If we have to beg someone to register to vote and/or beg them to vote, should that person be voting in the first place?

If one is not motivated to vote in the first place, will they bother taking the time to research candidates and issues?

It seems to me that it becomes a case of, who has the most advertising dollars and who can show up on enough funny shows; a popularity contest if you will.

I know there’s nothing particularly earth-shattering about that observation, just thought I’d throw it out there.

No related posts.

From GeekBrief.tv:

The release of the iPhone last year was one of the most fun days of my life. We waited in line for ten hours and bonded with the people waiting with us. We’re not expecting the same magic this year, but we still want to make it an unforgettable day.

Friday, July 11, 2008 People are flying and driving in to buy their phones with us at Northpark in Dallas, and then we’ll all have lunch at Buca di Beppo (Park Lane).

The music video is from the launch of the iPhone and the song is Hello, Hello by Geoff Smith. You can buy his latest album, Ones and 0’s, at RingtoneFeeder.com. You can also follow him on Twitter at Twitter.com/GeoffSmith.

No related posts.

So I’ve been doing some Google searches on the subject, because Google knows everything, right? Found ONE site that may shed some light on the subject that I posted below, the rest were just advertisements or junk.

Personally I think a lot of it has to do with the people you surround yourself with, and the situations you find yourself in. Some of these things are in your control, and some you have no choice in. Obviously the best course of action is to remove yourself from situations or people that are negative, or cause negative thoughts. If that person is a loved one, that’s not something that is realistic unless, of course, it’s an abusive relationship (either mental or physical). The best course in that case is to talk with that person about your feelings, and seek counseling.

Another thing that I think helps when you’re experiencing negative emotions or negative thinking is to refocus that energy on something constructive or creative depending on who you are. I find that if I feel that I really want to just wallow in sadness or knock someone’s block off, I will find a project around the house or something that just needs fixing and go to work at it. Some people who are more artistic may paint, draw, or play the piano. Then there are others who go the Zen approach, I’ve tried this a few times but I find I’ve never been able to quiet my mind so that doesn’t quite work for me!

Understand, this is not the same thing as ignoring your problems. You still have to deal with the issues you face, and the sooner the better. The key is to, as best as you can, remove as much of the emotional part and replace it with logic and reason. I’ve been able to do this in the past, and recently I’ve really been put to the test with a very emotional and life changing event. I can’t say that I was completely level during this event, but I feel that I’ve been able to handle it as best as anyone could. Of course it’s not over yet, but I feel like I’m handling it appropriately. Being cool under pressure is not an easy thing, but if you can keep your cool you will find that you are able to keep a very volitile situation from escalating further. Many times, this can be the difference that keeps others from doing something they regret, or in even more dangerous situations life and death.

I think it all really just comes down to getting into the habit, just like exercising it might be painful at first but once you get through a few days of it you start to enjoy it. Which reminds me that exercising is yet another way, and something *I* should be doing so I think I will. Heh! Some good quotes on the subject:

“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”
- Abraham Lincoln

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.”
- Aristotle

Links:

zen habits - I know what I said about the Zen approach, but this site seems to have some good suggestions. Be sure to check old posts, I found a lot of good ideas here.

Lifehacker - More of a “geek” site, but has some good productivity tips, not everything is geek-centric.

No related posts.

Click here to view embeded video.

Audio quality is a bit poor, but it’s worth it.

No related posts.

It’s so annoying to feel forced into it! She’s standing up and wearing a weird white jacket buttoned conspicuously at the waist as if to argue with those who said she’d been photoshopped into semi-svelteness. Now, she’s sitting down, but in kind of a half standing position in front of a low desk, to give us more of a view of her torso. She’s got a special white microphone to blend in with that white lapel. The first few stories are military, as if they need to drive it home that a woman can cover the manly topics.

Yes, “they” can cover those manly topics, haha. But my favorite part has to be:

Now, Katie tells us coyly that she just can’t figure out what her sign-off line should be. She shows clips of various real and fictional newsguys signing off and then tries to enlist us in the fun of suggesting sign-off lines. “Log on to our website,” she says. Log on. When you go to a website, are you “logging on”? See, I’m ready to be irked by anything! Well, let’s go over there — log on over there — and see whether people are suggesting insulting sign-offs, which is what I would expect, which is one reason it’s such a bad idea.

I love the “logging on” bit, It’s 2006, I think it’s time these “experts” reporting the “news” at least get the terminology right. Ugh, in any case I’m glad I don’t get my news from these clowns. Nice work Ann.

No related posts.

Hope you feel better stupe!

No related posts.

ABC is secretly planing, or I guess was secretly planning, a “fictionalized” mini-series based on the history of terrorism since the 1993 WTC bombing to the 9/11 disaster(s).

From the looks of it, the story is going to be about how stupid the government was: If only they’d listened to one man, all would have been right!

Does anyone want to see this?

No related posts.

No related posts.

James writes:

The Bratz are now Baby Mommaz. Yes, the hooker-in-training dolls have children. Bratz are the main reason I do not keep a supply of bricks around the house, because everytime the commercials come on I wish to pitch something kiln-fired through the screen so hard it beans the toy exec who greenlighted these hootchie toys. The Baby Bratz are as bad as you can imagine: “Bottles with Bling.” Judas on a stick, why not just refit the Bratz so they have Real Oozing Gonorreal Flow Action?

“They know how to flaunt it, and they’re keeping it real in the crib.”

What exactly is the penalty for failing to keep it real in the crib? Someone busts a cap in yo Pamper? I know I am old and so out of step it’s a wonder I don’t just appear as an indistinct smear, but was it really necessary to push the Age of Sultry Hussyism down to the infant stage? And who, exactly, are the Babyz flaunting it for? Are we going to see a commercial with Elmo in sunglasses, sitting with his legs sprawled, spanking some pliant Babyz with one hand while gumming down some mashed crack?

No related posts.