What Real People Think

Is it getting hot in here?

2007-01-29T09:04:00.000-08:00

Global warming. Well, it looks like Bush is on the bandwagon, finally. In a recent report, Washington, D.C. is finally admitting that it may be an actual phenomenon they need to pay attention to. Bush said in his State of the Union address that it is a fact and proposed a reduction in gasoline consumption by 20% over the next 10 years. But is it a little too late? Al Gore says in "An Inconvenient Truth" that we need to do more to stave off global warming or it will be doomsday for us here on Earth. What do you think?

I think:
If you haven't seen the movie yet, go see it--then make up your own mind. I believe that we human have contributed to the current dubious state of the environment however, I also believe that the planet has its own cycles of which we have no control over. There is an interesting article on the NASA web site about the global warming debate that is good reading. We can and should be doing our part to be more conscious about what we are doing to the planet. Just like in the case of the ozone layer. But I do not think that doomsday is imminent.

Odd News

2007-01-25T10:39:00.000-08:00

It's been quite a while but I think I'll pick up where I left off. . .Anyone sick of the news lately? Iraq, Iraq, Iraq, Iraq. I know the war sucks and we are sucking at this war but come on! I'm sick of it. So, how about some Odd News to liven things up a bit? What do you think?

I think:
Here are some of my favoriate Odd News stories:

Boy Screams Killing Chickens

Iguana Erection Lasts for Over a Week

Pet Shop Owner Brews Up Beer for Dogs

Immaculate Conception: Komodo Dragon Gives "Virgin Birth"

It's not a tumor!

2006-01-23T09:54:00.000-08:00

A four-year study in the UK has found that there is no link between using cell phone and the increased risk of brain tumors. Apparently, no matter how long you use your cell phone or how frequently, our risk does not increase. The study was prompted by reports that glioma patients had an increased growth of their tumors on the side of their heads they most often used for their phones. An overview of the results to the study are posted on the Institute of Cancer Research Web site. What do you think?

I think:
Boy, that makes me feel good. I use my cell phone a lot and I'm glad that I most likely won't get a brain tumor from using it. But it is funny to me that whenever there is a new technology, someone always freaks out about its effects on our bodies. I know that there has been some research done with electromagnetic fields (EMF) and health, like linking people who live close to power lines and their increased risk for cancer, but come on people! Chill out!

Fact or Fiction: A Million Little Pieces

2006-01-12T09:36:00.000-08:00

No doubt you've heard about A Million Little Pieces, the "memoir" by James Frey that recounts his crazy life as an alcoholic and drug addict and chronicles his way back to sobriety. Oprah Winfrey had him on her show claiming that he "kept her up for two nights" while she read his book. Now, there are rumors that this best seller isn't really a memoir and that some of the details in his book have been "embellished" to make it more exciting. TheSmokingGun.com, a Web site that seeks to provide the truth by publishing government and law enforcement documents, published a document that exposed Frey's book as fraud and the author as the "man who conned Oprah." What do you think?

I think:
I went out and bought this book after seeing it on Oprah (yes, I'm a groupie). I'm always looking for good books to read and all the ones I've read that Oprah suggests ARE GOOD. Now, with that said, I think it is deceptive to market a book as a memoir when pieces of it are fictional. That's just bad advertising, and in my opinion, Frey not only wanted a best selling book, he wanted to catapult himself to stardom since he's the "main character" in the book. He might have been better served (and could have avoided all this controversy) if he wrote the book based on his own story about a fictional character, not himself.

Oprah has finally broken her silence on the Larry King Show and said that the rumors are "much ado about nothing." But this doesn't really bode well for her in that it seems like she was duped by some con-artist. Either way, I intend to read the book I bought but I will now view it as fiction, not a memoir. And time will tell if this scandal actually helps or hurts Frey's book sales. If it helps, maybe it was a good strategy. If it hurts, I hope Frey enjoys his 15 seconds of fame while it lasts.

It's Confirmed: Bradgelina is On The Way

2006-01-11T10:08:00.000-08:00

Today, People Magazine announced that Angelina Jolie confirmed she is pregnant with Brad Pitt's child. "Yes, I'm pregnant," Jolie told a charity aid worker in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Monday. The pregnancy has since been confirmed by representatives of both stars. Jolie is currently in the Dominican Republic filming The Good Shepherd with Matt Damon. She is also working with Yele Haiti, a charity for the empowerment of Haitian citizens. The progeny of the two hottie stars is expected this summer. What do you think?

I think:
Whew! Boy, am I glad Angelina got that off her chest. Now we can all get on with our lives.

SUVs: No Safer Than Cars for Kids

2006-01-03T12:39:00.000-08:00

A new US study reveals that the mass Urban Assalt Vehicles err. . . Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) on the road today are no more safe than regular cars when it comes to kids' safety. The study, published in this month's Pediatrics journal, found that the risk of injury to children wearing appropriate safety restraints was about 1.7 percent regardless of vehicle type. Child injuries from rollover accidents were more common in SUVs and outweighed the safety benefits of larger, heavier vehicle frames. What do you think?

I think:
I know that Americans want their BIG automobiles with lots of room for the kids, the dog, and all the crap that people lug around with them but that's what station wagons were for, and minivans. SUVs are a waste of money and environmental resources and anything that gives them bad press is a good thing in my opinion.

Real Estate Bubble About to Burst?

2005-12-30T14:16:00.000-08:00

USA Today reports that homes on the market are at their highest level since 1986. According to the report, it would take nearly 5 months to sell all the homes available right now, the longest period since June 1993. That may signal a long-needed drop in high home prices (especially for those of us who live in expensive areas such as San Francisco). Some experts think this signals a "cooling off" rather than a "bursting bubble" and site low mortgage rates as softening the slow down. What do you think?

I think:
It's about damn time. I understand that real estate has been the only solid investment over the past 5 years (compared to other investments) but give us a break! The average American makes about $40K per year so you do the math. . . do you think an average can family afford a house in today's market? NO! For those of us who own homes a slow down in home sales is not such a good thing, especially if we paid through the nose for our homes. All I know is that some how the market has to come down or else salaries need to go up. . . if the American dream to own a home is a possible reality and not just a crazy fantasy.

Not Welcome in His Hometown

2005-12-27T12:54:00.000-08:00

Arnold Schwarzenegger won't be following up on his famous words, "I'll be back" when it comes to visiting his hometown again in Graz, Austria. Since he ordered the execution of two convicted murderers, (including Nobel Prize nominee, Tookie Williams) folks in Graz ain't to happy with him. City leaders deleted all references to him on Web sites related to Graz and stripped his name from the city's soccer stadium. What do you think?

I think:
Arnie hasn't been making too many friends lately. His approval ratings are at an all-time low at 34%. I'm sure he knew that he wouldn't win over any one with his decision to stay Tookie's execution. Personally, I was against recalling Governor Davis because of all the dimwits who ran for office, we got stuck with somebody who thought being a politician was just like being an actor . . . NOT! Clearly, Schwarzenegger has had his own agenda when he first stepped off his ostentatious campaign bus. I don't think he ever wanted to actually represent what Californians really want. So I give a big "high five" to Graz for saying, "We think you're a dolt and we don't want to be associated with you anymore." Good for them.

Merry @#$% Whatever!

2005-12-21T12:39:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since my last post, and for good reason: there really was nothing to write and/or think about. I've been really disappointed by the news lately and lack of really interesting current events so I was on sort of a boycott. But, something has caught my attention and it's this friggin' debate about what to say to people at this time of year. Is it "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays?" When The Daily Show and The Colbert Report picked up on this heated debate, I knew something was up. What do you think?

I think:
Since nothing is happening of great significance in the world today (and we're so numb to the War in Iraq), people are bored and they need something to fight about. And of course, it only makes sense to fight about how to wish someone something nice during this time of year. A poll conducted by the Indystar.com (Indiana's no. 1 local media site), says the "Merry Christmas" outweighs "Happy Holidays" by nearly 30%. Guess this gives conservatives the ammunition to threaten lawsuits that store clerks should say "Merry Christmas." Frankly, I'd like to tell all the dumb asses who are up in arms about this to drink your damn egg nog and shut up! It's bad enough that I get barraged everywhere I go with ads to "BUY, BUY, BUY" and get Santa Claus crammed down my throat right after Halloween. Now I've got to deal with a bunch of whiners who bitch about this?!? Let's just all say, "MERRY @#$% WHATEVER!"

Obsessed with Celebrities

2005-10-28T12:55:00.000-07:00

I've been wondering these past few weeks, why are we so obsessed with celebrities? We want to know what they wear, who they are dating, what they are eating, what they do, what they buy, and the list goes on and on. We've essentially created a huge industry for the paparazzi trying to capture photos of celebrities doing everything from taking their kids on walks to taking a crap. Why? Are our lives so mundane and pitiful that we have to obsess over what Brad Pitt eats or where Paris Hilton puked? It's a hard one because I try not to get pulled into all that junk but I sometimes find myself surfing around the Internet just to see how Madonna is wearing her hair nowadays. What do you think?

I think:
I did a quick search on "obsessed with celebrities" on Google and found some interesting hypothesis. One guy writes on Slate.com that it has to do with the human instinct to reproduce, meaning it's all about sex. I found this link on some guy's blog who also gives another reason: social status. There are those who warn about celebrity obsession like Dr. Phil. There's even an article on Irish Health.com that discusses how bad it is for teenagers to get overly-obsessed with celebrities. My own opinion goes back to my high school days. There are just those people who seem to have "it." You know the popular people. Everyone wants to be like them. I think we never really lose that when we "grow up" and that's why we're so obsessed with celebrities. They're popular, have tons of money, and good looks and we want to be like them.

Rocky returns? Pleeease!

2005-10-18T09:49:00.000-07:00

Yet another piece of evidence that Hollywood has no creativity left: Rocky returns. It's been fifteen years since the last movie and Sylvester Stallone is now 59 years old. But he's going to write and direct Rocky Balboa, which will begin shooting next year. Interestingly enough, the plot will focus on an aging, widowed Rocky who is reluctant to get back in the ring but does it anyway "just to compete." What do you think?

I think:
This one is almost too easy to criticize so, I'll try to take the high road. I'm just wondering how much this movie is going to cost to make and if it will pay for itself once it lands in theaters. I don't think the demographic everyone is going for these days, the 18-24 year olds, will want to see this movie. Maybe Stallone is trying to capitlize on the aging baby boomers? Maybe he's just bored and needs to do something with his time or else he'll go crazy. One thing I do know, this one will be out on DVD for rental faster than you can say, "Yo, Adrian!"

Vogue Editor Gets Pied by PETA

2005-10-11T10:57:00.000-07:00

Anna Wintour, editor of the U.S. edition of Vogue, was struck in the face with a tofu cream pie on Saturday by members of PETA to protest against her support for the use of animal fur by the fashion industry. Wintour was attending the Chloe fashion ready-to-wear show at the Tuileries Gardens in central Paris. She was not hurt by the attack. She was reported to have joked that tofu may be good for the skin. It was the second such attack on the fur supporter by PETA, who in this incident, were upset that Wintour turned down an anti-fur advertisement to replace one that touted fur. What do you tink?

I think:
Vogue and Wintour have the right to not run PETAs ads. The magazine is all about fashion and though it would be a strong icon for not supporting fur in fashion, I don't think it makes the publication look bad for refusing PETAs offer. PETA kind of reminds me of Greenpeace. An organization with a worthy cause but run by some militant radicals. Now, pieing someone in the face is not really the act of guerilla warriors but, some of their protests, by underground Animal Liberation Front (ALF) are: like the time they bombed a Michigan lab. If PETA wants to pie people in the face, fine. As long as the people getting pied don't mind. Seems to me that Wintour is a pretty good sport about it.

CEO Good Ol' Boys Network Still Alive and Well

2005-10-07T19:25:00.000-07:00

In any regular job, if you got fired for embellishing on the truth (essentially lying) and it was highly publicized in the news, you'd have a hard time trying to get a new job. But not if you're a high-powered, high tech CEO. Craig Conway, former PeopleSoft CEO, got dismissed from his job by the board of directors in October 2004 for "reckless exaggeration to Wall Street analysts." Then, he received a nice little $18 million severance package after being fired. Yesterday, Salesforce.com announced that it appointed Conway to its board. The Chairman and CEO of Salesforce.com, Mark Benioff, happens to be an old crony of Conway's from his Oracle days. What do you think?

I think:
Now, I may be biased because I worked for PeopleSoft while Conway was CEO (and during the Oracle hostile takeover), and I also work for Siebel Systems right now (in the midst of the Oracle acquisition) so please forgive me, but I must say that this stinks of some impending personal pissing match. It seems a little too coincidental that Conway was appointed to the Salesforce.com board only 3 weeks after Oracle announced its intentions to acquire Siebel Systems. And Salesforce.com happens to be one of Siebel's biggest competitors in the OnDemand CRM space. With Conway's historical rampage to stamp out Larry Ellison's egotistical hostile takeover of PeopleSoft, it looks to me like this is going to be part deux. It just makes me sick that I'll probably get laid off (like I did before), along with a lot of other good employees, while these guys piss all over us, and rake in the cash. From my perspective, not much has changed regarding corporate governance and CEOs.

Deadly 1918 Flu Virus Brought Back to Life

2005-10-06T09:55:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, it was announced that the virus that killed tens of millions of people after World War I has been resurrected in a high-security U.S. lab. Apparently, this was done to combat the growing possible epidemic of avian influenza. Preliminary analysis suggests that this deadly "Spanish flu" virus that rampaged around the world in 1918-19 was itself a strain of bird flu which leapt to humans. Scientists revived the virus by flying to Alaska to take frozen lung tissues from a woman who died of the virus who was buried in permafrost. Then they "rebuilt" the virus at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. The scientific community lauds this as ground-breaking research for preventing outbreak of a pandemic yet critics say the risk is too great for the virus to fall into the wrong hands. What do you think?

I think:

I'm all for doing research to protect lives but I guess it's the amazing strength of this virus that scares me. It killed healthy adults within 24 hours back in 1918 and in studies of lab mice, all of the mice that were given the flu virus died. I don't have much confidence in the security of our government based on previous evidence. They have found a link between this virus and the bird flu virus that is affecting Asia right now. I guess that is good, especially if they can create a vaccine. Until then, I'll just hope they can keep it under tight security.

Sour Apples for the iPod nano

2005-09-29T15:27:00.000-07:00

Seems that the incredibly cool and small Apple iPod nano has a few kinks. Yesterday, Apple conceded that some of the screens on its latest music player are subject to cracking and scratching. The screen problem emerged after users complained to Apple and reported their experiences in various online forums in the last several days. It is now offering free replacements or full refunds to those affected. However, the company has not disclosed how many units are affected, saying it was only 'a tiny fraction'' of the amount already sold. What do you think?

I think:
This may be a case where someone in marketing wanted to get these babies on the market so fast that Q&A was done hastily. If you read some of the reader reponses to the BusinessWeek article, it sounds like Apple should have done a better job of telling consumers to buy the protective case or to be careful because the device scratches easily. Everyone wants to take a shot at Apple, probably because they are dominating the portable digital music player market. Though this will give the company some headaches, I'm sure Apple will be just fine.

Bush Warns that Violence in Iraq May Grow. Duh!

2005-09-28T12:29:00.000-07:00

Today, President Bush declared that Americans need to know about the gains being made in Iraq, and again predicted victory there, but he warned that terrorists would step up their attacks in advance of next month's vote on a new constitution. Mr. Bush's remarks in the Rose Garden came a day after Iraqi and U.S. forces announced they had killed Abdullah Abu Azzam, the No. 2 al Qaeda leader in Iraq, during a weekend raid in Baghdad. Al Qaeda in Iraq issued an Internet statement denying that Abu Azzam was its deputy leader, calling him "one of al Qaeda's many soldiers" and "the leader of one its battalions operating in Baghdad." Do you think the war against terror in Iraq is moving toward a victory?

I think:
I seem to remember back in 2003, after Saddam Hussein was captured, that President Bush declared victory in Iraq. Now, he did also say that there was more work to do but many of us felt that his victory dance was a bit premature. I won't even get into the debate about whether or not it was a good idea to go to war but what I do want to point out is that Bush's administration was pretty darn short-sighted about this war. There was no consideration at all for the overall objective and how long it would take or how expensive it would be to reach it. At first, we were scared shitless to hear that Iraq had anthrax, nerve gas and WMDs. When we didn't find them, our objective was to spread democracy in Iraq. We found that to be a pretty difficult and lengthy (not to mention costly) endeavor. Then it was to fight terrorism. Now, it's just to get out without getting any more egg on our face. It is very naive to think we can overthrow Saddam Hussein, throw a bunch of our troops over there to "secure" the country, and then expect them to adopt democracy over night. How much longer has Iraq been a country than the United States? Say, a few THOUSAND years! Even I can figure out that it won't be easy to completely change a nation's identity and culture, and I'm just an average person. Duh!

The Battle Over Intelligent Design

2005-09-26T10:40:00.000-07:00

Today, a federal court case in Harrisburg, PA, prompted by the ACLU, gets underway about whether the Dover School District should be allowed to teach "Intelligent Design." There is a lot of debate about this theory as it uses both science and religion to explain the origins of nature and the universe. It proposes that there is a designer behind everything and that designer just might be God. Many oppose this theory being taught to our student because of its links to religion. What do you think?

I think:
To me, this is a hard one because I believe the purpose of education is to present all the known theories and then let the student decide what he or she believes. Yet, I also strongly believe in the separate of church and state. Since our country was founded on the idea of freedom to decide whatever religion or belief system an individual subscribes to, I don't think it is a good idea to stress one way or the other. Right now, Darwinism is the dominant theory taught because it is relatively easy to prove. Perhaps we should treat this one the way sexual education was treated for a while: let parents decide whether or not their child should be exposed to this idea. Give people a choice. Afterall, that is what is great about this country. When our freedom of choice is taken away, we are no longer free.

Let Me See Those Hands

2005-09-21T15:02:00.000-07:00

The American Society for Microbiology and the Soap and Detergent Association recently conducted a survey of 6,300 men and women leaving the restroom and found that only 83% of them washed their hands, even though 91% say they do. Women tended to be better than men at washing their hands. The report says that just any old hand washing won't prevent spread of disease. You need to wash your hands for at least 40 seconds (or sing the Happy Birthday song twice). What do you think?

I think:
It's no surprise that women are better at men washing their hands. Just remember that when you meet a man you've never met, and he offers to shake your hand.

Hey Jennifer, are you here?

2005-09-15T10:24:00.000-07:00

On August 26, 2005, 48-year old David Hesterbey entered Jennifer Aniston's Malibu home through an open door. He told staff there that he was "looking for Jennifer." Apparently, Aniston was away at the time. On September 14, 2005, Aniston won a restraining order against Hesterbey who was ordered to stay at least 100 yards away from Aniston for three years. What do you think?

I think:
Somebody on that staff should have made sure the door was locked. Most celebrities will, at some point, have run-ins with weirdos. Privacy is just something you give up when you're famous. The only way to stop it is if consumers would stop buying all the rag magazines. Then the paparazzi, and weirdo stalkers would back off.

What the "Bleep" Do We Know?

2005-09-12T12:46:00.000-07:00

Just saw this movie last night, "What the Bleep Do We Know?" And I have to say it literally blew my mind. Released in 2004, this movie is a hybrid movie/documentary that combines information on quantum physics and neurochemistry with a modern story-line about an unhappy, anti-depressant addicted photographer who learns that there’s more to her life and her "problems" than meets the eye. The viewer comes away with a whole new view on reality. The most compelling phenomina that the movie/documentary highlights are an actual DC Crime Study and Dr. Masaru Emoto's study on water crystals. If you don't believe in "magic," you need to see this movie.

To Those Who Died Needlessly

2005-09-09T12:13:00.000-07:00

To Those Who Died Needlessly After Hurricane Katrina Passed:

I'm sorry that our government was too busy preparing for terrorist attacks to come help you. I'm sorry that I personally could not have done more for you. I'm sorry that your loved ones will mourn your loss and the loss of everything they had.

To get more revealing looks into what these people had to suffer go to these links:
Charmaine Neville: A New Orleans Evacuee Story
More on Charmaine's Story
Oprah's Special Report: Inside the Katrina Catastrophe
Nightmare in New Orleans by Brian Williams
Reporter's Notebook: Katrina's Aftermath From the Ground by Jeffery Kofman
The Survival of New Orleans Blog

Please do what you can to help and hope that you're never in the same situation as these people were.

Abandoned by Their Own Country

2005-09-06T08:54:00.000-07:00

On NBC's Meet the Press this past Sunday, Tim Russert, interviewed a number of government officials including the secretary of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff, the governor of Mississippi, Haley Barbour, and the president of Jefferson Parish, Aaron Broussard about the lack of swift emergency response to the devistation left by Hurricane Katrina. When Aaron Broussard was interviewed, he gave an emotional appeal for help and completely broke down sobbing. What do you think?

I think:
There is only one other time I watched something like this on television with complete disbelief and horror, and that was September 11, 2001. It is in times of disaster and hardship when we really see the character of our government, sometimes it's good and sometimes it's bad. This time it was bad. Why did the government wait? Why did so many people die unnecessarily? Again, it all comes down to power and money. The people of Lousiana and Mississippi don't have special lobbyists or big business on their side. They are just average people, with a large percentage of them categorized as "poor." What's really frightening is this kind of thing typically happens in third world countries where the poor always suffer the most. This isn't supposed to happen in the United States. I'm sure the world is getting a whole new perspective on how things work here in the good ol' USA. They're probaby shocked like the rest of us.

Gas Prices Soar: We're Getting Reemed

2005-08-31T10:07:00.000-07:00

Now that Lousiana and Mississippi are dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, we're all having to deal with inflated gas prices. Today, the media says crude prices soar to an unheard of $70 per barrel, and we could see prices at the pump jump to $3 per gallon. What do you think?

I think:
We'd better start figuring out another source of fuel for our automobiles or we're gonna go broke. Why do we always wait until things get so crappy to actually do something? Some scientists are exploring hydrogen fuel as an alternative. And Hawaii recently passed legislation to put caps on wholesale gasoline prices in an effort to ease the burden on motorists. Some say this will likely happen in California (where I live and drive) but others say this is a bad idea. I don't know what the answer is because there are both short- and long-term solutions to think about. All I know is I'm gonna dig my bike out of the gargage and clean off the rust really soon.

Flower Power

2005-08-30T09:17:00.000-07:00

Valentine's Day. Birthdays. Anniversaries. And the inevitable, "Ooops, I screwed up." All occasions that call for flowers. But why do we do this? Guilt? A natural urge to give? And why flowers? Why not shrubs? What do you think?

I think:
It's quite interesting when you start surfing around looking for the meaning and history of flowers. But if bees and other bugs are so attracted to flowers, why should humans be any different? They're pretty and some of them smell so good, they're hard to resist. It's only natural to want to give something so beautiful and odoriferous to express your emotions or celebrate a special occasion. So go ahead. Say it with flowers.

Martha! Martha! Martha!

2005-08-25T14:13:00.000-07:00

Today, Martha Stewart held a news conference to talk about her two new NBC shows, "Martha," a daytime show, and "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart." Both shows are designed to capitalize on her new found fame as an ex-jail bird. Some say this will be a boon for her empire, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. Others say, she's just a rich bitch who won't play by the rules, and eventually her time will run out. What do you think?

I think:
Martha should get while the gettin's good. More power to her. I'm sure most of us would love to have our shot at 15 minutes of fame but this chick not only got hers but is still getting it at 64 years old. Not too shabby. Sure, she annoys people because of her condesending tone and elitist ideals but you gotta give the gal credit: she started out as a caterer and now she's a media mogul. Sounds like a good thing to me.