A Poets View

Well I just spent over two hours cleaning up my computer from a Trojan virus I got while dropping EC.  I decided I would keep dropping until their changes go into effect next week.  Normally I have the same people drop on me everyday.  So, I’m dropping and came across a blog/website that was geared towards banking who dropped on me.  As soon as I dropped on the page all hell broke loose.  Warnings of a spyware threat, virus warnings etc… It was like a hurricane hit my computer.

So, I ran my anti spyware and found 34 threats.  My virus protection came up with 34 trojan infections.  Long story short I got it all cleaned and it’s running okay now.

One thing I want to point out here is just imagine when EC begins allowing everyone imaginable to buy ads on your blog.  These types of viruses can spread like wildfire.

Second, I just answered my own question in regards to my last post on EC.  There is no way in “heck” I want to go through this again so as far as staying with EC even if Today.com comes up with some type of compromise, I seriously doubt I’ll stay with EC. 

By now I’m sure all of you have heard about the changes taking place at Entrecard.  I know my buddy Lynne over at A Malaysian Abroad has already written an article in regards to these changes and is a must read for all of you bloggers out there.

When I first began blogging about six months ago Entrecard was my main source of traffic.  Now it counts for about a third of my traffic.  However I do still enjoy using the program.  I’ve gained many readers and friends using EC and I enjoy reading and commenting on all the blogs.  As a result I am not happy about the changes.

The main point for me is that we will no longer have control over who advertises on our blogs unless we want to pay to reject non relevant ads.  I think that is really ridiculous.  I also don’t know if Today.com and EC will be able to compromise on this situation.

I also do not like the fact that we were all only given a week’s notice on this change.  EC acts like they are doing us all a favor giving us a week. It is very disheartening.

The other point and question I have for all of you is since this is only a week away is it worth it to drop, accept ads and advertise right now?  I really am stumped on this.  Your thoughts?

Well I have to say that Today.com comes up with innovative ideas on a regular basis in order to make money for all of us.  This latest advertising opportunity I think is the best idea they have had since I started blogging here about six months ago.  Granted it is still new and in beta but works very easily and allows you to buy ad space on any blog of your choice within the Today.com community.  It’s very simple.  

The first thing I did was logon and get to the control panel.  I decided what blogs and websites I wanted to advertise and I uploaded banners for them.  I didn’t have actual banners so I just used my own photos.  They give you a space for a url in which you would like to link to your banner.  Example: the above banner I linked to my personal writing website.  I then submitted the info via their submit button on the control page and waited for an approval which only took a few minutes.  Once that was done I searched for a site in which I wanted to buy ad space and paypal took care of the rest.

The ad spaces vary in price depending upon the blog views per month.  They are anywhere from $4.99 on up.  There is also a coupon you can use right now for 10 percent off the price.  These are recurring ads each month though you can modify your ad whenever you want.

I’ve never paid for advertising on my Today.com blogs until now.  I like this idea because it is community based and it is inexpensive advertising.  Within an hour of my campaigns, I have four of them up now, I’m already receiving hits.  

I blog because I love to write and I treat my blogging very seriously.  I see it as a not only a job but a job in which I love to do each day.  I see the ideas that the admin has put forth as incentives for all of us to make money and grow.  It’s a win - win for all of us.  Try it out, it’s fun.

Photo courtesy of ABC7News.com

I had to comment on this story because it is so ridiculous.  There is controversy brewing over the fact that Michelle Obama is showing her bare arms in these photos which appear on her website.  Statements have been made that it is inappropriate and not the time of year to be showing bare arms.

I normally do not like using profanity but WTF.  I think she looks fabulous and furthermore it’s nobody’s business what she wears.  If she wants to wear a bikini, who cares.  Is the media really that desperate that they have to start picking on Michelle Obama’s attire?  Your thoughts?

Read The Full Story Here.

Photo courtesy of www.istockphoto.com

I have to speak out on the octuplet Mom who now has a grand total of 14 children.  It’s been reported that she has also had death threats from people who find it necessary to judge her.

Personally I do not really care.  Although it is something I would never do nor could handle, the fact is, if she has the means and is capable of taking care of all her children who are we to judge?  Live and let live and leave her be.

While we can offer opinions, judging her is not our business.  Period.  It’s no different than Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt adopting dozens of kids so why no death threats or judging them?  It just is not fair.

We should let the Mom live her life and do as she sees fit.  Just my opinion.

After watching the abc7 news show What Would You Do? with John Quinones last evening I came away with some questions for myself.

The show depicts scenarios which may conjure up mixed emotions for those watching the scenes take place.   The message of the show is basically dependent upon how everyday people react to these scenarios.

Last evening there were four different scenes taking place.  The show uses actors and hidden cameras.  The first scenario was a baby locked in a car on a hot day.  Don’t worry, a doll was used and an audio of a baby crying.  Many people walked by the car and noticed the baby however didn’t know what to do.  Many just walked past.  However there were some who called 911 and did get involved.  The same scenario was staged using a dog.  Not as many people became involved but there were heroes in this scenario as well.

Another scene was a single woman in a bar being harassed by an obnoxious guy.  Almost everyone became involved and tried to protect the woman.

Last scene was a Mother with her daughter and her daughter’s Nanny in a cafe with the Mother berating the Nanny.  Again, remember these are all actors in the scenes, many people became involved trying to protect the Nanny.

Through all of these scenarios I asked myself what I would do and found that in the first three I would have the same reactions and would call 911 for the baby and the dog.  I would also get involved with the guy harassing the woman at the bar.  However in the last scenario, even though it disgusts me to see someone berated in public I don’t think I would do anything.  I felt bad that I would not intervene but somehow getting involved in a domestic type situation, even though it was publicly displayed seemed wrong to me.  Mind you if there were violence involved I would definitely get in there any help but I found myself disturbed over this situation.

I’m wondering, what you would do? 

Photo courtesy of Colleen Breuning

Rachel Morningstar Hoffman was a 23 year old aspiring chef who loved to cook for friends and family.  She was an only child and has been called a modern day flower child.  She loved her family and friends.  She cared deeply for the people in her life and was there for them through thick and thin.  She was well loved and will be missed always.

Rachel graduated in 2007 with a B average.  Her plans were to attend culinary school and become a chef which was her passion.  As any young adult she would from time to time smoke marijuana.  I don’t think there is anyone on the planet who can say that they never smoked weed at some point in their life.  For Rachel it was recreational.  At times she would sell an ounce or so to her friends.

On February 2008 she was pulled over for speeding when police found less than an ounce of marijuana in her car.  She was ordered into a court supervised drug diversion program.  A bit excessive for one ounce of weed if you ask me.  She attended meetings, was not drug addicted and eventually stopped smoking and selling.

A very dear friend of her’s lost his Father.  Rachel, with her caring and loving nature towards friends left to be with her friend in his time of grief.  As a result she missed one of her meetings and was sent to jail for a weekend.  Police went to her residence and rifled through the outside garbage container and found what they called a drug tally sheet.  They then raided her apartment to find 5 ounces of marijuana and 6 ecstasy pills.  As a result she was facing felony charges.

The Tallahassee police then made a deal with her.  They told her “if you help us, we’ll help you.”  That statement was the beginning of the end for Rachel Morningstar Hoffman.

The police told her they wanted her to participate in a sting and that they would be with her the entire time.  On May 7th 2008 she was given $13,000.00 by the police to buy guns and drugs from suspects Bradshaw and Green who both had violent criminal pasts and long rap sheets.  The operation was to be that Rachel would meet the criminals in the park and hand them the thirteen grand for drugs and guns.  The police would then come in, arrest all of them and after the two thugs were in custody, Rachel would be released.  The police were supposed to be following her to the park.

 At 6:00 pm on May 7th, Rachel arrived at the Tallahassee police department.  They gave her the cash and a transmitter where she could be in constant contact with the police and also her cell phone.  She began driving towards the park where they were to meet with the police following her.

All of a sudden the police see that she takes a wrong turn.  They contact her and she tells them that the suspects changed the location.  At that split second moment, the transmitter goes dead.  They try her cell phone and that is dead as well.  She drives down the end of a road thinking police were behind her.  They were not.  The police lost sight and track of her.

At 3:00 am on the morning of May 8th the police contact her friends asking where she was.  Her friends did not know and told them they thought she was with the police.  The police by now had thought that she took off with the cash, without any regard for her and her safety.  That’s all they cared about was the cash.

At around 5:00 pm that same day, May 8th - 22 hours after the sting, the police found the suspects.  After intense interrogations of the two criminals and now murderers, they found Rachel’s body about 36 hours after the sting.  She had been shot multiple times.

Above video created by and courtesy of Colleen Breuning

The Tallahassee police department took it upon themselves to blame Rachel for her own death.  She was sent to be a confidential informant on a sting by police who were supposed to protect her and she ended up crying for help as she was being shot to death with no one hearing her cries.

A Grand Jury found that the Police department should have never sent her to buy guns from known violent criminals.  The Tallahassee police dept. then fired the officer in charge.  The murderers Green and Bradshaw have pleaded not guilty.  The trial date has not yet been set.

On a personal level.   I cannot even imagine the hell her parents are going through right now.  My thoughts and prayers go out to them. This story disgusted and angered me.  It also hurt deeply because it personally involved a friend of mine - Colleen Breuning.  Colleen’s son Vince,  as pictured above with Rachel were like Brother and Sister.  To see how it affected Colleen and her family hurt me very much.  What happened was a horrific act led by the Tallahassee police department.  Frankly I’m sick of reporting on horrendous acts being done by the police.  It’s just unfathomable that police departments operate in this manner.  When does it end?

The video above is a photo montage’ created by my dear friend Colleen in tribute to Rachel Morningstar Hoffman.

In 2009, the U.S. Postal Service commemorates the 200th anniversary of the birth of Edgar Allan Poe, one of America’s most extraordinary poets and fiction writers. For more than a century and a half, Poe and his works have been praised by admirers around the world, including English poet laureate Alfred, Lord Tennyson, who dubbed Poe “the literary glory of America.” British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle called him “the supreme original short story writer of all time.”The stamp portrait of Edgar Allan Poe is by award-winning artist Michael J. Deas, whose research over the years has made him well acquainted with Poe’s appearance. In 1989, Deas published The Portraits and Daguerreotypes of Edgar Allan Poe, a comprehensive collection of images featuring authentic likenesses as well as derivative portraits.

Scheduled issue date: Jan. 16 in Richmond, VA.

Courtesy of www.usps.com

Photo courtesy of www.mcdonalds.com

I’m drooling just looking at the photo and thinking about it.  Evidently I am not the only one.  During a year of economic disaster and a stock market crash McDonald’s was one of only two companies whose stock steadily increased throughout the year 2008.

The hamburger industry is booming.  7% of restaurants who catered to the fillet mignon and porterhouse elitists have now added burgers to their menus.  Why?  People who normally eat out can no longer afford the high price of steaks and are leaning towards that all American, high calorie, fat induced burger.  And, why not.  Not only do burgers in my opinion taste better,  they are at least 25% less expensive.  Plus they come with fries and a coke.

Seriously though there is a new trend around the country where restaurants who are losing business as a result of the economy are turning to the burger to lure their customers and it is working.

I’ve noticed even here in some high priced eateries they now have a section where you can order off bar menus and find some tasty little burger sliders that will not only fill you but your pocket as well.

Meat packers around the country are noticing that the beef cuts normally ordered by restaurants are being replaced with hamburger meat orders.  Their business for hamburger meat has tripled over the past year and is steadily growing.  Hamburgers now are all the rage. 

So, with that in mind, I think I’ll finish my writing for the day and head out to my local grease joint and have a nice big cheeseburger with fries and a coke. Of course then I’ll be spending the afternoon walking off all those calories.  I’m a happy camper.

Well it seems as though Facebook is in the hot seat.  It has censored pictures of Mothers who are breastfeeding and displaying their photos on their profile pages.  Facebook is saying that the photos are obscene and goes against their terms of service.  Evidently months ago Myspace claimed the same so these women hopped on over to Facebook.

To be honest I have never read the terms of service for Facebook.  I guess I should have since I have an account there but I usually cannot be bothered with those things.  I should have while researching this story but again, I’m having one of those days and can’t be bothered.

I would like to comment on this situation.  First there is absolutely nothing wrong with women breastfeeding in public.  We see it all the time and it is just a natural occurrence.  That being said however,  I would like to know why women would want to display the photos of them breastfeeding all over the Internet.  I don’t like putting my regular photo on the profile for security purposes let alone one where I’m breastfeeding for the entire world to see.  I just don’t get it, at all.   Are these women doing this to incite anger and ridicule, are they making a statement?  I’d like to publicly ask these women why?

They have all come together and formed the Facebook women breastfeeding group.

This tug of war should be interesting.

Fellow blogger and poet, Justin Germino aka Dragon Blogger has had his blog Wanderer Thoughts nominated for best poetry blog by BlogNet awards.  

If you have ever read his blog you would immediately know why he has been nominated.  He has the unique ability to create a poem which is rich in imagery, eloquently styled and still has the ability to send a message or tell a story.  That talent is a rare find these days.  Normally there are two types of poets out there.  There are those who write rhyme and meter without any imagery.  Then there are the poets who write free verse doused in imagery without form.  Both are fine but when you can combine the imagery, style and verse together in a one of a kind compilation you have the poetry of Justin Germino.  His works are like diamonds among costume jewelry that confidently and creatively stand out in the crowd.

His other unique talent which amazes me is the ability to write a poem everyday.  I’ve always envied poets who are able to create on a daily basis.  While I can sit here and write articles daily I’ve never been able to write poetry unless I’m on a creative flow.  Justin however can do this and do it well each and every day.

There are many great blogs out there and many great poets yet Justin is outstanding and his blog is a work of art.  So, check out the BlogNet awards page for Justin’s Wanderer Thoughts blog at  http://blognetawards.com/’wanderer-thoughts and make sure to click the Wanderer Thoughts link to check out his works.  If you like what you see vote for him.  His blog is well worth the award.  Get your vote in by December 31st.

A Planned Parenthood in Indiana is offering gift certificates for all of their health care services to include abortions and condoms.  They are offering the certificates in increments of $25.00  Their reasoning behind the offer is that in these ailing economic times that women will forgo getting health care in order to pay for more pressing matters such as putting food on the table and taking care of their families.  Many women don’t have health insurance because they cannot afford it so receiving a gift certificate for health care services would be very helpful.

Now of course, religious organizations and many others are outraged at this program.   They claim it is morally wrong that women be given money to as they put it “kill their child.”  It’s the same old argument against abortions.  Opponents also claim that it is especially disturbing to “give abortions as gifts” on the day Jesus was born.  My comment on that is simply stop using your religious beliefs to try and control everything and anything you do not like.  

I think it’s a great idea.  I know many people who would love to receive a gift certificate to pay for health care.  I see it as a service for people who would not otherwise seek preventative care.   This would also allow children from poor families to receive care.  These gift certificates would truly help so many people.  Although this is only available in Indiana right now I think it should be addressed as a national program and be available to people year round.   Your thoughts?

Photo courtesy of http://www.heidi-klum.biz

I read a story on the Victoria Secret fashion models who were quoted as saying that they can eat anything they want as long as they exercise.  Of course they are on a strict carb and sugar free diet.  Some people I’ve talked with about this regimen do not believe they can lose weight and eat what they want.  I have to disagree.  Now I am certainly no runway model but I do know from experience that working out is what sheds the pounds.  Dieting alone has never worked.  However when I eat well and even throw in a donut or cookie once in a while and walk regularly I lose weight.  The Victoria Secret models unlike your average waif on the runway do not look like they are starving themselves.  They are lean yet healthy and that is the way it should be.   Some models you see nowadays on the runway look like actual skeletons.  Where is the beauty?  And, more importantly how do the clothes stay on their bodies?  At least with the Victoria Secret gals you are seeing beautiful women who actually do eat and know how to take care of themselves.  Heide Klum is the perfect example.

I was watching All My Children when they broke in with the news that there were seven separate and simultaneous terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India.  I was sickened, angry and afraid.  I have friends living there and have yet to be able to contact them.  Some of the major tourist hotels such as the Taj Mahal were targeted and as of right now there are people being held hostage.  Know one knows if this was Al Qaeda sponsored though it is their method of operation.  As of now there have been 80 people killed and the video and pictures are just horrific.  It’s also been reported that there is much activity with terrorist groups these past weeks including a plot to hit the New York City subway system.  It’s very tragic and upsetting.  I guess all I can do right now is pray that my friends are okay and that there are no more lives taken as a result of these attacks. 

It has recently been reported by ABC’s Day Noyes I-team investigation that the Mayor of San Francisco, Gavin Newsom used his $58,000 dollar hybrid SUV which is supposedly to be used only for city business to be driven by an SF inspector  to Montana for Newsom’s wedding while Newsom himself flew there supposedly on a private plane with another officer.  It was also reported that the expense for this trip to include paying for the inspector and officers total $15,000 which again supposedly comes from taxpayers dollars.

Police Chief Heather Fong was interviewed by Dan Noyes and when asked why the vehicle was used to drive to Montana basically said there may have been threats though she would not comment.

Mayor Newsom also uses police escorts when traveling which Mr. Noyes sees as wasteful.  Given the Mayor’s popularity and stance on Prop 8 and gay marriage I think it appropriate he have police escorts.  He needs protection.  Do Mayor Moscone and Harvey Milk ring a bell?  They didn’t have any protection.  The I-team investigator also interviewed Art Agnos, an ex mayor of the city who stated he never used police escorts etc… who really cares about what Art Agnos did?  Why didn’t Mr. Noyes interview Willie Brown?  Maybe because he spent more tax dollars than any other Mayor of San Francisco?  Dan Noyes is on a witch hunt - period.

First Mr. Noyes, I don’t care that the mayor spent $15,000 for this trip to Montana for his wedding.  $15,000 between all the taxpayers living in San Francisco does not amount to much money per person at all.  I consider it a wedding present.

Secondly, I am so sick and tired of your witch hunt tactics against Mayor Newsom.  I could count on one hand the investigations you’ve reported that do not deal with the Mayor.  Your investigations, or so you call them come off as simply harassment.  You report with an egotistical and condescending attitude and an accusatory manner.  The Mayor won’t even speak to you anymore.  Why would he?  I wouldn’t either.  You are just out to get him for some unknown reason.  Report after report you design to dig dirt on the Mayor and I know San Franciscans are sick and tired of it.  I am baffled as to why ABC7 keeps you.  You were terrible as an anchor and even worse as an investigative reporter and I use the term loosely.My suggestion to Channel 7 is that they get rid of you entirely and let Micheal Finney handle the investigative reporting or for that matter anyone else.

Lastly, as far as Mayor Gavin Newsom is concerned I suggest that you, Mr. Noyes get professional help to deal with the fixation you have with the Mayor.

I-Team Investigation link to the story at  http://iteamblog.abc7news.com/2008/11/we-erased-it.html#comment-140096734 &

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/iteam&id=6516943&status=ok

It was reported on the news last evening that an eight year old boy in Arizona had confessed to killing his Father and his Father’s friend.  There is controversy over the fact that the police questioned the boy without adult supervision or legal counsel so at this point even though the boy confessed no one really knows what took place.  I was deeply disturbed by the tragic news and had to comment.  Apparently the boy says that his Father had a few guns which he kept under his bed.  The boy was not allowed to touch the guns if he was alone.  Let’s think about that statement for a minute.  His Father kept guns under his bed with an eight year old in the house. And, the eight year old was not allowed to touch them if he was alone which tells me he was allowed to touch them if he was not alone?  What kind of parent does that?  

The reason for this post is to bring attention again to gun control.  If any story screams the need for gun control, this is the one.  For everyone who says ” we have the right to own guns” and “we have guns to protect our families” is this story not a red flag for you?

While we don’t know exactly what happened as yet what we do know is that there was an eight year old boy in a home with guns that were accessible to him.  And, for those of you with children you know when you tell a child “do not touch this” that’s exactly what they are going to do.  They’re children.

Until we have some type of gun control in this country there will not be an end to this type of tragedy.  We live in a country where we will change or amend the constitution to strip people from their equal rights to marry but we won’t do anything about weapons which are only designed for one reason - killing?  Illogical, that’s all I can say. 

First I want to express how deeply sorry I am at the tragedy that took place in the Hudson household.  I can’t even imagine how devastating it must be to lose a Mother, Brother and have a nephew missing all at the same time.  My thoughts, prayers and condolences go out to the entire family.

It was reported that Chicago, where these murders took place has the highest number of murders this year above any other state in the country.  However we all have our problems with guns.  I’ve seen first hand what guns can do.  Working as a teller in a bank years ago I was held up with a gun.  A few years later while working in that same bank on Market street, some crazy walked into the building up onto the fourth floor and decided to kill his wife and take hundreds of people hostage.  The police had the building surrounded and we could not leave until they captured the killer.  I was meeting a friend for lunch one day down the financial district when shots rang out at the 101 California buidling and the entire area was cordoned off until the murderer, after shooting hostages killed himself.  These are just a few examples of what guns do and what I’ve seen first hand.  There are so many more.

I can just hear the conservatives saying it’s not the guns it’s the people who pull the triggers.  My argument is if we did not allow guns these tragedies wouldn’t be taking place.  Granted there would still be some illegal gun activity however the majority of crimes would drastically decrease.  WE NEED GUN CONTROL IN THIS COUNTRY.  I don’t give a rats you know what about us all having the right to carry guns for protection.  There is no other purpose for guns other than killing.  And for all you hunters out there, and yes you too Ms. gun toting hockey Mom, you should not be out there hunting and killing animals either.  I’d like to ask the NRA and everyone in favor of them, how would you feel if one of your loved ones was murdered with a gun?  I want someone to please give me a rational answer to why it is we need guns.  I don’t want to hear it’s a constitutional right and I don’t want to hear because we need them for protection because both of those statements don’t fly with me at all.  They’re just excuses to carry guns.  Give me a good reason.

First let me say that I do not smoke and never have.  That being said I totally disagree with the new ban imposed on Walgreens drugs here in San Francisco.  While I respect and like our Mayor, Gavin Newsom, I don’t always agree with him and this is one instant where I do not agree.The point of this ban on selling cigarettes at Walgreens and a few Rite Aid drugstores is based on the premise that these drug stores are supposedly geared towards a healthy shopping experience and therefore cigarettes should be banned and will begin tomorrow October 2nd.  I don’t remember any of us voting for this ridiculous law.  Even though, I do not like cigarettes or people smoking around me, I dislike it even more when I am told what I can or cannot do.  I firmly believe that if people want to smoke it is their choice and is also their choice where they can buy their cigarettes.  I don’t think the government whether on a federal, state or local level has the right to tell businesses what they can or cannot sell.  I mean seriously what’s next? Are they going to start banning candy because it’s not healthy? or certain magazine because they have a somewhat erotic content? 

There are stores all over the bay area selling guns - guns which kill yet they are not banned.  What about liquor stores?  People drink and drive all the time yet liquor is not banned.  Yet they impose this ban which will inevitably cause major financial losses for Walgreens and as a result the trickle down will result in lost jobs, wage cuts and in this economy - another business down the tubes.  It just doesn’t make sense to me and I detest these dictatorship rules.  Walgreens stated that they would lose an estimated one million dollars per year as a result of this ban and took it to superior court.  The court ruled in favor of the ban.  So, for now Walgreens has to comply with that ruling.

My point here is let’s work on the real problems and let’s lose the dictatorship attitude.