damn the muse

I've never been much of a physical activist. I won't be the first or the second person in line to voice my displeasure at some senate meeting because of some injustice. Nor will you see me marching in every red, white, and green parade screaming for equality. At least not in San Antonio. Not anymore. However, I find that writing can be as progressive as the spoken word. It isn't because I feel I need to hide behind letters and numbers and code, or conceal some failing at eloquence. I actually get really lazy when I think about having to write a memo or some formal letter.

No, writing has always been about ideas, and getting them out there. Sharing with the world a mind that isn't stupid just because it's locked inside a body society deems imperfect. I may not be a published author, but I'm a blogger, and I've been doing this kind of schtick for over ten years. And now that I'm back, I'm thinking of doing something about it.

The Americans with Disabiilities Act turns 20 on July 26th. Starting in July I will report on anything and everything pertaining to the act. There will be something every day for the month of July. And I do take requests.

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See the Ipod Touch? It's nice and cute, and it has wi-fi. I can go to Starbucks, access the net, check my email, and do some newsvining if I wanted to with a 'touch. First, it needs more gigs. This is why I might pine for it in the meantime.

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So apparently now may not be the best time to place auctions on ebay. With so many choices at the post office, a package could end up costing more than the winning bid!

Ouch.

I can't even access my local post office. With all the current construction right now, it's a wonder I even made it to Starbucks.

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There's a conference right now on the Virginia Tech tragedy that occured yesterday, They're about to release new information about the gunman. They just confirmed that both incidents are related, and ballistics matched. They also have a person of interest.

I'm just stunned by it all. Notre Dame played against Virginia Tech my last year there. We barely beat them. It was a sign of a not so brilliant year in football. Hearing this now it's rather shocking to recognize the school, to hear something so horrible.

The shooter is allegedly a resident alien from South Korea. Why do I have a feeling that the media is going to go nuts over this?

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It spread from a text message to the net. Suddenly, Anna was dead. I had never logged on to the internet to confirm something as I did with this, and wow will this be an interesting legal battle.

Anyway, I'm not dead. I'm trying not to get sick, but my allergies are trying to kill me. It's not cool. And suddenly blogging isn't as fun when impending doom is right around the corner.

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There are all these myths out there that perpetuate this downside to being bilingual. Apparently, some people think bilinguals have a subpar vocabulary, and their intelligence is rather lacking, and it's generally just to their detriment. There is no room in the brain for two languages. Except it seems that bilingualism prevents dementia.

Canadian scientists have found astonishing evidence that the lifelong use of two languages can help delay the onset of dementia symptoms by four years compared to people who are monolingual.

Imagine what three languages could do or even four. I can picture it now. People will be rushing to become linguists. Parents will actually teach their children their native tongue. Klingon will become nationally recognized.

As for those myths, I found them on some website, and I can't believe that they even exist. Do people honestly believe that bilinguals have a lesser vocabulary? Please don't make me smack you.

Via Slashdot.

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There are icicles outside my apartment. It rains, and then it jingles. It almost sounds like a key play when the opposing team is third and inches, and we as students (alumni) are asked to take out those lovely thinks and make some noise. I keep glancing at my window half expecting it to crack.

It's really cold outside.

I'm kinda loving it. I even went outside for a few minutes, and then I rushed back in because I couldn't feel my fingers. It was great! Cold weather is gorgeous. I just wish I were warm now.

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I feel human again, and that feels great. I just had to lie on the couch all day and watch mindless tv with the lights off. A few brain cells were lost. Oy. And as I'm typing this it may not be clear, but I've deleted quite a few spelling errors. Foghead strikes again.

Migraines are evil.

I thought I had one last summer, but I'm thinking that was just a fluke. This one wasn't, and I didn't catch it on time. Why? I've become complacent perhaps? Lack of pain for close to a year = stupidity. The signs were there. I was just in lala land or something.

I'm too hard on myself.

I hate migraines.

I despise foghead more. I sound stupid.

By the way, the forecasters in San Antonio are going nuts. This cold front is sweeping in and we're supposed to get ice tomorrow and snow the next two days. Snow. White stuff. Methinks people will actually keel over and die. This doesn't include the people who die from the accidents that will occur from the crazy drivers. They'll see the stuff, freak out, and kaboom.

It's frozen water people. Drive slowly. Unless you are me who likes to do spur of the moment things like go down steep hills laced with sheets of ice, and oops am I skidding? Been there. Done that. Very stupid. Fun. But stupid. And I was in my scooter, not in a car. I could have tipped over!

My lesson is very cold weather is pretty, but cold and dangerous. And if it does snow in San Antonio, I'm so going to have to take pictures even though I've seen enough of that white stuff to last a life time!

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Apple's iPhone. I was following the live updates on Engadget, and it really does seem impressive. The touchscreen capabilities alone scream ease-of-use, since the only thing it requires is a finger. Here's hoping the actual screen can handle wear and tear, because my lovely video iPod scratches too easily. The phone shouldn't.

The phones, which will operate exclusively on AT&T Inc.'s Cingular wireless network, will start shipping in June. A 4-gigabyte model will cost $499, while an 8-gigabyte iPhone will be $599, Jobs said.

IPhone is less than a half-inch thin -- less than almost any phone on the market today. It comes with a 2-megapixel digital camera built into the back, as well as a slot for headphones and a SIM card.

Ah, exclusivity contracts. I love Verizon, which is why I won't switch, but they have the worst phones. And here again Apple is choosing just one carrier, but I doubt this will garner Cingular legions of new clients, what with that lovely price tag.

Then again it is income tax season. How many people would actually be able to save $600 plus for something that shiny? It's quite a wait.

For a mockup of the iPhone, its measurments, and how it compares to other gadgets, check out Kottke.

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The FDA recently approved a new vaccine meant to prevent a virus (HPV) that can cause cervical cancer. Now Texas wants to introduce legislation that would make it mandatory that the vaccine be administered to 6th grade girls. Truly innovative thinking from the lawmakers taking steps to save these girls, but this is Texas after all.

The vaccine called Gardasil is administered in a series of three injections over six months.

More than 85 percent of all cases of cervical cancer are linked to HPV and the makers of the vaccine say it could virtually wipe out this cancer threat...

Van de Putte is sponsoring Senate Bill 110. She says since the Centers for Disease Control have put this new vaccine on its list ... a state law would be a way to keep some young women from falling through the cracks.

"What states can do to help encourage the compliance is to make sure that just like your measles and your mumps and your chicken pox. That it's in the set of vaccines that students must have before entering school," said Van de Putte.

Farrar is sponsoring the House Bill 215.

"I think people are going to have to open their minds and look at the science and the medicine and put that at the forefront," said Farrar.

The shot has not been without controversy. Some parents are voicing fears that the vaccine might encourage promiscuous behavior if young women felt they were somehow protected, but just like other school shots, parents would be able to officially opt out by applying for an exemption.

This one is definitely something to keep an eye on.

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In the news overlooked last month Mr. President decided to tack yet another one of his signing statements to the new postal reform bill. He finally confirmed what some legal and political pundits have been hinting at. He's a dictator, or would like to be in the name of National Security.

President Bush says he and other government officials have the power to snoop through your mail without a judge's warrant.

Bush made the claim last month in a signing statement attached to a postal reform bill. Bush wrote that the bill "provides for opening of an item of a class of mail otherwise sealed against inspection."

After last year's revelation of Bush's secret domestic eavesdropping program, the move caused waves on Capitol Hill among some legislators who said that it contradicted the postal reform bill, as well as existing law.

Signing statements are just that. They have no legal weight. He's not a judge, and he's not a legislature. Mr. President would love to invade his citizens' privacy a bit more, but his "statements" have no legal effect. Thank goodness checks and balances still exist.

Barely.

This is kinda creepy.

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Less than 24 hours from now people will wake up with one thought on their minds, assuming that thinking is possible: why. Why does it hurt so bad! That pounding. Oh my goodness, is that light? Turn it off. I don't care if it's the bloody sun.

So on and so forth.

New Year's just wouldn't be the same without that special hangover -- jello shots here I come -- but what if there were a pill that could spare one's over indulgence for that nasty sustanance, and say, wake up on Monday morning all bright-eyed, etc? Cheers!

Experts say that it's never going to happen. Boo hiss.

So here's my advice. Get plenty sloshed. Don't drive drunk. Hydrate. Then swallow a couple of ibuprofen.

Happy New Year!

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The Wizbang blog has the video of the execution and a picture of a very dead Saddam Hussein. I would link to it except that I think people have seen enough, and I certainly wouldn't want to lead anyone to a gratuitous image of a dead man. A dictator and murderer is dead. Why glorify that violence even if he deserved it? I have some respect for Wizbang, but I hate seeing images like these. Gloating never did anyone any favors.

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Saddam Hussein has been executed. But wait! 2006 still isn't over.

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A few years ago I saw a movie called Gattaca. It was haunting and prolific. It posed one simple question; what would society be like if parents could genetically modify their children? This wasn't just about changing a child's gender. The modifications were so intrusive that the new child would be free from disease. Except this in turn lead to a society where the "modified" were superior to the "unmodified," and a new class emerged.

It was a great movie that makes you think. Science has opened the door to many things, and fortunately it is eradicating some diseases. But should it be used to give them?

Three percent, or four clinics surveyed, said they have provided the costly, complicated procedure to help families create children with a disability.

Some doctors have denounced the practice; others question whether it’s true. Blogs are abuzz with the news, with armchair critics saying the phenomenon, if real, is taking the concept of designer babies way too far.

“Old fear: designer babies. New fear: deformer babies,” the online magazine Slate wrote, calling it “the deliberate crippling of children.”

But the survey also has led to a debate about the definition of “normal” and inspires a glimpse into deaf and dwarf cultures where many people do not consider themselves disabled.

If families want to have disabled children, then I'm sure that there are plenty of orphanages and adoption agencies who would be willing to help. But why oh why would you want to cause a child such grief. You can't shelter them from the teasing, from the discrimination. And as much as they come to accept that they're normal, it will never stop the stares. Can you prepare them for that? It's downright selfish and cruel.

Genetics shouldn't be messed with, period.

Edit: The link has been fixed.

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An amendment has been added to the rules governing the administration of the Texas Bar Exam.

An Applicant may take no more than five (5) examinations. [Amendment signed December 12, 2006] However, for good cause shown, the Board at its discretion may waive this limitation upon such conditions as the Board may prescribe.

The conditions aren't listed, so I'm assuming it could be entirely subjective as to who is and isn't allowed to retake the exam. They can think an examinee is ugly, and bar that person from taking the exam.

Maybe this is why I received this letter from the board. My disABILITY automatically disqualifies me from a 6th time, unless they thought I was going to use it as an excuse? Oh, poor me. I'm lame. You use and abuse me, but you so aren't going to beat me this time.

For the record, this is the worst written amendment I've seen in a while.

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It's dying! My sony laptop is fading into hardware hell (once I'm done with it)! I can get an hour of runtime before it shuts down, and then the waiting game begins. Fortunately, Goodwill opened up an internet cafe for the disABLED. It supposedly has all these nifty gadgets that make surfing the web ten times easier. Frankly, I think the whole purpose behind the cafe is great and about time.

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There's a Wii Revolution going on, and so far I'm not apart of it. I feel left out. Normally, this wouldn't bother me as much, but the Wii looks brilliant, and for once, I think I might actually be able to play the games thanks to the innovative remotes.

See, for the longest time I've had to sit on the side-lines. As new consoles came out, so did the new controllers, and well they were huge. It's hard to wrap your fingers across those suckers, and then most games require that you hit the A and B button simultaneously, but don't forget about the Z button which is on the bottom. Oh, and the Y and X buttons are on the sides, and they're important. If I wanted to play "Smash Brothers" I had to master all of them, and well with my hands, coordination was never my strong point.

Back then with the Super Nintendo everything was much easier. Oh, and I kicked much booty. As Chun Li I was unstoppable, and I perfected the time in which I beat "Final Fantasy 2." The games were still cool for such simple controllers. They were accessible. And as I'm writing this I'm fondly remembering Metroid and Zelda whose theme music just assaulted my brain.

I miss playing games. They're not easy to play anymore, and it isn't because they're complicated. The controllers are just so huge, so they're not manageable. So when a person like me sees the Wii, I drool. For all I know it could still be difficult, but it does look like a lot of fun.

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Christmas songs have started edging their way on the radio. Not the good kind. The bad ones sung by so-called pop stars with pumped up tunes and doctored vocals. The song is supposed to sound brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. Twenty years from now I'm not going to remember it. No one will. I will, however, remember this one:

So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear ones
The old and the young

{Refrain}
A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

And so this is Christmas (war is over)
For weak and for strong (if you want it)
For rich and the poor ones
The road is so long
And so happy Christmas
For black and for white
For yellow and red ones
Let's stop all the fight

{Refrain}

And so this is Christmas (war is over)
And what have we done (if you want it)
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so happy Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young

{Refrain}

War is over if you want it
War is over now

Hmm. I love this Lennon song. The arrangement is so pretty, but I had never really paid much attention to the words. I wonder how much rotation this song will get this year.

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Couples fantasize about making out in an airplane lavatory. And if they hadn't, well one viewing of Rumor Has It will either be enough to convince the lucky lover of a quickie in that tiny bathroom, or kill that libido as soon as the airlines start passing out photocopies of this article. Of course this happy twosome just couldn't wait to express their carnal love in a more private place.

"Persing was observed nuzzling or kissing Sewell on the neck, and ... with his face pressed against Sewell's vaginal area. During these actions, Sewell was observed smiling," reads the indictment filed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On a second warning from the flight attendant, Persing snapped back threatening the flight attendant with "serious consequences" if he did not leave them alone.

He was so hot and bothered he just couldn't contain himself! Now they're both charged under the Patriot Act.

Let this be a lesson. Sex on airplanes is bad. It turns ordinary people into terrorists, and that just isn't good.

Via Irish Trojan

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Here is the latest world news. Mexico City just passed a law allowing civil unions. Yes, that very same Mexico. Home of the stereotypical macho man who drinks tequila till dawn and expects the wife to have dinner ready every night when he comes home from work. He is the bread winner.

It's a Mexico that is more Americanized than I'd like. There are KFC's, Domino's, and Subway's in the smaller town now. When the taco stands begin to disappear, there will be an uproar. Picture an Irapuato without a Pingüino's or a Furber's. It's too scary to picture. My tongue is welling up with saliva just thinking of that fire roasted meat on real corn tortilla's...

Now it's a Mexico with a capital city that recognizes civil unions. The vote was 43 - 17, and all the members of incoming President Calderon's party disapproved.

La Sociedad en Convivencia la podrán establecer dos personas de diferente o del mismo sexo, que sean mayores de edad, aunque no se podrán apegar a esta figura los parientes consanguíneos en línea recta sin límite de grado o colaterales hasta en cuarto grado.

The law basically states that a civil union can occur between to people of either the opposite or same sex as long as they are of legal age (18 I assume). However, one can't enter into a civil union if it's a parent, brother, sister, uncle, aunt,or a cousin. Fifth cousins are allowed.

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Texans just don't know how to think. They're not all the same. Some can be open-minded. I'm just blown away that Kay Bailey Hutchinson was re-elected. She's owned by the MPAA. Ugh.

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It's taboo to bring up politics in my household. The parents and one brother lean one way, and my younger brother and I lean the other way. And as viewpoints go, we all think we're right. I guess that's what happens when you grow up in a family with very, very stubborn genetics.

By Tuesday night the election will be over, and saying that I will be overjoyed is an overstatement. Almost every phone call home has some subtle comment from the parent about my affiliation. How could I vote for that person? Why did S. vote for X? Are we nuts? Did we know that X supports murdering children?

Oh my goodness I had no clue that murdering living, breathing children was legal in the United States of America. Then again illegal wiretapping is legal now as well as the temporary cancellation of habeas corpus for would be terrorists who may or may not be Americans.

Hmm.

I haven't decided who to vote for yet. I'm more worried about being able to vote than actually having to make that choice. I don't want a repeat of last time.

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I have yet to see the documentary, "Murderball," but apparently it's done wonders for the sport called quad rugby. It's catching on, and now more men and women want to participate. I guess it comes with the thrill of crashing their wheelchairs into each other! What is even funnier is reading that the women are meaner than the men. Nah, really?

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There are now eight planets in the solar system. Well, at least until the leading astronomers change their minds again, or unless a new planet is discovered that fits the definition of, "a celestial body that is in orbit around the sun, has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a ... nearly round shape, and has cleared the neighborhood around its orbit.”

Until then our beloved Pluto has been relegated to the status of a dwarf planet. Too small to hang out with the big boys I guess.

I'm just intrigued to be living in a time when these changes occur even if it is a little sad. Seriously, what's next?

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And so it begins again, or perhaps it never ended. With the recent plane conspiracy that now makes liquids oh so threatening, the Brits are absolutely paranoid, and thanks to Bush I think we tie them in the melodrama department. This return to hysterics has led to the banning of all Middle Easterners and their look-alikes.

British holidaymakers staged an unprecedented mutiny - refusing to allow their flight to take off until two men they feared were terrorists were forcibly removed...

The trouble in Malaga flared last Wednesday as two British citizens in their 20s waited in the departure lounge to board the pre-dawn flight and were heard talking what passengers took to be Arabic...

Passengers noticed that, despite the heat, the pair were wearing leather jackets and thick jumpers and were regularly checking their watches...

The Monarch pilot - a highly experienced captain - accompanied by armed Civil Guard police and airport security staff, approached the two men and took their passports.

Half an hour later, police returned and escorted the two Asian passengers off the jet.

In Great Britain.

Here the official word would be something like, "It's all a matter of national security."

Then a few days later on the last page of the city's local newspaper there would be an apology for the blatant racial profiling. But who can blame Americans? Arabs tried to kill us. The next innocent looking one might be "it." Which is why they have all these security measures in place to prevent it, and if they fail, "oops".

No liquids. After all, water can kill, especially if you drink too much of it.

Via Boing Boing

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The second big bad is dead. I think I'm more disturbed that the networks are showing Zarqawi's post-mordem pictures. It's as if the government has begged the media to help them prove that this war on terror hasn't been in vain, and here are the results. Look, a corpse. Isn't it dead-looking? Beat that CSI.

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Welcome to MATT.org or Mexicans and Americans Thinking Together. It's a website that attempts to layout the facts and perceptions, and try to come to a comprise to the illegal immigration issue. At least that's what it's trying to do.

I became intrigued by MATT thanks to the commercials. In one they used a fair-skinned Hispanic male speaking in a perfect Spanish accent, and I felt a connection. Finally, there was someone like me, which may seem ridiculous to say, but it's rare. Except in my family of course.

After a few more commercials I visited the website yesterday, but I'm not sure if the website will succeed in the kind of discussion it wants to foster. The website was created by a Mexican American businessman with ties to the Republican party. However, the illegal immigration agenda is more of a bipartisan issue, and the website seems to at least try to include articles that take neither side. The minute men are not disparaged, and there is an honest effort to find a way to include the illegals without having to kick out all 12 million. The problem lies with the discussion forums.

As the site becomes more popular members of both sides of the immigration debate will go to the MATT forums, and there is no guarantee that any kind of discussion will occur. The forums are already becoming infested with members who are soley interested in causing conflict on both sides of the issue. If this is what MATT wanted, then it's not very constructive. As an interested member I'm looking for intelligent discussion, not someone who is going to sit there and insult my heritage and make presumptions (as an example).

I guess only time will tell.

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The would be scholar in me is completely fascinated by this revelation of a "Gospel of Judas," especially since the document places Judas in a far more favorable position than oh say the New Testament. I'm curious. I want to read it.

For centuries we've been told that this character is a deceiver, a betrayer, the most loathesome person imaginable, yet here's a "gospel" that if it were to be accepted (doubtful), it would alter some religions and reinforce others.

Text! Text! I need text! I can't ask questions without text. ::pout::

By the way, how cool was it that yesterday was 01:02:03 04/05/06. ::le sigh:: Nunca jam�s.

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Starting in April people will be able to legitimately download a digital copy from a small library of movies for a fee. Buy the movie, download it, watch it as many times as you want, and your hard copy will come via snail mail shortly. The catch is that it's loaded with digital rights management software preventing the buyer from sharing his/her new purchase with friends and family. After all, everyone is a thief.

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The Japanese care so much about their peeps! And no there's not a theme here (below).

Always innovators when it comes to technology, our friends on the other side of the world have created a robot that can carry the elderly. It can hear, smell, and see. Can it replace a man?

That was a joke.

Ever so worried about the growing population that can no longer take care of itself, this robot is aimed at performing tasks that a personal assistant would normally do... like lifting! Eventually they hope to program it to detect health problems.

Via Boing Boing.

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The FCC seeks to fine CBS around $3.6 million for depicting an orgy on television. There was no actual nudity, but since the scene involved teenagers it borders on pornography. In the meantime shows like all the CSI's, which tend to be gratuitous for their violence (and sex cases), don't receive complaints for the gunshots or guttings. One would think that such things would be just as indecent.

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The FBI has issued a warning stating that future NCAA basketball games may be the target of suicide bombers thanks to the post of an unidentified extremist. Oh joy, another threat. I'm trembling. Here I thought Notre Dame's latest loss and failure to reach the tournament this year was the end of my world.

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And it's all sad.

I can't believe Dana Reeves is gone. She was only 44. That woman was so strong for her husband. Now she's with him I guess. I just feel bad for their son.

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The Ohio Supreme Court has ruled that parents can sue their doctors if a genetic screening misses a really bad flaw leading to the child's severe disability or death. Basically, the parent's would have aborted the fetus had the genetic defect been detected, or so they say, but in these cases it's all about the money. Money to support the child who can't crawl, but can probably hear them cry about how they didn't want it. It's so expensive.

Here's the irony. Ohio could hypothetically become one of the next states to outlaw abortion, and the whole "wrongful birth" argument will become null and void. It can't work both ways.

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A health group wants the FDA to ban Darvocet because it can kill if used improperly. So can Tylenol and Ibuprofen, but they want to eliminate this potentialy lethal drug first.

WASHINGTON - Darvon, Darvocet and related painkillers were associated with the deaths of at least 2,110 people between 1981 and 1999, critics said Tuesday in asking the government to ban the drugs.

Several hundred more people have died accidentally after taking the drugs each year since then, Public Citizen�s Health Research Group said...

Wolfe said Public Citizen may not wait before undertaking legal action to get the drug off the market.

The body transforms propoxyphene into norpropoxyphene, which can build up in the body and is associated with a variety of heart problems, including arrhythmia.

Doesn't every drug have its risk? Yet too many people these days are all too happy to sue if something isn't agreeable. Tylenol may cause liver problems if taken in excess. Where are the lawsuits? They will come eventually.

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Please. Don't disrespect the Muslim faith. Anyone can use the lord's name in vain, but use Allah and Yahoo finds the need to add it to a list normally reserved for the most atrocious words imaginable. Of course then comes a man named Callahan and Yahoo finds that it has a dilema. Banning Allah isn't as easy as cunt and dick, though I could probably come up with humorous usernames for the later two that might bump them into the realms of free speech, but the TOS would handle that in three seconds flat. Unless I were God.

But I'm not. Darn.

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I've officially banned myself from every internet news site from now till tomorrow morning, which basically means that I now feel disconnected. It's do this or accidentily find out who won the women's figure skating medal, and I tend to enjoy being surprised. The suspense isn't killing me, but Sasha Cohen was impressive Tuesday night.

update: I should have added my mother to that list! I called her to ask about a recipe, and the first words out of her mouth were what I dreaded the most. And she enjoyed every second of my misery! Now, in honor of the unwanted revelation I am blogging about my mother as I threatened I would do. Esto es para ti mam�. TQM.

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"The Road to Guantanamo" just won the top prize at the Berlin Film Festival. The film itself tells the tale of three innocent men who find themselves at G Town and their eventual release. Needless to say, the film probably doesn't say kind things about the good ole US of A. To make things a bit more interesting the actors playing these men were detained at the Luten airport and harassed under the Terrorism Act. All for the sake of international security I think.

Posted by yasmín at 9:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Our president was eloquent tonight! I also wanted to throw puff balls at the tv set within seconds of turning the thing on, but that's besides the point.

Bush had quite a few things to say that were very interesting. Hamas is a threat, and it would be a shame to see matters escale again between Israel and Palestine. We need a leader to continue to smooth things over between those two groups. Avoid hostilities between them. Unfortunately, now that Hamas is in control, everything is substantially more complicated.

We have an addiction to oil. Next.

Wiretapping. The EFF just sued AT&T for allowing the NSA direct access to their telecommunications network without a warrant. The EFF protects the average citizen's civil liberties. This includes our right to a reasonable expectation of privacy. If the NSA thinks that terrorists are communicating then they need to get a warrant from a judge. Besides, the only way they're going to have these suspicions are if they have some other kind of evidence, which in turn may be sufficient for a warrant. Don't trample on a citizen's rights just because there might be a mention of bin Laden in a household. This very well may be a heated discussion about the fastest way to execute the murderer in Arabic!

Finally, I wonder if the senators were tired of all that standing.

Posted by yasmín at 10:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It's State of the Union time. Honestly, I rarely watch the speeches because I tend to start twitching. Call it my unavoidable allergic reaction to that darlin' Texas twang. Of course since I'm known to be a glutton for punishment I may just rush home from my lesson to hear what Bush has to say.

For those of you wanting to add a little umph to the speech Wonkette has just the thing.

Posted by yasmín at 12:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Coretta Scott King has passed away, and like her husband she leaves behind a remarkable legacy. The main message being to strive for what you believe is right through non-violence. She did this to the very end.

Posted by yasmín at 12:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Dear Anne Coulter. If you have to announce that your statement was a joke, then what does that tell you? A) It was despicable. B) It was a threat directed to a Justice of the Supreme Court. C) It was done in such poor taste that if you had once wanted to solidify yourself as one of the leading conservative commentators with political clout, well then, honestly it's never going to happen.

Had the comment been directed towards Bush then I bet she would be wiretapped, or at least questioned by the Secret Service in the interest of National Security.

Posted by yasmín at 8:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Toyota wants to acknowledge the Hispanic population here in the States. The best way it knows how is by creating an ad that will run in Spanish during the Super Bowl. Abuelitas will cry, mothers will curse, and the man of the house will shout, "Arriba, America!" Oh my.

Do you know how long I've been waiting for English music radio stations to play decent Spanish music? It takes a Super Bowl to get one ad. What's next, an infestation? And if the ad turns out to be in Spanglish then it really isn't a breakthrough. It's more of an insult.

"Ay papi, me want a Toyota."

"Pero why mijo."

"To impress las muchachonas!"

Idiota.

Posted by yasmín at 7:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The other day I received an invitation to Newsvine, which can best be described as a user contributed news portal. Think Digg and google, but oh so much more. I'm still playing around with the site, but I really like what I see.

The website indexes AP articles before they hit the major news websites, and it indexes user contributed links. Users are encouraged to blog about the articles, and when the site leaves the beta stage, the individual blogs will have ads of which 90% of the revenue will go to the user. Users don't necessarily have to blog. The site itself has an abundance of news articles. It's downright amazing.

I have 20 invites. If you want to check it out then let me know.

Posted by yasmín at 1:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This name will become familiar to most Americans by this time tomorrow. Why? She's an American journalist who's been kidnapped in Iraq, and she works for a known publication, the Christian Science Monitor. It's the kind of news that CNN online places front and center, but it makes me wonder, if we, as a a nation do make a huge deal out of this won't her kidnappers retaliate ten-fold? I honestly hope they don't.

Posted by yasmín at 8:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

As if the country wasn't perturbed enough already by our President, who recently admitted to all the local spying and willingness to continue such rampant violation of our constitutional rights, here's another reminder that lately nothing in the USA is sacred.

Oops, did I say sacred?

Posted by yasmín at 9:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

An anonymous male managed to sneak a razor onto a plane without getting caught by authorities. What did he do with the razor? No throats were slashed, no handsome flight attendants were threatened, and the marshall was clueless. Brownie points awarded everywhere.

The sad thing is if he had been caught he would have been charged as a terrorist or with some crime with the word 'terror' in it.

On the other hand, if we disagree so much with keeping our planes safe, what's next, should a gun be snuck through security just to prove a point. So some things have been taken too far, but where do we cross the line?

Posted by yasmín at 9:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

For once my state is doing something decent. Texas believes that Sony BMG violated the state's anti-spyware law when it included technology on cds meant to prevent consumers from ripping their music into mp3s or transfering the files onto their iPOD.

Without asking users, the CD automatically installed the copy-protection program when discs were loaded into a PC � a necessary step for transferring music to iPods and other portable music players.

Attorney General Greg Abbott accused Sony BMG of surreptitiously installing "spyware" in the form of files that mask other files Sony installed as part of XCP.

This "cloaking" component can leave computers vulnerable to viruses and other security problems, Abbott said, echoing the findings of computer security researchers.

"People buy these CDs to listen to music," Abbott said. "What they don't bargain for is the consumer invasion that is unleashed by Sony BMG."

Security researchers say XCP is spyware because it secretly transmits details about what music the PC is playing. Manual attempts to remove the software, which works only on Windows PCs, can disable the PC's optical drive.

Sony executives have rejected the description of their technology as spyware. A spokesman for the New York-based label did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment on Abbott's lawsuit.

Sony BMG initially rejected the uproar over XCP as technobabble.

But after security experts discovered that XCP opened gaping security holes in users' computers � as did the method Sony BMG offered for removing XCP � Sony BMG agreed last week to recall the discs.

Some 4.7 million had been made and 2.1 million sold. CDs that had XCP included releases by Van Zant, The Bad Plus, Neil Diamond and Celine Dion.

Honestly, I expected a class action lawsuit brought by consumers. Now that a state is involved, well this brings more exposure to the whole fiasco. Hopfully consumers will realize that they do not have to buy into DRM (digital rights management) schemes.

Posted by yasmín at 3:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In the NYT today a report has been released finding that the FDA's decision to reject Plan B as an over the counter medication was rather suspicious.

The Government Accountability Office, a nonpartisan investigative arm of Congress, concluded in a report released Monday that the Food and Drug Administration's May 2004 rejection of the morning-after pill, or emergency contraceptive, application was unusual in several respects.

Top agency officials were deeply involved in the decision, which was "very, very rare," a top F.D.A. review official told investigators. The officials' decision to ignore the recommendation of an independent advisory committee as well as the agency's own scientific review staff was unprecedented, the report found. And a top official's "novel" rationale for rejecting the application contradicted past agency practices, it concluded.

The pill, called Plan B, is a flashpoint in the debate over abortion, in part because some abortion opponents consider the pill tantamount to ending a pregnancy. In scientific reviews, the F.D.A. has concluded that it is a contraceptive.

The report suggested that it quickly became apparent that the agency was not going to follow its usual path when it came to the pill. "For example," it said, "F.D.A. review staff told us that they were told early in the review process that the decision would be made by high-level management."

Abortion politics? Apparently Plan B prevents a zygote from sticking to the uterus, assuming the woman did get pregnant after having sex.

Personally, I'd be more worried about the safety of the drug, and if it is, well...

Posted by yasmín at 10:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

::cricket::

More teenagers are discovering s - e - x, and now the world is going to end. Abstinence only programs don't seem to be quite helping, though it's interesting that in a few states some programs tend to be very well rounded. Medically accurate info, acceptance of diverse relationships, and this includes people with disABILITIES. My heros.

Posted by yasmín at 9:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

So, now it's a Category 5, and according to my mother it's going to destroy Galveston. What a reality check.

She just called to beg me to go home, except San Antonio is further in land, and the path of Rita is supposed to hit on the eastside. I live on the northwest side of the city. That doesn't rule out the nasty flooding we'll get or tornados, and it doesn't erase all the ugly images everyone has witnessed in the last three weeks. Galveston, Houston, and Corpus are in the firing line, and it's not a nice thought.

Posted by yasmín at 3:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Listening to: "Master of the House" - Les Miserables

Full-blooded Mexicans have invaded the United States in order to help with the Katrina relief, and apparently it's a big deal. All week my aunt has been sending me msn messages asking me about the evacuees. How full is San Antonio? 14,000 strong. I even met a lady on the bus today from New Orleans. She had her suitcase, a brush sticking out, and like every unfortunate person in my city, was attempting to navigate the consistently late transportation system to get to downtown and catch a Greyhound back to Louisiana.

Esta horrible. It's horrible what's happened, my aunt says, and her comments reflect pretty much what all my other family members say from Guanajuato. Their compassion has no bounds, and it's kinda cool to see the Mexican army on Texas soil to lend an extra hand.

Posted by yasmín at 9:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Apparently during my battle with Photoshop and css, I missed this thrilling bit of news. The California Senate passed a bill to allow same-sex marriage by a margin of 21 to 15. This would make it the second state in the nation to allow same-sex individuals to marry next to Massachusetts. Here, here.

Posted by yasmín at 11:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (1)

Boing Boing is reporting that Napster isn't quite the success story it used to be. Maybe it's because of the II after its name, or maybe it's because it's littered with DRM. Whatever the case, reinvented Napster is nothing like it's former self.

Wasn't it free?

Posted by yasmín at 12:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It's never a good thing to wake up, turn on the news, and suddenly have a breaking report cut in saying that there's been yet another "incident" in London. Part of me wants to stay glued to the tv set, but the other part, the hysterical, panic-stricken, reasonable part, knows that if I want to pass next week, I should at least get some essays done.

Regardless, the news is horrific, and the only thing that kept creeping into my head was, when are we next? It's such a horrible thought, but I couldn't help it. That, and I seriously hope that Londoners continue to not be afraid. Scumbags who do horrible things like that deserve to be locked away, the key mysteriously lost.

Anyway, Wizbang has the latest.

Posted by yasmín at 10:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I just spent five minutes trying to defend the legal system, which was really difficult to do considering today's news. He isn't called Wacko Jacko for giggles alone, ya know. And no, I'm not linking. He's not guilty. He "innocently" sleeps with boys, therefore he's not guilty. The poor guy had a tough childhood. Cut him some slack. Applaud the defense lawyers for doing an awesome job, and fire the prosecuters because obviously they don't know how to do theirs'.

Oy vey...such disgust.

Posted by yasmín at 9:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Abercrombie just failed an image test. Two friends applied for a job at the chain. The one that looked the part was wooed, and wooed, and it didn't really matter if she lacked experience. Blond and blue eyes and an Abercrombie blouse did the trick. Her friend dressed up as a goth for the day, and she basically received stares, cold shoulders. Who cares if she has experience and happens to be a good person. It's all about appearance, and even if she could show up the next day without the black clothes, Abercrombie still wants the white girl wearing their clothes before they'll even consider hiring her. I guess...

Via Boing Boing

Posted by yasmín at 8:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Nine Inch Nails has canceled their appearance on the upcoming MTV Movie Awards. They were reportedly upset when the network decided that the display of an image of our beloved Presidente while they played would be uncomfortable. What's more uncomfortable, a harmless image of Bush, or a song titled "The Hand that Feeds?"

Next on the agenda, bleeping criticism of the president on tv. Just you wait.

Posted by yasmín at 9:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It's rather depressing when the top cover story for the majority of the entertainment news shows is the wedding of the sex offender to her victim.

What's next? A game show played by terrorists competing for a bid to bomb the next US target?

Posted by yasmín at 8:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

...ya know!

Throw fair use out the window. If a dvd dies (::sob:: Disc 2 of my Firefly set is getting there), I can't just make a copy. I have to spend another $40 to replace my much beloved copy of that wonderful Joss Whedon series.

But see, I've been a bad, bad woman. I've succesfully converted three people in the last week into Browncoats. They've come over to watch the series with me. I've also let friends borrow my set, and much converting has progressed from this point. Did I say borrow? Yes, I did. If I were to convert this to technological lingo, I could say it was filesharing. How do I know that the people that borrowed my box set didn't have the capacity to burn dvds? I was just sharing, and they loved it. Oh, and they did go and buy the Firefly dvds themselves, and Browncoats will eventually control the universe.

The point is, fair use leads to word of mouth and a whole lot of other goodies.

So, it's rather hysterical to read an article such as the one in today's "Wired" that basically says that future dvds and players will need my fingerprint before I can play them. Really, why not label all of us criminals all ready. Or better yet, the day the movie association accepts such a ludicrous drm scheme, that will be the day internet pirating will truely become a problem. It just won't work.

Posted by yasmín at 9:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The MPAA is paying off the NYPD. They give them tips on who is selling pirated DVDs, the cops make the arrest, which they can legally do, and for doing their job well the corporation gives them a nice gift, which isn't quite legal by a long shot. This is the same corporation that has been whining that they lose so much money when their movies get pirated.

Via Slashdot.

Posted by yasmín at 12:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The mother of a key witness in the MJ trial took the fifth today when she was asked about receiving welfare payments. I don't follow the case. The man is a pedophile, and celebrity cases are farces. Not because justice isn't done, but rather the media does a great job of presenting the case when they really don't know anything about the law and suddenly laypeople watching the news think they're lawyers.

Now, a woman who pleads the fifth as to not incriminate herself, well, that's interesting. You have to love people who whine about how crappy their life is while they consistently cheat the government and wear a Cartier watch to prove it.

Posted by yasmín at 3:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I just checked MSNBC and apparently there's been an 8.2 earthquake off the coast of Indonesia. I think they're expecting tsunamis any minute. Here's hoping that alerts have gone out and that people will be safer this time around.

Posted by yasmín at 12:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Eh.

The game itself is alright.

The ads are just dull. No, seriously. They're pitiful. Am I supposed to laugh at a washed up MC Hammer? I've seen better. And though it was nice to see all those people clapping at the soldiers as they walked through the airport, I can't help but think of the ad Anheuser-Busch originally intended us to see.

Where did all the good ads go? Oh, they ran away from the big bad FCC.

Posted by yasmín at 7:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A Vermont company has decided to stop selling a teddy bear wrapped in a straight jacket after advocacy groups decried it insulted the mentally ill.

In other news Hallmark has decided to stop selling teddy bears because they innacurately portray bears.

Posted by yasmín at 12:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I admit I was tempted to go with a sleazy subject title after reading this article on abstinence, but reason prevailed. Can't say the same for our fellow lawmakers.

Abstinence-only sex education programs, a major plank in President George W. Bush�s education plan, have had no impact on teenagers� behavior in his home state of Texas, according to a new study.

Despite taking courses emphasizing abstinence-only themes, teenagers in 29 high schools became increasingly sexually active, mirroring the overall state trends, according to the study conducted by researchers at Texas A&M University...

The federal government is expected to spend about $130 million to fund programs advocating abstinence in 2005, despite a lack of evidence that they work, Pruitt said.

The study showed about 23 percent of ninth-grade girls, typically 13 to 14 years old, had sex before receiving abstinence education. After taking the course, 29 percent of the girls in the same group said they had had sex.

Boys in the tenth grade, about 14 to 15 years old, showed a more marked increase, from 24 percent to 39 percent, after receiving abstinence education.

Abstinence-only programs, which have sprouted up in schools across the nation, cannot offer information about birth control and must promote the social and health benefits of abstaining from sex.

Which is why an abstinence only program doesn't work. Knowledge is power. Teach a kid that abstinence is cool, but don't be stupid and also tell them about condoms. No one wants to be a grandparent in their thirties.

Posted by yasmín at 8:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Janet Jackson is not returning to the Super Bowl. Neither is MTV, nor will we have the pleasure of viewing this amusing Budweiser commercial that pokes fun at the accidental mammary reveal.

Really, people. What's more inappropriate. Women in bikinis? Men talking about how rejuvinated they feel thanks to Viagra as their wives look on with hungry smiles, or an ad poking fun at a singer's humiliation (sans the nudity of course)?

Anyway, Wizbang has a link to the ad.

Posted by yasmín at 7:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

According to Slashdot, the MPAA has released some software that can help you and me identify whether we have illegally obtained copyright files and peer 2 peer applications on our computers and offers to delete them.

Here's the catch. It identifies every media file, including the sounds good ole Bill Gates gave us with Windows, which were legally obtained. So if a parent has no clue what they're doing, and they think they're doing a good thing by blindly obeying the MPAA, then they should download the new software and click 'yes' when asked. Sorry, but I doubt the MPAA will replace the deleted .wav sound files since they are copyrighted even though you did have them legally. You deleted them accidentily, and they don't care.

Support fair use. Don't support the MPAA or the RIAA.

Posted by yasmín at 2:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Since when are violent stick figure drawings by children considered federal crimes? Kids really can't vent anymore in any artistic way without being considered a terrorist or a danger to society. These kids were probably just kidding around and probably deserved a slap on the hand or detention. This is isn't to say that there isn't some deeper problem lying underneath, but seriously, is jail the way to go? Yes, let's traumatize these children by making them believe their criminals for expressing their feelings just being kids.

Update: Apparently these kids were special ed students. Via Wizbang.

Posted by yasmín at 10:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Some kids grow up wanting to be lawyers or doctors or even teachers while others haven't even a clue, so it's a good thing when schools invite speakers to enlighten students about all the potential careers just waiting for them.

The thing is, I don't know what is more disturbing. The fact that the man was honest and told the students that strippers made alot of money, or that the mother of one student was incredibly angry because her son wanted a career in fishing. At least he wants a career!

Posted by yasmín at 8:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Spanish voice actors who dub "The Simpsons" are in a labor disbute with a Mexican contracting company. If a solution can't be found, they stand to lose their jobs.

It would be strange if the existing Spanish voice actors were replaced by new ones after 15 years. You get used to the voices. It's not exactly the same voice. An English Homer isn't a Spanish Homer, but when you compare the two, it's almost uncanny.

Posted by yasmín at 9:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Funnel clouds have been spotted since 6:30 pm today here in San Antonio, and it's raining as if there were no tomorrow. The rain I'm used to, but I'm a little worried to see Bexar county under a tornado warning. Even for 15 minutes. Twice. A funnel cloud was spotted near by where I live, and the sad thing is, this storm won't be over till tomorrow.

Posted by yasmín at 8:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Ok, so Bush's education policies may not be the best, and yes, he won the election on some issues that I may not agree with. But you know what pisses me off? When I see stupid cartoons like this that make fun of special education students. It's the most disgusting thing I've laid eyes on, and it's done in poor taste to criticize Bush. If you want to bitch about him, fine, but don't you dare make fun of the disabled. It's not funny.

Mr. Rall, have you ever been in a special ed class? I have before I was "mainstreamed". Those kids learn what they can, and they're happy because they get the attention they need. You assume Bush is going to dumb down America? Well maybe the abled kids will learn not to fear and make fun of those who don't exactly look and act exactly like they do. That's a more valuable experience than say teaching to the stupid TASP.

Oh and for the record, mentally disabled does not mean disfigured, unable to walk, etc, etc. And they don't normally barf constantly either. Perhaps that was your subconscience speaking.

From Wizbang.

Posted by yasmín at 11:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

We truely do live in a new world where discrimination runs rampant and religion governs rather than common sense. Publishers in Texas changed the wording in health textbooks to reflect marriage as that between a man and a woman.

The decision could affect dozens of states because books sold in Texas, the nation�s second-largest textbook buyer, often are marketed elsewhere...

�I want the reader, the child to know that marriage is between a man and a woman,� Leo said in a written statement released during a board meeting Thursday.

Berlanga noted that one textbook showed a picture of a mother and a father and a young girl and her brother. �We cannot start censoring books because we do not like the terminology,� Berlanga said. �I don�t see two males or two females holding hands.�

What about all the children of same-sex couples? "Oh gee, sorry! Your Daddies are sinners. They're so going to hell." It says that right underneath the section on sexual dysfunction, unless that's been excised too in favor of abstinance because god forbid our children hear anything that might pervert their poor depraved minds!

Posted by yasmín at 6:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Boing Boing is reporting that the RIAA's cousin, the MPAA, plans to file a ridiculous amount of lawsuits against filesharers.

I guess the whole, "You're stealing from the carpenters," campaign didn't work out. Can you blame us? I have it timed to get to the theater exactly after all the ads have ended and the previews have begun. If I wanted to see an advertisement on Coke Carb, I'd turn on my tv. That is if my roommate was up to torturing me for failing to tape Gilmore Girls.

Posted by yasmín at 3:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Have you voted yet? If your answer is in the negative, my question to you is "What the HELL are you waiting for!!!"

Go vote!

Posted by yasmín at 10:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Listening to: Tales of a Librarian - Tori Amos

I realized today that people are all too willing to help out when touch screens aren't accessible for voting. Yes, it's not one size fits all. And though I find it very sweet when the volunteers hold the screen up, move it closer, or even turn it upside down so I can hit the blinking "vote" button, I do tend to get nervous when that same nice volunteer starts making remarks about my choices! Had they been snide, I would have ruined the entire experience for everyone currently in that room. Needless to say it was an interesting day.

I voted. I waited in line for an hour in no air-conditioning to vote, but it's done. Two people almost commited vehicular homicide, but my scooter and I got there in one piece. Seriously, who's bright idea was it to set up an early voting site right across from a high school and elementary school with no sidewalk. San Antonio just doesn't believe in sidewalks apparently. And then they're so baffled as to why they're so many wheelchair fatalities on the roads.

Anyway, go vote!

Posted by yasmín at 5:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Guess what? There's a Fear Factor for Hispanics. It has the crazy antics, humiliation, and can be watched and heard in that language I like to call Spanglish (the one where people are too ashamed to speak Spanish so they'll start mixing in English and claim it's Spanish).

LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- Some TV shows offer an extreme makeover, others a bid for pop stardom. But the hottest reality show in the U.S. Hispanic market is offering the ultimate prize -- a potential green card to immigrants desperate to pursue the American dream.

"Gana la Verde" ("Win the Green") has attracted big audiences and hundreds of contestants willing to eat burritos crammed with live worms, jump off high-speed trucks or wash skyscraper windows in exchange for a year's legal help in speeding up their visa or green card cases.

Ah yes, what better way to show Americans that Hispanics aren't poor, desperate people looking to steal our jobs and our land than by displaying it on a reality game show where Hispanics are displayed as being crazy, desperate people looking to acquire green cards in order to take our jobs and our land.

Posted by yasmín at 9:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

While it's certainly a comfort to know that in Pennsylvania there's a less likely chance that you'll will be run into by a drunk driver; there's also the unfortunate circumstance that there's no doctor-patient confidentiality, especially if you can handle your liquor.

Now, I'm not saying that the doctor shouldn't be concerned that this guy was drinking more than a 6 pack a day. I'd be concerned too if this guy was swerving down my street everyday and showing a history of bad work performance, etc. The thing is, he wasn't. There's more to it than that. What about confidentiality? What about due process? The guy hasn't had a conviction in over 20 years when he was a young adult, and he doesn't drive drunk. He goes in to the hospital for heart problems, confides in his doctor his habits, and the next thing he knows his license is revoked. What's next? 3 drinks on a weekend? 2 drinks?

While the state may have a legitimate concern in keeping drunk drivers off the roads, it shouldn't be at the extent of one's privacy, and doctors have no business divulging this information.

Posted by yasmín at 8:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Mattie Stepanek is no longer among us, and this saddens me. You want to talk about amazing, that boy had it all. I never read his poetry, but I wish I had. I even thought it was pretty impressive that he was published and not even a teenager.

I never met Mattie, but I could relate to him because he was someone like me. He was a person who never let his problems get the best of him. Rather, he used his hidden abilities and turned them into something profound and beautiful. Everytime he was on Good Morning America I would stop whatever I was doing and just watch him talk. He was just a child after all, but as children we have such dreams. It's important to always strive for what we want and never let go even if everyone is saying, "No, you can't."

I remember when they surprised him with the visit from former President Jimmy Carter. The look on his face was just priceless.

You could tell that the anchors were near tears on GMA when they announced his passing this morning, and I'm heartbroken. He was such a special boy, and where ever he is now, I hope he is at peace.

Posted by yasmín at 12:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Wizbang is reporting that the South Korean hostage has been beheaded by the Iraqi militant group. A video was released to Al-Jazeera, but it does not show the murder taking place.

This breaks my heart. Who cares if he wasn't American. I got chills when I saw the first video of him captured, and he was pleading in broken English not to be killed. Even if it was staged by his captors, you have to admit, he must have been scared.

So many civilians are in the Middle East right now trying to do their jobs, trying to make a difference, and it's ridiculous that they're being murdered like this. I know we can't protect everyone, but something needs to be done so there won't be another Berg, Johnson, or Sun-il. I'm sick and tired of these terrorists thinking that they're going to convince my country to retreat. They obviously don't know us that well.

update

There's also a possibility that there already might be more hostages. It could be more South Koreans, but I'm willing to guess that if true, these hostages are from the other countries helping in the reconstruction of Iraq.

Via Backcountry Conservative

Posted by yasmín at 3:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (2)

Ok, so the server move didn't happen. I was completely and utterly shaken by what I saw yesterday. The words, "Please let me take it back," don't even express half of what I feel, and I'm about to do something that kinda goes against what I promised I would or rather wouldn't do.

More and more blogs are becoming the new media source. Tailored to the subjects that we're more interested in whether it be entertainment based or with a more liberal slant, I like Wizbang because I tend to find some off the wall news articles there, and they always go into something with an open mind regardless of their political mentalities because quite frankly everything is political right now.

The Nick Berg murder is causing a firestorm on the internet it seems. Our media is quite willing to show images of Iraqi prisoners being tortured and humiliated, and furthermore it's front page news. Why? Probably because it could mean trouble for Bush. Who knows. I don't care. The thing is, people want to know about Berg. They want to see the video. I'm assuming the majority want to see it because they need to. Call it affirmation. My mother calls it voyeurism. And then there are the sick fucks.

I would rather have not seen either. Not on tv. Not on the internet. But we're Americans and as Americans we perhaps have a right to that information, so for the next day I'm providing a link to the video. It's not work safe, and it's not for the meek. Wizbang and some other sites have been swamped, but apparently I'm doing just fine. Then again sitemeter seems to be dead. I'm switching servers tonight so beware, and for the love of God if you're just looking for the video to see a man die, you're a sick fuck. There's nothing great about seeing a man my age screaming for 20 odd seconds while they saw his head off.

Posted by yasmín at 2:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Wizbang has that video. The one with Nick Berg being murdered and I clicked on it. I guess I thought I was going to see the same thing I saw on the news; absolutely nothing.

Yours truely is very good at lying to herself.

The video is the most horrifying thing I have ever seen in my life, and the murderers (because I can think of no other name for them) are going to wish that when they're caught, they're dealt with humanely, because right now they deserve to fry.

Berg was a civilian. He was in Iraq to help people. Sheesh.

I'm so distrurbed.

Posted by yasmín at 11:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (1)

Surprise, surprise or maybe not. We knew filesharing wasn't such bad news. A new study reports that sharing between users has little to negative impact on cd sales. It would have to take about 5000 downloads to affect the sale of one cd, which equals a lot of downloads when you think about it.

Face it, music these days, especially mainstream, is just plain bad. The RIAA just doesn't listen. Filesharing on the otherhand is great. Afterall, I always thought it was a great way to discover new music and sample new albums before making the mistake of buying that cd with only one worthwhile song.

Posted by yasmín at 11:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Picture this. It's early evening and you're driving home after a long day at the job. The road is mostly empty except for the SUV ahead, which you disregard because Tori is on the radio and you're jamming along to Precious Things. Suddenly, the song is over, the announcer is describing the previously listened to songs and you're head to head with SUV. You absently glance next to you to see the driver. Afterall, he could be a hotty, and lo and be hold he is, except he's engrossed in a 10 x 10 screen latched ten inches from his windshield. His buddy in the companion seat is fixiated on the same thing, a naked gay couple doing a 69. It's a wonder they haven't crashed the SUV into another car.

What was once considered the road trip solution for little kids is now being used to fulfill sexual fantasies, except that cars were meant to be driven people, not drive and orgasm at the same time. Seriously, what were they thinking.

Posted by yasmín at 8:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

to MSNBC? I noticed it's going through a url change to include the msn in its address, but lately it's just not working in mozilla. I mean, if they don't want my traffic, fine. They can stay incompatible for all I care. Mozilla will rule the world.

Posted by yasmín at 11:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Is John Kerry doing a Clinton? According to the Drudge Report it's very possible.

I don't know what to think other than the fact that it's rather amusing and damning when you think about it. World News Tonight just reported that Kerry is ahead in the polls against Bush, which is preliminary but nice. But if the news turns out to be true not only is Clark not going to give his nomination, but the door will have opened for Dean and Edwards.

Posted by yasmín at 6:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)