait, Bush's Approval Ratings are Down? Get the Hell out!

This makes me laugh. Why is this even making news?
I've been told by several people that Bush only "won"
(I use the term loosely) because he had the likeability
factor. "He came across as the guy you would want to
get a beer with." I've actually heard this from several people.

In my opinion he is the moron that starts a fight at the bar.
He is the guy who gets everyone kicked out of the bar!
The kind of guy who puts beer nuts up his nose,
only to have them surgically removed later because
they got stuck.

The Gallup poll is reporting his approval ratings have sunk to 45%.
Ummm, isn't that still a little high? Does any one remember
the war going in Afghanistan oops I mean Iraq? What about
the terrorists we still haven't caught? Oh yeah, then there was
that whole natural disaster thing that leveled New Orleans and
surrounding areas. What about appointing conservative fanatics
to the supreme court? While Roe V Wade has yet to be overturned
I fear it's in the near future. Especially if the anti-abortion law
which South Dakota is attempting to pass, goes to the Supreme Court.

I cannot stand the sight of him and or his skuzzy, rightist,
conspiring, dishonest, constituents. I was not a huge fan of Kerry,
but I think he would have done better. I think Cookie Monster
would have done better actually! In fact since Cookie Monster
slimed down he could have worked with the FDA
on tackling the obesity issue in the states.

Hello McFly, what exactly has this administration done? Well aside
from sucked a fat one? None of this should really be a shock though.
Check out "Project for a New American Century." This document
was created by a conservative think tank, headed by the tin man
himself (Cheney). It included other scary republicans
like Wolfowitz and Rumsfield. In any event, it's not a document
I suggest reading if you would like to go to sleep tonight.
It pretty much outlines this war from A-Z.
Are four years up yet?