Apr 9, 2009
Here lately I’ve been saying it a LOT — I love being out here in my own little world, away from the burg’s daily issues and problems. Now I know that I’m far from being immune to town gossip, but since my connections now only involve my friends, hateful comments made by others simply don’t reach me.
Small towns (in my opinion of course) tend to make mountains out of molehills, and the mountains are ignored — just as if they were molehills. Often times, jealousy keeps folks from wishing success to their neighbors; and sometimes, when there isn’t enough trashy stuff to hold up conversation, people make things up for entertainment. Sound familiar?
If there ever was time for community, it’s now. I really wish that the majority of those who reside in the burg would step over the molehills (or anthills), and take a closer look at the mountains.
Apr 8, 2009
Too many people are thinking of security instead of opportunity. They seem to be more afraid of life than death.
~ James F. Bymes
Funny that a dude born in 1879 could sum up what I believe to be one of the primary causes of today’s challenging economy.
Apr 7, 2009
The revelation that missing California girl, Sandra Cantu, was recently found dead has sparked my memory from not all that long ago when Katie Collman was also found murdered. Katie was a mere 10 years old when she went missing; Sandra was only 8. I had hopes that the search for the small girl from California would have a different outcome, and was saddened when I heard the news of her fate.
Maybe I just watch too much CNN — but it seems that right now there’s a rush on children disappearing — some being found dead within a few weeks, and some simply not being found at all. Florida’s Caylee Anthony’s remains were found, and every clue seemingly points back to her Mom, Casey, as the one ultimately responsible for her demise; Haleigh Cummins is still missing, and who knows what’s going with that family; there was news of a small, special needs boy, Adji Desir, also from Florida, disappearing from his yard, but his disappearance is no longer pulling headlines… I could go on and on…
Every single time that news headlines are about a child disappearance, I’m pulled back to 2005 when the burg’s own Katie Collman didn’t make it back home from the Dollar Store. Every time that I hear of an Amber Alert, I think of the photo circulated to help find Katie — you know, the school photo where she flashes a beautiful, trusting smile. Almost as quickly, I then think about the photo of Anthony Stockleman, her murderer. Not the photo from the front lawn of the Brownstown Courthouse, but instead the one that circulated over the Internet.
Why this photo? Because to me, his eyes look dead — void of any hope, love or faith. That’s the least that he (and others like him) deserve.
Apr 6, 2009
I posted just the other day about Skype and the new, freely downloadable application available for the iPhone (coming soon to the Blackberry). Skype reports that the application racked up over 1 million downloads within the first 2 days from the Apple Application store. AT&T, who has the exclusive right to the iPhone in the US, is restricting Skype VoIP over its 3G network — (you have to have a Wi-Fi connection to use it) and Free Press says that carriers’ policies that restrict Skype can violate net neutrality principals.
Interesting stuff that will certainly have an interesting outcome…
Apr 6, 2009
I always try to treat others with respect — those I connect with by phone, by email or in person. I am not saying that I haven’t asked to speak with someone else if I’m not getting the results I desire (i.e. ‘may I speak with your supervisor’), but I make a conscious effort to never be condescending or rude. Have you noticed that folks who THINK they are so very important are also the ones most often rude to others?
