If I Were Running for President

As I was getting in the shower this morning, I heard Steve Inskeep of NPR news asking someone what platform they would run on if they were running for President of the United States.

As I showered, I thought about my answer to this and of the issues and events that face our country today.

While I am a registered Republican, I really vote more moderately than conservatively. For example, I am Pro Choice -- not because I approve of abortion, but because I DISAPPROVE of taking away someone's right to decide what they should do with their body. I think abortion should be the last resort and that, unless medically necessary, not allowed after the first trimester. I also don't have a problem with requiring the mother be shown an ultrasound of the fetus before agreeing to go on with the procedure as I believe she should have every awareness of the seriousness of the step she is taking. I don't believe that she should have to skulk around, hiding from everyone as if she were a criminal in order to have good medical treatment for the procedure.

I think all law suits against cigarrette companies should be disallowed for this same reason. I saw all those ads for cigarettes. I saw my peers smoke. Both my parents smoked as did my sisters. I CHOSE not to smoke, so can attest to the fact that you CAN withstand all of those influences in your life. I do know that for some, this is difficult and believe those companies can and should provide some funding for clinics to treat cigarette addiction.

I was opposed to this war. When I heard that President Bush declared war on Iraq, I was horrified. I thought then that it was the wrong enemy and the wrong time. We're there now, though and while I don't think a troop surge is going to accomplish anything, I agree that we can't just pull out as to do so would leave those people vulnerable to genocide. What we need to do is concentrate on giving the Iraqi government support in finding a political solution to the differences of the Iraqui people, providing support in rebuilding the lives of the Iraqui people and setting short-term and long-term goals for all involved.

I am saddened by the violence that has become part and parcel of everyday life in our country and indeed, the world. I believe that we need to set values that embrace peaceful solutions to social issues.

I don't belive in legislating morality. It's nearly impossible to enforce and then you get into that area where there are no hard and fast lines that determine what is and isn't moral.

So now you know what my platform would be :)

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Tragedy and the media

This week's tragedy in Virginia highlights the current state of the world where the media is concerned. News at any cost to those most affected by the events of Monday is the process of the day.

While it may be beneficial to those who experienced the terror and emotion of the day to talk about those events, certainly reading those revelations and seeing or hearing them dissected by someone who is so totally removed from the events of the day and, let's face it, who is jaded at best and immune to the level of sufferring experienced by those victims at worst has to be almost like being assaulted again by the perpetrator!

And then there are the media seekers who may or may not have been invloved in any way with the events, but who seek out the media to give their "take" on it. You could almost categorize President Bush in that group. With his press at an all-time low, he certainly seems to be taking every opportunity to seek out more positive press opportunities such as "showing grave concern for those affected by the shootings" affords.

Our insatiable thirst for knowledge and information certainly drives the media to this level of depravity. I only mourn that there seems to be no line drawn that stops the media from intrusion into a person's privacy or that encourages them to exercise any form of restraint in reporting and revealing the depth of sufferring or depravity.

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What's in a name?

Names are just labels you know.
They merely help us go on with the flow.
It's silly to set our credit rating based on name
It all seems to be such a stupid game!

Whether your name is Donald, Rachel or Russ
Arthur, Mohammed, Abdul or Jesus
You shouldn't risk stoning, abuses or curses
Loss of a job or stealing of purses.

Call me friend and be one to me
Both of our lives will be better can't you see?
Love grows while hate destroys
Doesn't matter if your're girls or boys.

"Do unto others" doesn't ring hollow
It's always been a good rule to follow
You'll never go wrong being honorable and fair.
It isn't too late! If you only would dare.

Create a new group or a new clique.
Make "love one another" become the new chic
Stop hating and fighting and hurting each other
It truly will be worth all the bother.

In My Master's Eyes

In my Master’s eyes
I am whole and unbroken
In my Master’s eyes
I am beautiful and fair

In my Master’s heart
I have love and His devotion
In my Master’s heart
I never need despair

In my Master’s mind
I am wise and understanding
In my Master’s mind
I am worthy and sincere

In my Master’s arms
I find love for all unceasing
In my Master’s arms
There is never any fear

My Master’s with me always
I hold him in my heart
His voice whispers to me softly
Soon we’ll never have to part

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Principles of Beautiful Web Design -- a review

I've just read the first few chapters of this book by Jason Beaird and all I can say is WOW! The book design itself is testament to Mr. Beaird's proficiency as a web designer as it is not only very well written, but has just the right balance of visual and textual information for the reader.

Whether you are a professional web designer whos designed hundreds of web sites or someone who has never designed one, but wants to design their own home page, this book is a valuable and reasonably priced tool. Using the priciples outlined within, any user will be designing gorgeous web sites within days if not hours of reading the book.

Published by Sitepoint, The Principles of Beautiful Web Design is available from their website or from Amazon.com.

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I just can't believe Microsoft!

As you know, daylight savings time is starting 4 weeks earlier this year. Microsoft has published some utilities to make life with some Microsoft products easier during this change in our schedules, but has also taken the opportunity to make a huge killing off this as well.

If you are still using an OS, mail server software or domain server software that Microsoft no longer supports such as Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows Server 2000, SQL7.0, SQL2000 -- a pretty comprehensive list -- you will not only be charged for the utility (up to $4,000), but be required to purchase extended service warranty at an up to $100,000 price tag!

This is either

1. a: going to force people to hump along for a month with their time out of synch with the rest of the world,
2. b: force some people to shell out the money to support their older software or
3. c: force some people to upgrade to the newer version of whatever Microsoft product they're currently using.

In all but the first scenario, Microsoft will reap mega $$$ and in my opinion, the prices they want to charge are highway robbery!

Now, I've been a Microsoft supporter for a good many years and just recently purchased a new computer with Vista on it. I've always taken those who take every opportunity to show Microsoft in an unflattering light with a grain of salt, but this time, there's some reason to shake the "shame on you" finger at them.

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