And Nursing A Part - Adding Music To Your PSA

If you decide to have music in your PSA you have to be cautious. Because your are posting them to your web site or blog you have to make sure you have the legal right to use any music you plan to use in your PSA. Noble purpose or intent is not a legal defense. Remember how the RIAA went after Jib-Jab? You don't want to know what they could do to you.

There are safe places to obtain music. It is vital that you make sure you understand you can and cannot do with the music you are using for your PSA (or any other purpose). Here are a few starting places:

Flashkit has hundreds of music loops and sound effects that are free, free for non-commercial use, or free provided you inform the author of the work how and where the musical loop is to be used. You can preview the music loop before you download it. http://www.flashkit.com

Videomaker Magazine has a download page that links to companies offering free music and musical loops.

Yahoo has a Creative Commons Search for music that can be used, modified or even used for commercial purposes (read the fine print first!) You can type in the kind of music that you are looking for and received a boatload of suggestions. At this time, the search was still in Beta form. Some of my searches pulled up non-CCS type music or education pages that mentioned music but has none for download.

But I did two good places to check out; Royalty Free Music Piano Solos and Fonogeno, which has a page of electronic music such as beats, percussion, and synthetic bass.

If your music is in a format other than .wav you will need to convert it into the correct format. Dubit can only import .wav files.

Audacity is a free and non-adware/spyware audio conversion program. All that means is that you can use it to convert MP3 into .wav sound files. You can also download a copy from Download.com http://www.download.com.

Once you have your sound file in a .wav format, you can insert it into your PSA.

Next - Previewing, File Formats and Distribution Options

No More Rehearsing – Assembling Images For Web PSA's

Sorry for the delay – the realities of my life and a bad case of the flu caught up with me. Where was I? Oh, yeah. Now that you have your images saved at either 320 x 240 or 160 x 120, you now can start to assemble your images into Dubit's slide show feature.

I'm not going to go into detail about that because Dubit has a good description in the Quick Help Menu. There is also solid information to be found in the Context and Index menu.

You have two choices. Let Dubit match the timing to your music or narration. There will not be an edit option available.

Or you can custom time your slides. It is really just a matter of finding the location of your photos, bringing them into Dubit, placing the slides in order. This is the time to edit a slide or move forward or backwards in your presentation. You can also edit a slide to adjust the transition time or change the slide order.

The "eyeball" opens your media player to a preview version of your PSA.

If you have not already done so, please save your project. This will allow you to return to your project to make adjustments to your PSA at a later date. The project is saved with a .dub file extension. You need to do this before you create your distribution copy.

Keep in mind that Dubit is not Microsoft Photo Story. This is a simple program that can run on almost any Windows system from Windows 95 on up. You can add images, music in .WAV format or voice narration. You can also select the slide transition time. That is the extent of Dubit's capabilities.

Next, adding music.

This Masquerade - Misha Gordin Photo-Illustrations

There are times when you need to infuse your spirit. You have to remind yourself that there are other things besides the daily mundane matters of life.

An artist can help you see the invisible truths of the worlds and provoke you into action. Misha Gordin has photo-illustrations that tell powerful stories about the human conditions. If you have ever felt doubt, you will feel a connection with the series of photographic images that take you to a place inside of yourself.

If you need a visual kick in the pants to jump start your creativity, this is an excellent place to begin your journey.

Computer Love – Home Office Computer Magazine - UK

What if you could not only read a computer magazine but actually see the concepts demonstrated on screen? Or view a tutorial movie inside of the magazine?

Home Computer Magazine is a PDF publication from Cranberry Publishing in the United Kingdom. It is an interesting concept. The online only magazine is published in two versions, a dial-up version with full content but without the interactive features.

The Broadband version has all of the content of the dial-up version but the graphic resolution is better and there is interactive content. Since I have dial-up it took me about 12 minutes to download Issue #5.

The magazine is free however, it is advertiser supported. I was concerned about potential spyware creeping in but I haven't seen or notices anything out of the ordinarily. Still I chose to download just the PDF and not the helper program. The advertisements don't get in the way of the content.

There was a five page article on how to do CD and DVD burning, including how to create audio CD's with Windows Media Player. The instructions are easy enough for novice users to be able to follow. There are reviews of products and software as well as a tutorial section.

I hope this is a trend, to publish timely magazine content via the Adobe PDF format. If they can survive via advertiser support (without the nastiness of spyware) then I and my fellow tree
huggers are all for it.

http://www.homecomputermagazine.com

The Bridge - Chemical Society Visual Elements Page

I have always been against the arbitrary separation of art and science. It does not have to be one or the other. If we as a country were not so myopic about testing as opposed to actual learning, we would understand that the arts can help you learn anything.

My proof? Ask anyone over a certain age to recite Conjunction Junction or "I'm Just A Bill" from School House Rock.

The Chemical Society Visual Elements Page goes a long way to bridge the separation. If I had this in school, it would have made science class a whole lot easier.

It is an artistic representation of the elements table. By clicking on an element, you can learn the history of the symbol, how it was named and its place in the chemical world.

You have your choice of viewing the complete information of the element or downloading an Adobe PDF document. Some pages have a QuickTime movie to help you visually remember what the element is and how it is used. The video on Neon is particularly colorful.
http://www.chemsoc.org/viselements/pages/pertable_fla.htm

I Pity The Fool – The Darwin Awards

There are people who are lifelong dolts, goofs and fools. But there is a special place in the universe for those that are so cognitively challenged they require special merit.

The Darwin Award celebrates those who have left us under supremely stupid circumstances or embarrassed themselves to such a degree they will never live it down. There are two sites that I found. I can't determine who was first so you get a double helping of awards fever.

The Original Darwin Awards site is simple with a listing of different categories, including historical stupidity. There is a comfort in knowing you don't have to be born stupid. Take Francis Bacon. He was on the right track about stuffing a chicken with snow. But it is all in the technique. You shouldn't die from it - http://www.darwinawards.cjb.net

The slicker The Darwin Awards has a huge list of stories and urban legends. Let it be known that heavy drinking and messing with a few thousands bees do not mix - http://www.darwinawards.com

Hey Mr. DJ – Turntables Flash Animation Mixer

Here I am – got the flu, the creeping feeling of crud and piles of work that have to be finished. I need a break. I think I may have just found it with an oldie but goody in my URL list. Turntables.de
is an online DJ mixing flash animation. Yes, you too can ride the wheels of steel.

It comes in two versions. A Flash 3 format that is simple and quick to load for dial-up users. You click the top turntable to start the music and the other turntables are used to scratch and mix.

The Flash 4 version has a vocal DJ that you can click active. You also can get the audience involved. I think this version has other features but unfortunately I don't read any of the Scandinavian languages. It took me a while to figure out I had to drop and drag the records on to the turntable.

Nothing fancy, no wow factor but so long as my head is pounding it might as well do it to a steady beat. Enjoy.

Who Are You – The Return of Dr. Who

Before Star Trek, even before Lost In Space there was "The Doctor."

Dr. Who was first produced by The British Broadcasting Company 1963 and aired continuously with new episodes until 1989. After 1989, there have been radio programs; publications, a TV movie, and flash animated stories.

This makes Dr. Who unquestionably the longest running science fiction program in broadcast history. The BBC has done a great job of maintaining an active Dr. Who site. Another good resource is Outpost Gallifrey One.

U.S. fans of the TARDIS may have gotten hooked on episodes that aired on local public television stations. The Doctor encountered aliens, monsters, new worlds and a steady stream of companions. The most enduring? K-9 a robotic dog.

To start you properly on the road to Gallifrey there is A Brief History Of Time (Travel) - a fan based site that does a nice job of getting you up to speed on the history of the show. Then take a side trip to the Dr. Who Information Network which is devoted to all things relating to Dr. Who and the fans that support the program.

The Dr. Who Image Archives has 7,000 plus images of the world(s) of The Doctor. For a historical look at over 40 years of writing and publications about the series, visit Cuttings Archive.

And they say Star Trek fans are in too deep.

Well, you can't keep a good (or bad) Time Lord down for long. The British Broadcasting Company is producing new episodes of Dr. Who. That is the good news. If you live near the Canadian border or can get Canadian Broadcasting on satellite it is even better news. The CBC has video trailers in QuickTime and Windows Media format.

The bad news is that those living in the U.S. can't view the new episodes. I'm thinking if all the U.S. Who-Heads wrote their local PBS station asking very nicely if they would air the new series, with an implied kickback at fundraising time, we could start America on the path of rejoining the world community.

Everybody's Got A Hungry Heart - Cyber Toaster Museum

I love this underground anthropology movement. In my continuing quest to learn everything, I stumble upon a shrine to toasters. You may question a site dedicated to toasters but if you think about it, "why not?" Toasters required bread. How did they know toasting would work? How did the ancestors figure out toast and jam was a winning combination? Who told them about butter? And cinnamon toast - genius!

Special shout out to the person who figured out that the slots needed to be wider so that you can toast a half a bagel without potentially electrocuting yourself.

But this isn't about the stuff you put in the toaster as much as it is the devices. I've seen some cool toasters in my time but there are classy gems in the Toaster museum. There are plans to build an actual real world Toaster museum but they got a way to go on fundraising. Man, that has got to be a hard sell - http://www.toaster.org/museum.html

The Night Of Nights - Preparing Images For Web PSA's

You have your plan or storyboard. You've downloaded and installed Dubit. You have got your photos or image sources converted to jpeg/jpg image format. The next thing to do is to format them for use in your project.

The first step is important. Never, ever work from your original scans or digital camera images. Make a copy. If you goof it up you can always return to the master image file.

Second, you want to create one location where all of your files, sounds, and project documents will be kept. It makes it easier to find stuff when you are ready to assemble the project.

All the images in your PSA need to be the same size. In this case, you'll want to resize it 320 x 240 for a web based PSA movie or 160 x 120 for transmission by e-mail. Dubit also allows you to set the image size but I have found that the compression is a little rough on images and type.

You'll need a photo editing or photo illustration program to adjust the images. You can use one of the following free programs:

• Microsoft Paint - installed on all Windows based computers. Windows Paint XP is a wee more helpful however, it is a basic and limited program.
• IrfanView - allows you to easily convert and resize images http://www.irfanview.com
• Picassa - free image catalog software that has some photo editing and image adjustment features - http://www.picassa.com
• The Gimp (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a full powered photo-imaging program. The Gimp is not for newbies, there is an installation and learning curve - http://www.gimp.org
  

The next step? Assembling your PSA into Dubit.

This Is It – Images For Your Dubit PSA's

You do not need a $1,000 camera to shoot a web based slide show. Dig out that old 1- megapixel or 640 by 480 digital camera you've got stuffed in the closet. I've even had luck with a $20 Concord Eye Q Mini, provided I only shoot outside or inside with florescent lights. Know your camera's limitations but go for it. Remember, this is going to be viewed on the web so keep it simple.

No digital camera? No problem. If you are shooting film you can have a Photo CD made at the same time that your prints are being processed.

Have photos and a scanner? You are set to convert your images into jpeg/jpg format. If you don't have a scanner here is another option. Many camera and major drugstores have in-house photo scanners that convert prints into digital files. You will need to bring or purchase a floppy disk, memory card, a CD-R disk.

No camera or scanner? Still not a problem. Some of the classic PSA's used text or animated text with music. You certainly can make title cards with Microsoft Paint. It is located in the Accessory folder.

If you have a recent version of Corel Word Perfect Office, Microsoft Office or Open Office you have a presentation program that can export slides to jpeg/jpg format. Some folk are working in older versions of Corel Presentations or Microsoft PowerPoint. It may save images in an older proprietary format, such as .wpg or .wmf. Convert those formats by using Irfanview – http://www.irfanview.com

Here are a few tips for titles. Keep the background simple, stick with an easy to read typeface such as Arial or Time New Roman. Most importantly make the type big 44pts or larger. Your viewers will appreciate not having to squint to try to read your message.

Next, how to prepare your images for the slide show.

Curtains, Lights - Planning Your Own PSA's

I have an appreciation for Alfred Hitchcock movies. Even the old ones he filmed in England. Hitchcock planned every shot, movement and camera angle. Alfred did this before one frame of film was exposed. In film, television and game production this is called making a storyboard.

You do not have to be as precise as Mr. Hitchcock. Storyboarding does help to pre-visualize your slide show so that the PSA delivers your message. It does not have to be complicated. Pen and paper will do just fine. For example, you could just do the following:

Scene 1
Video: A shot of an abandoned couch
Audio: Musical loop
Duration: 2 seconds

Scene 2
Video: Title Card - Don't
Audio: Musical loop
Duration: 2 seconds

And continue until you have your project storyboard finished.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with pen and paper I do have a free software option. Atomic Learning has a free download of Storyboard Pro. It is a program that lets you enter the type of shot you want and helps you keep track of the length of the project. And as a plus the program gives tips on good film making techniques.

It is available in both Windows and Macintosh versions - http://www.atomiclearning.com/storyboardpro
Once you have your outline or storyboard set up you can gather your shots.

Overture - Create Your Own Web PSA's

I want to share how to create a simple web or email friendly public service announcement (PSA) slide show. You can create a PSA slide show with software you probably have on your computer. If you don't have the software I'll point the way to free and open source software or an inexpensive alternative.

The PSA is going to be very simple. Even if you have an old Windows 98 clunker you can create a web based PSA. So simple that I will set up a few arbitrary limitations just to make sure that you can complete the project:

• Length: less than 20 seconds
• Size: 320 by 240 for a web posting or 160 x 120 to send by email
• Audio: No narration, optional music
• Software: Dubit - you can download a free copy from http://www.techsmith.com/products/dubit/default.asp
• Photo Editing software, your choice, M$ Paint, IrfanView, The Gimp or whatever you have on your computer.

First a little history. In the back half of the 20th century most Americans only had three and a half broadcast television channels (if you lived in a big city). In the daytime hours local channels ran old movies, games shows and soaps operas. The commercials, if there were any, came from local merchants with an occasional national advertising spot.

Local store owners could only afford to buy a certain amount of commercials. To fill in the time, TV stations used freely supplied public service announcements. If the movie was a real turkey there would air nothing but PSA's. If you are curious, you can visit the Advertising Council's at http://www.adcouncil.org/campaigns/historic_campaigns to view classic PSA's of the past 50 years.

You might have doubts that you can tell a story with just photos and a bit of music. NorthWest Cable News has a selection of Quick Time and Flash animations photo essays you can view to get inspired - http://www.nwcn.com/s/dws/spe/2003/minute30

The Name Game - Social Security Advocacy

I love turnips. I have a thing for rutabagas too. I know the difference between the two vegetables. Many people mistake one for the other. Websites are a lot like turnips and rutabagas. It is hard to tell legitimate web sites from organizations that want to promote their vision or agenda.

Naming an advocacy site close to an official government agency or program is nothing new. It is not necessarily wrong if visitors can quickly discern your purpose. The most common example is the difference between whitehouse.gov and the 1999 version of whitehouse.com, which was a porno site.

Here are two examples from the opposite ends of the spectrum, SocialSecurity.org and SocSec.org.

The Cato Institute is a conservative research think tank. It has a close relationship with the current administration. How close? Some of the language used is very similar to the documentation found at the White House web site.

The Institute has created http://www.socialsecurity.org to provide information in favor of the proposed changes to the social security program. You can find calculators that demonstrate the advantages of personal investment accounts, reasons for the change and the advantages to citizens and the country.

The information is presented in an easy to read style. It does not inflame but it makes it clear to the visitor that privatization is the way to go.

On the opposing end of the spectrum is The New Century Institute. It is a liberal organization supports http://www.socsec.org. As you might expect, they are not in favor of the administration’s plans to change social security. The site has downloadable Adobe PDF booklets that go into detail about the realities of the current social security program.

One of those realities is that the current system is not on the verge of fiscal collapse. There is much documentation and provides links to other sources visitors can review to get the facts on the program.

My feeling is this is no time to be partisan, especially when it comes to my money. I want information from multiple sources. I will keep my eyes on both these and other sites as I continue the search for "The Plan."

Rambling Man – Edward Abbey

The folks that came before us were not saints or noble people. But some of them did noble or heroic things. Even deep in their imperfections.

Edward Abbey had a profound love of the land. He also had an equal hatred for what humans have done to natural resources. His books Desert Solitaire and The Monkey Wrench Gang inspired generations of eco-activists who believed they found a vent for their frustrations.

Edward Abbey was certainly no saint. As a writer, you could never accuse him of using politically correct speech in his books or his personal life.

• "Society is like a stew. If you don't keep it stirred up, you get a lot of scum on top."
• "God is love? Not bloody likely."
• "Our "neo-conservatives" are neither new nor conservative, but old as Babylon and evil
• as Hell."

Abbey offended people. He ticked of critics, the government, and activists in the ecological movement. If you can get past the gruff and read the substance of his work (not always easy or possible) you might find yourself enriched.

Quotes from The Late Edward Abbey - Beloved Desert Anarchist http://home.att.net/~hugh2you/abbey.html

A very good place to start is Abbey Web – a fan tribute site that gives you an overview of his life and his death. There is something to be said about a man who wants his decomposing body to nourish cactus - http://www.abbeyweb.net

Ken Sleight has a touching tribute to his friend and mentor – http://www.canyoncountryzephyr.com/archives/abbey-me.html

When a writer is doing his or her job correctly, it will stir people into movement from across time and space. I leave you with a passage from Mr. Abbey.

Take it to heart:

"Do not burn yourself out. Be as I am. A reluctant enthusiast and part-time crusader. A half-hearted fanatic. Save the other half of yourselves for pleasure and adventure. It is not enough to fight for the west. It is even more important to enjoy it while you can, while it's still there. So get out there, hunt, fish, mess around with your friends, ramble out yonder and explore the forest, encounter the grit, climb a mountain, bag the peaks, run the rivers,breathe deep of that yet sweet and elusive air.

Sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious stillness of the lovely, mysterious, and awesome space. Enjoy yourselves. Keep your brain in your head and your head firmly attached to the body, the body active and alive. And I promise you this one sweet victory over our enemies, over those desk bound people with their hearts in safe deposit boxes and their eyes hypnotized by their desk calculators.
I promise you this: You will outlive the bastards."

Edward Abbey, 1978

Social Security Blues – Make A New Plan, Stan...

It is important for me (and others) to remember that for some people the Social Security program is a small part of their retirement plan. For others, it is their retirement plan. Without the monthly payments, millions of seniors would face destitution.

There are serious repercussions if this change is not handled correctly. If you are over 18 years of age, you can't afford to ignore what is being proposed.

My first search for the modernization of Social Security was targeted directly to the official White House web site - http://www.whitehouse.gov.

The first thing that I encountered was a series of press releases the White House calls "Fact Sheets." These fact sheets are produced by the Office of the Press Secretary. http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/02/20050216-1.html

The Fact Sheet "Strengthening Social Security for Future Generations" introduces the concept of Personal Retirement Accounts. I thought the idea was to transfer money from Social Security to individual controlled investments? How does this make the system stronger? I'm getting ahead of myself.

Twenty minutes and a few more links later, I think I have found the plan. http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/social-security/200501/strengthening-socialsecurity.html. I was able to download Adobe PDF files of the booklet or specific sections.

In terms of accessibility, I do think there should have been a text and/or html version of the booklet available. I zoom into section two, "Strengthening Social Security" I come away with the following:

• No increase in payroll tax.
• No change for those nearing retirement or have retired.
• Supports voluntary personal retirement accounts.

Hun? That's it? But what is the plan? The process? The steps? I still have questions!

I move to section three, Personal Retirement Accounts. After reading this section, my guess is the fix is the introduction of Personal Retirement Accounts. Workers could place initially up to a $1,000 a year. The money would be invested in conservative bonds & stock funds. You would not have access to the money for loans, withdrawals or emergency needs.

Although you will be kept informed of your account activity, you don't have all that much to say about how your account is managed.

The most important point that hasn't been emphasized is that once you opt out of traditional social security you can't come back into the program. It is a one-way street.

Citizens who chose not to use personal retirement plans would continue to draw benefits from a reformed, sustainable Social Security system.

But what is the reformed system? I dunno. If you have less people contributing into the system, how is that sustainable? I dunno.

What if you investments get wiped out due to Acts of God/Nature, war or corporate malfeasance? What will be your recourse? What about inflation? Controls on theft, over billing or fees? Can the IRS claim your current or future retirement income? What about technology based security measures?

Haven't a clue. Maybe I haven't found really found the plan. I spent another 45 minutes looking for it. It is possible I have just found an expanded proposal. The search continues...

The Things You Think Are Useless - Lorem Ipsum Generators

If you are creating a prototype of a manual, web site or a presentation, you want the bean counters to concentrate on your design elements and not the text.

Hence, Lorem Ipsum. For hundreds of years printers, graphic designers and other creatives have snagged the text as a placeholder for constructing new documentation.

Some folks say it is nonsense text and some say otherwise.

I'm going with otherwise. Cecil Adams, of the beloved Chicago Reader Straight Dope column, sets the record straight with the true skivvy on this adulterated passage from Cicero - http://www.straightdope.com/columns/010216.html

Cecil isn't the only one who thinks Cicero lost out on a bunch of royalty checks. Over at Ipsum.com you can check out a section from the actual translation of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum" – http://www.lipsum.com

You can find dozens of Lorem Ipsum generators on the Internet but how many can give you it in German or Esperanto? Lorem-Ipsum allows you to select the number of paragraphs, punctuation, or language – http:/www.lorem-ipsum.info/generator2.html

You don't have to use Lorem Ipsum – how about the theme from Top Cat? Or The Dukes of Hazard? Malevole has a text generator that will let you put the Hong Kong Phooey in that new sales brochure that you promised to create a prototype by Monday – http://www.malevole.com/mv/misc/text

Free Bird - Feminists For Free Expression

This is a strange time. I do not care for this almost puritanical rush to censor or punish any thought or expression that "may" be considered offensive, sexual or could be potentially threatening to the youth of America.

My goodness. Has anyone over 21 years of age viewed the games, music and movies that specifically are targeted to people between the ages of 3 to 21? I have seen parents bring toddlers to watch the latest blood soaked horror movie.

How concerned are we really?

Internally I may question their parenting skills. However, I have to respect the fact the parents made a choice to view the horror film with their child.

That is the key word here. Choice.

Feminists For Free Expression (FFE) understands and supports the notion that people have the right to decide for themselves what materials and media are offensive.

Mind you, I said offensive. Not illegal. Big difference.

FFE also supports artists whose work is being suppressed as well as filing friend of the court briefs to defend everyone's rights to access materials without the control of the state or certain faith based organizations - http://www.ffeusa.org

Locomotive Breath – Operation Lifesaver

I have memories of sitting in my fourth grade classroom as the visiting police officer scared me witless about trains and railroad tracks. Smashed cars, bodies covered in tarp and enormous engines the size of Godzilla waiting to smack you silly if you let down your guard.

Train safety education has come a long way since then. With 200,000 miles of tracks in the U.S., it is important to know the facts about rail safety.

Operation Lifesaver is a program that provides tools and resources to teachers, the media, and professional drivers about being safe around trains and rail yards. One of the things that I learned from the web site is that a train is three feet wider than the rails on either side. Be safe, not sorry - http://www.oli.org

Must Be The Music – Digital Audio Preview

I'm getting closer to buying an MP3 player. Every time I am about to plunk cash money down on the counter, a new better device comes along.

I'm not greedy mind you. My desires are that the MP3 player accommodates a wide variety of formats. I want FM reception. It has to be able to record lectures and meetings and I don't want to pay more
than $250.

Then again, the Apple iPod Shuffle is simple, clean and only plays music. Ah, Simplicity. Plus, it is $99, which is a lot closer to me than $250 is at the moment. I need help. My first stop is Digital Audio Preview.

I was able to quickly find out which media players have quality recording capabilities. I can do a quick price check on the various players. The Online Music Store Guide has a list of legal download music sources. I didn't know about the restrictions from some of the companies on what I could do with the music after downloading.

The site has a chat section, FAQ's and articles on various digital audio topics. Good starting place for this media player newbie - http:www.dapreview.net

My Baby Like The Western Movies - B-Movie Tribute Sites

I spent a good part of my wayward youth watching the Late Show, the Late, Late Show and the Late, Late, Late Show. Toss in a couple of Creature Double Features and I was a happy camper.

Classic B-Movies were produced quickly and with slim budgets. Unlike many special effect whiz-bangs of today, B-Movies have a plot. It may not be well developed. It may not be obvious. That is the beauty of a B-Movie, not only are you entertained you get to engage your critical thinking skills.

One of my favorite movie resources is Brian's Drive-In Theater. It is a tribute site for actors and actresses that appeared in movies such as Hercules, Muscle Beach Party and Where the Sidewalk Ends. As an added bonus, there is celluloid beefcake!

I ask you, how often do you come across men posing half naked with their chest pumped up like a rooster? Yeah, yeah, there is cheesecake too. All this and Hercules, Tarzan and all the B-Movies information you can stand - http://www.briansdriveintheater.com.

A visit to Bad Movies is also in order. If the film tanked or is a mess from beginning to end, they just might have a review of it. Nevertheless, they do respect the classics such as C.H.U.D., Beginning of the End, Howard the Duck and The Abominable Dr. Phibes. I
can hear the good doctor wailing on the organ as he is disposing of his next victim. There is a rating system to help you separate the merely misguided from total stink bombs. http://www.badmovies.org

Oh, How It Hurts – SSA Benefits Estimate Calculator

It does not matter if you are 18 with a bullet or plowing up the north 40. Before you enter into discussions about the proposed changes in Social Security, you need to know the facts. What will you and some of your compatriots can expect to receive in benefits after providing a lifetime of involuntary investment.

For most of us, it ain’t pretty.

To get a good approximation of what you can expect at retirement visit the Social Security Estimated Benefits Calculator. This will give you a rough idea of how much cat food you will be able to stock up on, provided you do not have a cat. You can’t afford one on what you will receive per month - http://www.ssa.gov/planners/calculators.htm

To get more detailed and personal information you can order the Personal Earnings Retirement Statement (PERS). This will give the exact breakdown by year of your declared W2 earnings. For those that are a little phobic about entering info online you can call a toll free phone number to call 1-800-772-1213 to order the PERS statement.

After you scrape your jaw off the floor and regain the ability to form sentences you will probably have questions. On the Social Security site there are publications to answer those very questions like, “What is the legal age of retirement?” Hint, depending on your birth date, it may be older than you think. http://www.ssa.gov/pubs

Also, the GSA/Pueblo repository has a downloadable copy of rights and benefits - http://www.gsa.pueblo.gov

Long And Lonesome Road – Scrappyland

A person could accuse Harry McCracken of having way too much time on his hands.

Why dedicate effort into an obscure animated black and white cartoon? A cartoon that has no available DVD or VHS products and almost no prospect of any being developed?

The question begs, Why create Scrappyland? Why create an entire web site without any help from Columbia Tri-Star or Sony Picture Entertainment, the current owners?

I can think of a number of reasons. Scrappy is a part of American animation history. It is a chance to rediscover what was funny in 1934 America and learn about a few of the innovations found in Scrappy cartoons, such as the use of montages. If you have a love and appreciation for traditional animation then this is a part of your knowledge bank that needs to be filled.

The site is full of details of the history of Scrappy cartoons, an frequently asked questions page, a gallery of images, resources and a great deal of passion to pull all of this together in a well design web site - http://www.scrappyland.com

Canned Ham – Arts and Letters Daily

What if there is something more than reality television?

What if there are people that actually think and talk about things that have not appeared on television? Not total eggheads mind you, just folks who long for conversations of substance.

There are thousands of people who could go a lifetime without needing to know anything about Brad, Jennifer, Michael or Robert Blake.

Arts & Letters Daily is a service of the Chronicle of Higher Education. Don’t let that scare you.

The articles range from various non-televised arts and performances, philosophy, literature, and music. They even have gossip for those that want to cut back but need maintenance dose to help make the transition. http://aldaily.com

Smokin' - Do You Own A Toshiba Satellite Laptop?

If you or someone that you know owns a Toshiba Satellite 5005 series laptop computer, you can file a claim for compensation. Toshiba Satellite 5005 laptop users have until June 27, 2005 to file a claim.

The settlement is in response to a lawsuit brought against Toshiba. There was an allegation there was a design defect that caused Satellite 5005 laptops to overheated or shut down.

The settlement provides a choice of remedies such as cash or credit vouchers to an extension of the warranty on the laptop. The website has an extensive FAQ section that provides details on the settlement and the claims process.

To file a claim for the laptop, visit the official Toshiba settlement page http://www.satellite5005settlement.com. You can download a claim form or file your claim online.

London Calling - BBC and CBC programs of note

As many of you know, I listen to the British Broadcasting Corporation and Canadian Broadcasting to get a broader perspective of the relationship between American and the rest of
the world.

The BBC program, Global Business did something interesting last week. They explained to an international audience just how much America is intertwined with various economies. To visit the BBC and to listen to live and archive programs visit http://www.bbcnews.com or http://www.bbc.co.uk

The Canadian Broadcasting Company has a very good web site that not only informs their citizens about Canada but also keeps an eye on that pesky neighbor to the south. It has extensive international coverage. It is a huge site but the starting place is http://www.cbc.ca

Your local public radio station may carry As It Happens, hosted by Mary Lou Finley and Barbara Budd. Depending on the topic, they are tough, funny, informed and always prepared for anything. You can listen to programs at http://www.cbc.ca/asithappens

Put Me In Coach - John Wooden's Pyramid of Success

I had the opportunity to hear Coach John Wooden speak. I passed on it figuring it would be just a bunch of rah, rah testosterone soaked trash talking "how we beat this team" stuff.

I am not a basketball fan. Ever since they went to long shorts the game has no interest to me, except for that Nike commercial where the basketball is the beat and the players the dancers. That I like.

Unfortunately, my images of basketball coaches are associated with Bobby Knight and others who use intimidation, humiliation and financial incentives to motivate college teams to the winning line.

That decision was a huge mistake. Coach Wooden has something of offer to non-sports minded folks. I stumbled upon Wooden's "Pyramid of Success" in my local newspaper. It is a building
philosophy of qualities you would want to have instilled in a young man (or woman) such as industriousness, friendship, loyalty, cooperation, and enthusiasm.

On deeper level, it is how we use to see ourselves as a people and as a country. Not liberal or conservative, not democrat or republican. Self-control, adaptability, honesty, integrity, faith, and
skill. Coach Wooden adds details about how he came to build this pyramid and life lessons that he has learned in his 94 years.

So this got me thinking. Could the coach's pyramid be applied to the current occupant at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue? To view the pyramid of success visit http://www.coachwooden.com

I don't know which way Coach Wooden swings politically. He seems like a decent guy. The pyramid contains reminders of lost lessons America needs to re- learn quick, fast and in a hurry.

Give Me Three Steps Mister - M$ Photo Story 3

Never underestimate Microsoft. Sure they have a mangy mutt of a browser (Use Firefox!) and security patches come a dime a dozen but sometimes they get it right.

This is one of those times. Photo Story is fun, easy and stimulates your creativity. Imagine easy slideshows, photo poems, vacation slideshows, school projects, creating tutorials, and citizen journalism. This is one useful program. It is also free.

Photo Story can help you assemble a group of pictures, combine those still pictures with motion effects, attach music and create movies in the Windows Media Video format.

You can send the video as an email, to Smartphone cell phone users or to those poor souls that have melded with their media players. I'm telling you this consolidates about 5 pieces of software I had to use to get similar effects but no where near as effective.

Now if you are allergic to what is now known as the "Ken Burns Effect" you might hesitate to use this program. Fear not, you can customize movements and transitions to suit your nature.

So if there is a birthday, anniversary or some other event that you want to make a photo montage/video then this is the one to start with. This program runs on Windows XP. You will need to have Windows Media Player 10 to be fully functional.

Most versions of Windows Media Player shouldn't have any problems playing back the videos.

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=37345 or

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/photostory/default.mspx

Want to see what it can do before you donwload? There are sample videos on the M$ web sites but another place for creative support is http://www.windowsphotostory.com

In-Between the Dark & The Light - Picasa 2

For those that like to take pictures of our memes we need all the help we can get. If you have a scanner, digital camera or web cam and you can't afford Photoshop, you need Picasa.

Picasa is a photo organizer. But wait, there is more! For novice computer users, it makes the job of correcting digital images a lot easier.

Picasa also makes it simple to send photo by email without sending a big honking huge file. It will help you figure out the right size and quality settings for you. For that alone it should be nominated for a Nobel Prize.

If you are into blogging, photo-blogging or want to add a picture to your audio blog, Picasa can upload the photo to the web site. Not to mention that it will help you record your photos as a slide show that you can place on a CD.

Picasa will run on Windows 98, ME, 2000 and XP. How much would you be willing to pay for such an extraordinary program? Not even Ronco can match this deal.

It is free. Nada. No charge. To download a free copy - seriously, no spyware, cyber cooties or anything nasty visit http://www.picasa.com

Badger, Badger, Badger Potter, Potter - What Is A Meme?

Cross the rainbow bridge of Asgaard,
Where the Blue Ming heavens roam,
You'll behold his breathless wonder,
The God of Thunder,
Mighty Thor!

For those that grew up with The Mighty Marvel Super Heroes you would not have to explain, it would be a shared communion of experience. Of comic books, cheesy limited animation cartoons, and a simpler time.

Theme of The Mighty Thor - http://www.toontracker.com

This isn't just about memory. There was a point in my life where this information was important for my social survival. It was a part of my tool kit for my neighborhood. (I was engaged in passionately debates that Thor would have whipped the pants off The Incredible Hulk.)

A meme (pronounced MEEm) is an idea or a concept that passes from human to human or from a source like a book, TV show or music) to another human. It is the cultural transmittal of
information.

There are different requirements for survival information. What may work in Denver does not fit into the lifestyle of Pittsburgh. Memes can be gender, social status, economics or simply how you have fun.

To start you off on the right foot visit Meme Central's FAQ at http://www.memecentral.com/faq, You can read the FAQ's to get a good overview of Memes.

Wikipedia has a solid page on Memes and the study of memetics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meme

If you don't have enough personal memes and need to stock up check out the Memes List - http://www.memeslist.com or http://www.iampariah.com/memeslist/index.php

I bring this up because the newer generations have their own memes. They are reflections of their literature and environment. Instead of creating fanzines or talking they create flash
animations. These are transmitted via the Internet not only in the home environment but around the world.

Hence, I commend to you:

• Badger, Badger, Badger http://www.badgerbadgerbadger.com
• Soccer Badgers - http://www.weebls-stuff.com/toons/35
• and Potter, Potter - http://thefifthdistrict.com/potter
  

Viewing these cultural memes is not going to make a bit of sense to you if you are not hip deep in the hoopla. That is okay. I don't get it either except the Potter, Potter animation has a funky tune. Take what you can, and leave the rest.

Will take at least five to 10 minutes for dial-up users.

Sarah Goode - Inventor

Sarah H. Goode was the first African American woman to hold a patent. She invented a bed that could be folded up into a desk cabinet. Sarah owned a furniture store and invented the bed for people living in cramped spaces.

The correct spelling of her name is Sarah H. Goode and I have made the correction in the post. To view a drawing of the patent you can visit the search area of the US Patent Full Text and Image Database You want to select the patent number option. The patent number in question is 322177. You then wan to click Images to see her design.

Now in Firefox or Opera browsers I didn't see anything but a QuickTime symbol. In Windows Internet Explorer I was able to see the drawings. You can see a version of the drawing at Inventor page at About.com

There are even more black inventors listed at http://www.blackinventor.com

At California State University at Pomona a student put up a bit of information as well as book citations to read more about Sarah and other women inventors.

Women inventors were not encourage or supported. African-American invention were not always credited to the actual inventor. Documentation is spotty but it is getting better. The sources that I have listed are viable and do a better job of giving you the facts.

Resources to Learn About African American Inventors

Since some of the prior links on Sarah H. Goode have vaporized. I've located other documents and websites that contain information on African-American inventors.

For grade schools students looking for African-American inventors there is a Google Books reference that you might find interesting. The name of the book is African-American Inventors By Fred M. B. Amram, Susan K. Henderson and you can view pages from that book.

Also for elementary school readers is Women Inventors 2 by Jean F. Blashfield.

If Sarah's info is too skimpy for you then you could look at this information kit created by PBS on inventor Percy Julian. You get a bit about his life and book and web resources to help you whip up a report on the PDQ.

From the Portland Public School System this is a 140 page document written by Hunter Havlin Adams on the history of African and African-American Contributions to Science and Technology.

For teachers and youth leaders you might want to take a look at an Ohio State University Extension guide called Invent - An African-American Inventor's Curriculum. This guide contains information about African-American Inventors, worksheets, games and skill building in critical thinking and idea processing.

For high school folks you own me big time for this one. From the ERIC portal this is a digest .pdf listing of resources you can investigate that talk about African-American inventors. It is just a list of books that may or may not have what you need. Not everything is on the Internet. There are times when you do have to touch an actual book.

09/20/09 Update

Mercy, this is becoming a never ending challenge. Some of the websites have died and left a spam holder pushing crud to un-suspecting folks. Had to take down the Famous Inventors link.

As some of you know, Microsoft Encarta is also going the way of the vapors so I gotta yank that link out as well. I re-checked the links and the remaining ones are still active. Still no photo or illustration of Sarah H. Goode.

02/10/2008 Update

Dear Anonymous Dudes or Dudettes that do not look at the Comment section. I have searched and re-searched there is no photo currently on the Internet of inventor Sarah Goode. If there was one, and it was in the public domain, I certainly would put it up for viewing.

10/22/2007 Update

Ah, there is nothing like good comments that inspire accuracy. Or make you feel like a stumble bum in a library. And it was a good thing somebody spoke up cuz the previous links have gone belly up. I have updated the spelling of her name, new viable links and stuff like that.

Honoring The Crone

If you are old enough and (consider yourself a female) you can be a Crone or a revered elder.

I kinda like the idea of Crone because it sounds like somebody you should respect and not mess with if you don't want to be hurt. Age does bring advantages.

The site explores the dimensions of Cronehood. Essays, cross-cultural explorations into other societies and menopause information - http://www.yoni.com/crone.shtml

Now you may be plowing up the north forty but I leave you with an inspirational tidbit about Grey Panther founder Maggie Kuhn. She was in her 80's and continued to have sex with men who were in their late 20's to 30's.

I say never give up hope and look to the elders for inspiration and guidance.

King of the Road - The Importance of Failure

I do not like failure. I have had enough for two lifetimes.

However, I understand the necessity of failure. I know this because I am enrolled in the University of Life and currently starting on my Masters of Arts in Failure where the classes come fast and the pop quizzes are nightmares.

Here is the frustrating part. I persist in trying. I rack up a bunch of failures. I get use to failing. Then I go and mess that up by succeeding, which is what happens when you keep trying. True respectable failure does not mean you keep using the same methods
that don't work - that's stupid. You have to diversify your failures in order to become successful.

I am in good company with this process. Thomas Edison tried 1,000 times before he got a working light bulb http://edison.rutgers.edu/links.htm. The book Chicken Soup for
the Soul was rejected 144 times before it found a publisher http://www.chickensoup.com.

I Hate My Life had a commercially successful television show. He lived high on the financial hill with his church, family and friends. Then he lost his job, his home, his church, his family and
his friends. He learned to live the life of a homeless person.

He knows first hand the failure of the society safety nets and how quickly you can be emotionally kicked to the curb if you are not flowing with money. How the church he supported when he was flushed did not want anything to do with him when he was broke.

I Hate My Life's story has a currently happy ending. He did find another job. He has recycled his failure in a redemptive purpose. IHML's site provides information about resources, survival tips and links to help others in his former situation. I Hate My Life is planning to make a movie about his experiences. Only in La-La Land - http://ihatemylife.us

Self-Esteem Web Sites

One of the things that failure does is attack your self-esteem. So I found a few places to help you get it back.

I found a self-esteem workbook at http://www.lifefocuscenter.com/Articles.html- go to the middle bottom of the page and click the link for 365 days of self-esteem building and re-construction.

Self Help Magazine is just what the name implies. The articles are writing by mental health professionals and lay folks to give tips on living the good or better life.

The site contains articles on a variety of topics and a forum where you can chat up those who feel like you do or have been where you are - http://www.selfhelpmagazine.com

Failure Magazine

Failure Magazine - if you can have Success magazine then why not one on Failure?

Well, maybe not cuz there is no more successmagazine web site. Perhaps failure is a necessity?

Failure Magazines spends time examining things that do not function as intended (Would you voluntarily eat a product called Benicol or would you rub it on your leg?)

Or ideas that should not have been started in the first place (What made ESPN really think hiring Rush Limbaugh would help the ratings?).

I think it is a positive action magazine in drag. Why else would you have an engaging article about a man who is committed to teaching America to walk again and re-form communities? - http://www.failuremag.com

Flashlight - Homestar Runner

It has been a while since I found a flash animation site to recommend to you but here you go. A web classic long before Jib Jab.

You can adapt to watching a story about nothing becoming something. Think of Seinfeld. I am not a Seinfeld fan. No hostility please. I just don't get it. I have tried. Really.

But Homestar Runner - him I get. I have a thing for the Coach. It will take a few visits to check out the goodies. I just want to say that watching Strong Bad can be addicting and not to be encourage. His ego stretches to Pluto as it is. When you need something silly but not insulting give Marzipan a call - http://www.homestarrunner.com

Pop Goes The Weasel – A Folk Song's History

All around the Cobbler's bench,
The monkey chased the weasel,
The monkey thought t'was all in fun
Pop Goes the weasel!

A penny for a spool of thread,
A penny for a needle,
That the way the money goes,
Pop Goes the weasel!

I've no time to sit and sigh
No patience to wait till bye and bye
Kiss me quick, I'm off, good-bye
Pop Goes the weasel!

Nothing is as it seems. Especially a folk song. One of the variations of the song refers to folks pawning (popping) work tools for money for Saturday night at the Eagle Tavern in London. Their work tools were called weasels. To get you up to speed, visit the Straight Dope and read a Cecil classic at http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a990402a.html

Michael Quinion site is geared to international English speakers. What good is English if you can't toss in some history. He tracks down the meaning of British lyrics (of which there are many) of the song. http://www.quinion.com/words/qa/qa-pop1.htm

And if you can't get that damn tune out of your head then sing along with a MIDI version at
http://freepages.music.rootsweb.com/~edgmon/stpopweasel.htm

The Monkey Thought T'was All In Fun – Consumerfreedom.Com and Activist Cash

Consumer Freedom/Activist Cash presents itself as fighting those people against capitalism. They viewed 325,000 IRS documents to find what tax-exempt non-profits and activists are doing. If you are for:

• environmental causes,
  
• non-genetically modified foods,
  
• universal health care,
  
• vegetarianism or
  
• believe in anything that they are against, you make the anti-capitalist list, if you have money.

Ben and Jerry's Foundations and the Center for Science in the Public Interest are on the list. The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and groups that have received grants through the foundation. I know George Sorros made the list. He has pledged $15 millions to prevent Dubya's occupation for another four years. Oh yeah, he's getting calls.

Robert Redford is on the list because of his involvement in the Natural Defense Council. I have deeper respect and a burning desire to rent a copy of The Way We Were. This site is like a
virtual Nixon enemy list. Even as a kid I remember how proud or upset people were because they didn't make the list. Being cited is a total badge of honor.

I know this was not the intent and 99.89% of the regular visitors are probably contemptuous of every name and organization that is listed. The site lists names, job titles, addresses, phone numbers and means of contact -
http://www.consumerfreedom.com and http://www.activistcash.com

The Monkey Chased The Weasel – Opensecrets.Org

What would you do with access to the IRS's public information of non-profit companies and organizations?

The Center for Responsive Politics at www.opensecrets.org allows citizens to know who has contributed to political campaigns and how much money groups of people (and, by extension, companies) contribute to certain political efforts.

Using IRS public documents and the Freedom of Information Act you can find out just how much money the Dibold Corporation, a vendor of electronic voting machines, heaved into the Dubya's election and now re-election efforts. http://www.opensecrets.org

Imani - Faith

Belief Net lets you dive deeper than the surface of the current misuse, misunderstanding, , and falsehoods attributed to some of the world religions. Experts, scholars, people with something
solid to say about the intersections of faith and the real world. No easy answers but the right place to ask questions. http://www.beliefnet.com

Speaking of which if you want to know what faith you really are then stop by the Belief-O-Matic. Answer 20 questions and have your roots shaken. Or not. I found out that I could hang out with
Liberal Quakers, Neo-Pagans, and a variety of Buddhists. Cool. For entertainment and potential enlightenment purposes only. http://www.beliefnet.com/story/76/story_7665_1.html

Nia - Purpose

Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres) go where they are needed and after a 9.0 earthquake & tsunami you can bet these folks are on mission. If you would like to make a donation to support the organization visit http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org

Reporters Without Frontiers support reporters attempting to do their jobs, as a watcher of press freedom or the lack of it and fights censorship throughout the world - http://www.rsf.org

Ujamaa - Cooperative Education

Each one teach one and there is no shortage of educational goodies to be found. For inspiration, encouragement and all things on a higher plane of existence you should check out Sounds
True. Tammy Simon records uplifting speakers and thinkers and records CD & tapes on the positive realm. http://www.soundstrue.com

For another type of mind expansion that doesn't cost any money you can visit Radio 4 All - Unfiltered talks, humor and special reports. The files are in MP3 format that you can listen to on line or download free to your computer. http://www.radio4all.net

And for those of us that goofed around in language class only to move to a multi-lingual city I share with you a find of global importance.

NewsTrans is a free news translation web site. You pick the news source you want to read and they will translate it into the language of your choice. I was able to view the Arabic version of Al
Jeezeera into English. It is not perfect but is a start and we all have to start somewhere.
http://www.humanitas-international.org/homepage-news.htm or
http://www.newstran.com

Ujima - Collective Work and Responsibility

Nothing like a story or a folk tale to make a point clear.
http://www.folktales.net/ujima.html

Sometimes it does take one person to join thousands. Lisa Mitten has created a site that has information and links about Native American people, culture, nations and anything else you want to know about indigenous people. http://www.nativeculture.com/lisamitten/indians.html

Star Spider Dancing has left the planet but left a bunch of goodies http://www.ewebtribe.com/NACulture

Kujichagulia - Self Determination

Kujichagulia - Self Determination

Where can you look for support when you feel like the only one?
Well, in terms of a feeling, a calling or a notion that you ought to
be doing something else for a living you can't go astray by visiting
Barbara Sher's Forums. Very supportive folks hang out here.
http://www.barbarasher.com

Honorable mention, Barbara Winter has tips to support her book "How To Make A Living Without A Job" http://www.barbarawinter.com

Sometimes dreams take money. If you do not happen to have enough loot then self-determination is a harder road to hoe. Not impossible, but why knock yourself out?

David Bach is the author of the "Finish Rich" books. No real estate, special products or money making schemes. Just a real life, real people plan to work your way out of debt and into
prosperity - http://www.finishrich.com

Also from the fine folks that brought you "Your Money or Your
Life, the supportive website that redefines consumption and
prosperity. http://www.newroadmap.org/default.asp or
http://www.simpleliving.net/ymoyl

Nguzo Sabo: The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa

One of the things I like about Kwanzaa is that it seems to be
difficult to wrap it into an advertising campaign. A few have tried
but it just does not lend itself to selling chain saws and burgers.

The reason for that can be attributed to the Nguzo Sabo: The
Seven Principles of Kwanzaa. So this is a stooptafied version with
links to some of the websites that I feel reflect the principle.

Nguzo Sabo: The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa

Umoja - Unity

Many people seem to have a certain amount of disrespect for the
United Nations. Most American have little or no understanding of
the purpose or the many significant functions the UN handles and
promotes as part of the mission.

Do you know what the Millennium Declaration is? Take the time
to visit the site and become better informed on what the UN does
and what it accomplishes. http://www.un.org

Spirit In The Dark - A Celebration Called Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa was created in the mid-1960's to celebrate family, community and African-American culture. Since human culture spans the globe, you need at least ten days to get a running start
on it. So between December 26 and January 1st is the time set aside for the celebration.

Kwanzaa speaks to principles needed to create and hold a community together. To remind ourselves about values and individual and collective commitments.

For more information about Kwanzaa visit:

http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org
http://www.geocities.com/ninure/kwaanza.html

Sky Pilot - Lyrics For A Troubled Time

I mangle song lyrics like crazy - so when I get a chance to find out what I should have been singing for years it makes my heart go giddy-up. This seems appropriate although written for another war. What goes around come back to bite:

Sky Pilot by The Animals

He blesses the boys, as they stand in line
The smell of gun grease and their bayonets they shine
He's there to help them all that he can
To make them feel wanted he's a good holy man

Sky Pilot
Sky Pilot
How high can you fly?
You'll never, never, never, reach the sky

He smiles at the young soldiers, tells them it's all right
He knows of their fear in the forthcoming fight
Soon there'll be blood and many will die
Mothers and fathers back home they will cry

Sky Pilot
Sky Pilot
How high can you fly?
You'll never, never, never, reach the sky

He mumbles a prayer and it ends with a smile
The order is given, they move down the line
But he'll stay behind, and he'll meditate
But it won't stop the bleeding, or ease the hate

As the young men move out into the battle zone
He feels good, with God you're never alone
He feels so tired as he lays on his bed
Hopes the men will find courage in the words that he said

Sky Pilot
Sky Pilot
How high can you fly?
You'll never, never, never, reach the sky

In the morning they return with tears in their eyes
The stench of death lifts up to the skies
A young soldier so ill, looks at the Sky Pilot
Remembers the words 'Thou shalt not kill'.

Sky Pilot
Sky Pilot
How high can you fly?
You'll never, never, never, reach the sky

Wang Dang Doodle - Online Shopping Nice and Easy

I had to buy a traditional camera and no time to shop. I searched eBay and Yahoo Auctions but I didn't have time to wait for the auctions to end or try to figure out how much in shipping I was
going to have to pay.

Overstock.com to the rescue. They have a wide range of items from household & kitchen stuff, electronics, DVDs and whatever floats your boat. Might even have the boat. Products are new,
overstock returns from stores or refurbished.

Refurbished items are products that were originally purchased in a store, returned for whatever reason, tested, evaluated, and then sent to Overstock.com for re-sale.

It doesn't necessarily mean that there was anything wrong with the item but Overstock and many manufactures toss in various length warranties, depending on the item.

The pictures are good with the ability to see different angles of the products. The descriptions are helpful and sometime folks offer feedback on a purchase.

Overstock.com ships items for under $3, no matter the size or weight. If you are one of those folks that want it good and fast, you can purchase three day or next day delivery options. And no sales tax!

Check out process was fast. I was told when the item shipped and I could track it online. It actually came a day early. Score! Painless shopping - http://www.overstock.com

Put Me In Coach - John Wooden

I had the opportunity to hear Coach John Wooden speak. I passed
on it figuring it would be just a bunch of rah, rah testosterone
soaked trash talking "how we beat this team" stuff.

I am not a basketball fan. Ever since they went to long shorts the
game has no interest to me except for that Nike commercial where
the basketball is the beat and the players the dancers. That I like.

Unfortunately, my images of basketball coaches are associated
with Bobby Knight and others who use intimidation, humiliation
and financial incentives to motivate college teams to the winning
line.

That decision was a huge mistake. Coach Wooden has something
of offer to non-sports minded folks. I stumbled upon Wooden's
"Pyramid of Success" in my local newspaper. It is a building
philosophy of qualities you would want to have instilled in a
young man (or woman) such as industriousness, friendship,
loyalty, cooperation, and enthusiasm.

On deeper level, it is how we use to see ourselves as a people and
as a country. Not liberal or conservative, not democrat or
republican. Self-control, adaptability, honesty, integrity, faith, and
skill. Coach Wooden adds details about how he came to build this
pyramid and life lessons that he has learned in his 94 years.

Tool to Evaluate Presidential Candidates?

So this got me thinking. Could the coach's pyramid be applied to
the presidential campaign? Could a person use the pyramid to
match up qualities each candidate has or is deficient in? To view
the pyramid of success visit http://www.coachwooden.com

I don't know which way Coach Wooden swings politically but the
pyramid contains reminders of lost lessons America needs to re-
learn quick, fast and in a hurry.

I'm Moving Out - American Expatriates Looking To Canada

There are people who are disgusted with what is going on in this country. They are not waiting for the election; they plan to migrate out of the country.

On the travel list are Canada, New Zealand, the Bahamas and two young men who want to move to South Africa. If you are interested in taking up residence some place else - particularly if the election doesn't go the way you have hoped then you need to get busy. There is a lot of work to do before you show up at the border with your toothbrush.

If you are interested in Canada then you need to know that you have to have enough money to support yourself. Currently $10,000 is the starting point but I am unclear if that is U.S. or
Canadian moolah.

One of the web sites to check out is http://www.canadaho.com It is the story of how one person moved north to Canada. If you follow the rules, to the letter, it can be almost painless.

If you really want the juice then visit Carolyn's Canadian Immigration Information. It one part personal narrative and one part real world "this is what you have to do to move to Canada",
http://www.witchweb.net/immigration/index.html

If you are really to the bone serious about this then you should visit the official Canada immigration site
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomer/guide/index.html

As always, be on the lookout for scammers wanting to help you facilitate the process. Stick with the official legal channels. And whatever you do, you don't give up citizenship. You are just
looking to hang out for a while until the dust settles and tempers flame down.

For New Zealand immigration, visit the official NZ site at
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant

The Bahamas should not present much of a problem to migrate. I just can't see fooling around in hurricane country. No matter you politics you are still gonna need a grip of cash to help surround yourself with cabana boys. Escape From America Magazine will bust a few more illusions at
http://www.escapeartist.com/efam/59/Moving_to_the_Bahamas.html
The office site for moving down south is
http://nassau.usembassy.gov/acs_travel.php

As far as South African is concerned, I don't think the young men though this through enough. It is a beautiful place. It is also a dangerous place. But if destiny is calling then visit
http://www.safrica.info/public_services/foreigners/immigration/immigration.htm

South Africa is very clear about their immigration policy. They don't mind you visiting but they want permanent residents who have something to offer. In other words, bring money, skills and your future.

I'm On The Outside Looking In - Global Voting For President

Sadly, many Americans will choose not to vote in this election. I
know I've tried my best to convince them otherwise but they have
their reasons. But there is a huge international interest in this
election.

What we do in America has a global impact. The United States
importing and exporting of goods, services and personnel are a
vital part of other countries economic survival. Any military
action has an equal and opposite effect on millions of people.

World-Vote.com gives foreign citizens a chance to express who
they want for President of the United States.

It is, of course, a non-binding vote. World-Vote restricts the
ballots to Dubya and Kerry. Visitors click the check box under
the candidates image and are asked to select their country, region,
sex and age. You can view the tally so far by visiting
http://www.world-vote.com

Global Vote 2004 included all of the candidates running for the
Presidency including:

Michael Barnarik - Libertarian Party
Michael Peroutlk - Constitution Party
Walt Brown - Socialist Party USA
David Cobb - Green Party
Ralph Nader - Reform Party, Independent

Visitors can only vote once and the results will be released 48
before the election to the news media.
http://www.globalvote.org
http://www.technicola.com/globalvote2004

London Calling - BBC and CBC programs of note

As many of you know, I listen to the British Broadcasting
Corporation and Canadian Broadcasting to get a broader
perspective of the relationship between American and the rest of
the world.

The BBC program, Global Business did something interesting last
week. They explained to an international audience just how much
America is intertwined with various economies. To hear that
particular program you can visit the BBC website at www.bbcnews.com

The Canadian Broadcasting Company has a very good web site
that not only informs their citizens about Canada but also keeps
an eye on that pesky neighbor to the south. It has extensive
international coverage. It is a huge site but the starting place is
http://www.cbc.ca

Your local public radio station may carry As It Happens, hosted
by Mary Lou Finley and Barbara Budd. Depending on the topic,
they are tough, funny, informed and always prepared for anything.
You can listen to programs at http://www.cbc.ca/asithappens

Take It To The Limit - Urban Legend DeBunking

Some days I don't have time for a thought let alone a deep think. Places to go, people to see, all this and laundry too. I'm not really grousing about doing laundry - it is an opportunity to write and have I got stuff for this issue!

JibJab Update: In case you didn't hear the boys are legally off the hook. It was found that "This Land Is Our Land" fell out of copyright and is in the public domain. Yeah! The truth will set
you free.

Urban Legends - Speaking of the truth, there are a bunch of e-mail hoaxes being passed around, some are as old as Bigfoot. One of the best places to check out questionable stories is to visit
http://www.snopes.com The Urban Legends Reference Pages.

I have been meaning to go into deeper details about urban legends. I tend to ignore them but a friend sent me one the other day and I almost fell for it. However, just to be sure, I checked
and sure enough, it was complete fiction.

I realized we all are having trouble separating truth from fiction so any reliable help is much appreciated. Now not all urban legends are false. Here is a beauty about a certain cola -
http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/poster.asp
Feel the curves? I live for this stuff!

So when somebody sends you an email about saving Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers being a killer marine, Save NPR, Cookies Recipes or the ACLU being against Marines praying (False!) this
is a good starting place. http://www.snopes.com

Think of Laura - Five Wishes Medical Directives

I remember Laura Branigan's voice. It was distinct and dramatic. So when I heard that she had passed away it aged me up just a little more than I would have liked.

We all are going to die. Me? I don't want to be a living example of "The Brain That Would Not Die" or take the risk that some new technology will keep me around longer than my body wants
to stay. Five Wishes is 12-page legal document that informs caregivers on:

• Who you want making decisions for you when you can't?
  
• Medical treatments you want and don't want?
  
• ow comfortable you want to be?
• How you want to be treated?
• What you want your loved ones to know.
  

This guide forces you to make important decision about the quality of your health care and, just as important, the quality of your passing. It is not fun reading but if you have loved ones you
can make certain decisions easier for them to live with.

Then again, knowing some of my relatives, I would not want to leave the decision in their hands. Let's just say they are practical people. If there were any money in my estate, they sure would not want to waste it by keeping me on life support or assist me in receiving proper palliative care.

There is a fee to purchase the Five Wishes Medical Directives but you can download and review a non-printing copy by visiting The Aging With Dignity site http://www.agingwithdignity.org

Say It Isn't So - Dubya, JK, Science and Technology

What? You thought I'd go a whole issue without bringing politics into the mix? Nobody is safe until two months after the election, if then. It will take them that long to recount the count of the 3rd recount.

I came across an article from the international science magazine Nature. It asked 15 specific scientific and technology questions of both Dubya and Kerry. For example:

Q10-Does the Endangered Species Act need to be amended in order to operate more effectively? If so, how would you amend it?

BUSH: We need to modernize the act so that it provides the greatest benefits to those species most in need. For example, productive reforms could include habitat conservation plans,
conservation banking, voluntary agreements with landowners, and partnerships with states, tribes and nongovernmental organizations. These programmes could provide far greater
conservation benefits while avoiding unnecessary regulatory, economic and social burdens.

KERRY: John Edwards and I support protecting wildlife and the important goals of the Endangered Species Act. We will implement the act in a cooperative manner that extends
the benefits of wildlife and habitat protection to public and private lands. With adequate funding and a cooperative approach that works for both wildlife and property owners, we will continue
America's strong legacy of protecting wildlife.

Now don't get you hopes up that they will be straight forward, specific or dare I say it, completely candid. On some issues they are not that far apart and others are as wide as the Grand Canyon. To read the article visit: - http://www.nature.com/nature or
http://www.nature.com/news/specials/uselection/index.html

I Got Five On It - Osama Bin Lotto.org

Have to slip this in - can't believe it but I swear it is the real deal. Many folks have speculated that there will be an October Surprise in the form of a certain individual name Osama being escorted to an U.S. holding facility.

Well, step right up and place your bets. With Osama Bin Lotto.org you can place a $3 bet on the administration finding or producing Osama, or you can select U.S. invades North Korea,
invades Iran, Bush postpones the election or Bush kicks Dick Chaney to the curb.

Actually, you don't need to part with $3. In the rules you can request a free entry form but you need to act quickly to make the drawing. The grand prize is based on the total number of entries. The winner gets 50% of the total net amount with the maximum amount of $500,000. For more info, rules and other stuff visit http://www.osamabinlotto.org

Let's Dance - The Candidates On Technology

You know me - I look to the essentials. Food, shelters, freedom of thought.

Speaking of thinking there is a good piece on how Dubya and Kerry* feel about technology issues. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1649571,00.asp

The Kerry camp was forthcoming with specific answers. The administration referred the writers to existing statements on the web site - http://georgewbush.com

Not all responses to questions were on the website at the time of the publication of the article.
I find it is easier to read PC Mag articles in the print version:
http://www.pcmag.com/print_article/0,1761,a=135747,00.asp

These are issues that are going to kick us in the rumps unless we and the so called leaders pay attention.

*I can't bring myself to call him Herman, it is just not right.

In a previous life I was a collage babe - miss doing it but I'm in love with the process.

Doesn't matter if it is digital or paper. Rubber Cement can make me happy and I don't have to sniff it.

So in the spirit of sharing bliss I comment to your attention Scrapatorium
http://scrapatorium.blogspot.com

Yes, good gosh yes.

Where Can I Go?

I was just messing around, trying to find something to soothe my fiscally challenged mind and I stumble into a music web site that mentioned a collaboration between Ben Harper and the Five Blind Boys of Alabama.

Now I've heard of Ben Harper but I was practically raised on the gentlemen from down south so I had to take a quick look at Harper's web site http://www.benharper.net to see what he was up to.

Had the pleasure of viewing a mini-documentary that gave a taste of the recording process and how the senior generation influences and inspires the young. The mini-docs are in Windows Media and Real Player format. Even those on dial up can catch a grove.

Plus you can grab a taste of some of the tunes that will be on the CD.

Mighty tasty.

Ride The Peace Train - Official Cat Stevens Site

Everybody I know is shaking their heads about this one. It makes no sense. Although it goes a long way to help me explain the concept of racial and ethicnic profiling. But to pick on Yusuf Islam a.k.a. Cat Stevens?

From waayyy back in the day this man was singing about love, peace and all related topics. His music helped raise me, they are in my soul - the quality of his songs. And the fact he was a damn good looking man.

Still ain't half bad now, but I digress. In his current incarnation he has set up a charity in the UK called Small Kindness. If supporting orphans and helping building housing is considered bad then we as a nation haven't much more credibility to lose, it is gone. Don't take my word for it - check out the official site:

http://www.yusufislam.org.uk/index.shtml

The Elusive Butterfly of Love – Getting To My Destination

Here is the beginning of the story. I went to the Sunset Junction festival. Food, arts, crafts, a huge cross section of the real people of Los Angeles filtering into a predominately gay/creative community. This year they had some rocking bands and musical artists like Ashford and Simpson, X, Stephanie Mills, Thelonious Monster and Love with Arthur Lee. Food and Ashford and Simpson? I had to go.

Not to mention all kinds of goodies, sights, sounds and “what the hell was that?”

I grabbed the mystical red backpack of storage and head out. After two buses I start walking. I just figure on seven blocks of walking up front. I like to walk, I think.

I pass by the Circuit City that was looted during the riot/rebellion/uprising of 1994. I remember seeing a tank on that corner as I went to work in the days that followed. Ah, memories. But my feet are asking direct questions like:

“Are you crazy?”
“We have to walk how far?”
“Are we there yet?”



Finally, I see the entrance gate. I get stamped “completed”. There are thousands of people. Almost 10 city blocks of people. With that many urban folk you have to have food and facilities.

Bunky’s Pick – Photo-Shooting While Female

I am mad with myself. I had my cameras, the low rez one and the good one. Not only did I not get a shot of the Elusive Butterfly of Love but I manage not to get a shot of:

• All that human beefcake walking around with no shirts on.
• Guys walking proudly in man-skirts or kilts, all I got was what you see below.
• Men with all kinds of nipples and nipple rings.
• Men with very interesting belly buttons.

I had full battery power. More than enough space on the memory card. What the heck was I thinking! I check all sixty of my snaps and I got everything but the stream of mankind walking around half naked.

Well, truth be told, I know what I was thinking. As I was watching half naked gay men I was thinking “Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink.” I need the photojournalism class. I need help, people.

Part of the problem is that I am still reluctant to aim in people’s faces. I don’t mind sneaking a shot but that ain’t always how this photo thing works. Sometimes you have aim directly at the subject.

There are times you have to forget that you are attracted to the opposite sex long enough to take the picture. I totally forgot this last Sunday. I shall strive to do better.

Look4 Me - Windows XP Service Pack 2 Update CD

For dial up users it is a pain to keep Windows XP patched and protected. To Microsoft's credit - and thanks to http://www.lockergnome.com for the head's up, you can have the patch CD sent to your home for free, bumpkis, and most importantly no cost to you.

You just visit the link below, fill out the form and in about a four to six weeks you will get the update CD to install the patches. Now whether or not you want to install the patches is a whole 'nother topic.

The short answer is yes. Back back your stuff up! Just in case.

Windows XP Service Pack 2 Update CD

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/sp2/cdorder/en_us/default.mspx

More Stuff in the Mystical Red Backpack:

I have a recipe card on Grilled Vegetable Sandwiches with Hummus:

• 5 zucchini, sliced lengthwise
• 1 read onion
• 1 large tomato
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and quartered
• 2 tbsp. Olive oil
• ¼ tsp. Oregano
• ¼ tsp. Salt
• 1/8 tsp. Pepper
• 4 pita bread pockets
• 8-oz pkg hummus

1. Slice up the veggies, plop in bowl with the olive oil and make with the herbs and spices.
2. Grill or sauté veggies for 5 minutes or until browned.
3. Spread inside of pita pockets with hummus. Place veggies inside of pita and start eating.

Scion CD Sampler v.8

I am way past the target market for this CD but music is music and it was a freebie. Mainly modern techno/beat/house/rap mixed by DJ Melo D of the Beat Junkies.

It is not bad stuff. The concept is to mix known traditional tracks with contemporary music to fuse them into a completely new entity. What we in the old school use to call sampling. Various tracks are from Dilated Peoples, Jaylib, Kev Brown and other folk I don’t know.

Scion is a line of cars (I did not know this), including that boxy job that looks like a rolling square. I still think the PT Cruiser has more class and design but I could see myself stuff major stuff into a Scion. If you are curious about the Beat Junkies visit www.beatjunkies.com

If you watched Mad TV you know the character of Ms. Swan, dangerously clueless as she makes her way in the world. Alex Borstein is on tour, she was in my town recently and is probably working her way someplace near you – http://www.alexborstein.com

LA Shanti is a non-profit support organization that provide support for those with HIV and life-threatening illnesses. The offer a wide range of services including emotional support, prevention and education and volunteer training to continue to get the message out about protection and awareness – http://www.lashanti.org

Strike A Pose - Picasa Is Now Free

Just have enough time to give you the head's up about a great piece of software that you can use to organize your photos on your computer, and to create slide show presentations.

Now if you have purchased Picasa before it went free you can get a rebate/refund of the cost (check the web site for details).

You are running out of excuses, if you have a digital camera it can help you keep track of all the images on your computer. If not then you need to think about buying one - http://www.picasa.com/picasa

In the interest of fair disclosure, Google bought Picasa, and also owns Blogger.

Come and Get It...

Get Net Wise that is. Major corporations and those that have an interest in the Internet have put together a site that helps users understand:

• How to keep safe on the Internet
• How to stop junk emai and spam
• How to fight spyware and
• How to keep you private information secure.

There is a glossary to help understand jargon used by techies and overall it does a good job of informing newbies - http://www.getnetwise.org