NASA Gets Spooky

Who says those scientist-types don't have a sense of humour? These images from NASA's CICLOPS (Cassini Imaging Central Laboratory for OPerationS) were released with a notice of "strange activity on Saturn's moons". A jack-o-latern, a graveyard in a crater, rivers of blood and a weird witch-like formation can be seen. Of course, this is all thanks to the imaging guys modifying some photos taken by the Cassini probe. Proof positive that the yuks are out there.

My Art Gallery - By Popular Demand!

Okay, not really by popular demand. Actually, I've been putting this off for a long time. Basically, exposing my art publicly is a little like exposing other, less pretty, parts of myself in public - some comments might cause shrinkage. I've posted my work on some more popular pages (names withheld to protect the guilty) because there was some (gasp!) nudity or the subject matter was inappropriate or some stuff was just too damned weird. Well, this is my blog and I am da boss so I'm gonna put what I want to!

Having asserted myself in a child-like manner, allow me to introduce my works. This is an unusual mix of media, from pencil, to ink, and finally computer rendering. I lean toward art in the fields of science-fiction and fantasy but will pretty much draw whatever comes to mind. Missing here are a whole bunch of portraits I did in my early years. Sadly, I put them in a safe place and now I can't find them. The one or two I do have on hand are too big to fit on my scanner. Maybe I'll find a way to include them here one day. Of course, I welcome constructive criticism. Stupid comments will be ignored then deleted. I hope y'all like this.

Have Mercy On Us All

Nothing is worse than suffering a terrible loss. The emotional and psychological scars are devastating and never seem to heal. Put on a national scale, such a loss becomes incomprehensibly big. The attacks on the World Trade Center recently marked it's 7th anniversary and again the entire world was reminded of how keenly the United States still feels the pain caused on that terrible day. Those who have not experienced it directly live in fear that it will happen to their countries. Like it or not, we live in a world where terrorism has become a stark reality.

But any psychologist will tell you that how we deal with tragedy in its aftermath is an important part of the whole healing process. In recent days, before and after the anniversary of 9/11, I've been flooded by patriotic American images of eagles and flags bearing words like "freedom", "liberty", "fight" and "die". Understandably, there is still a lot of sadness and anger in these images, and in the hearts of those who spread them throughout the Internet. Although seven years have passed, one gets the distinct impression that the wounds are still fresh, that the healing process hasn't even begun. The tragic events of September 11, 2001 seem to have become a virtual obsession with our American neighbours. If they haven't started healing, the question remains; "Why?".

Shortly after this historical event, U.S. troops invaded Iraq even though evidence of that country's duplicity with terrorism is flimsy. Still, deposed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was hunted down and captured. He faced trial and was quickly executed. President George W. Bush immediately put a price on the head of terrorist leader Ossama bin Laden who claimed responsibility for the 9/11 attacks. After seven years and with all the technology and resources available to them, the U.S. still hasn't found bin Laden. Initially, the U.S. attacked Afghanistan which was a well-known terrorist stronghold. After 9/11, the U.S. prematurely moved those troops to fight in Iraq, leaving other nations (including Canada) to clean up the mess they left behind. Bush's war on the "Axis of Evil" became a war on Iraq alone and it's a war that still drags on today, seemingly without end. It would seem that the words "freedom" and "peace" don't belong together in the American psyche.

More than anything, it would seem that what the U.S. needs for its wounds to heal is closure. Bin Laden remains elusive, the war in Iraq seems to be spiraling out of control, and terrorism is still a viable threat. Ground Zero, where the terrible events of 9/11 took place, is still barren; no monuments, no plaques, no buildings, just a pile of dried up flowers to honour the victims. Someone needs to strike at the very source of America's terrible grief and eliminate it thoroughly. Until that happens, Americans will continue to suffer both as a nation and individually.

Why, as a Canadian, am I so concerned about this? Whatever happens in the U.S. inevitably ripples outward to affect the entire world. What they do affects everyone, economically, politicaly, and in ways that are not completely evident. An escalation in the armed conflict in Iraq may spread outside of that country. This will drag the whole world into a conflict whose real cause is still uncertain (and it isn't terrorism). Sometimes, the American mentality can be quite provincial. I hope the day will come when we all realize that what we all do and say affects everyone else. This is especially important for a nation as rich and powerful as the U.S. Their influence is international and they are responsible for how they affect everyone.

I'm not as learned as others when it comes to politics. I'm just an everyday guy who sees what's going on around him. The day breast-beating American patriots say they will show no mercy is a day when all of us should be concerned.

The Disappearance

Well, it's time for me to "disappear" once again. Those MIBs are relentless! I should be back in about a week, barring any unforseen events. Before I make my exit, I wanted to share these images with you.

Yesterday's landing of the Phoenix probe on Mars was, by any definition, a textbook landing. As the probe swung around the farside of Mars, radio contact was impossible for ten minutes. Everyone at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California held their collective breath as they waited for the probe's signal. On schedule, Phoenix reported its deployment of a braking parachute and the control center exploded with sounds of jubilation - hugs and handshakes throughout the room. More than ten years of work and preparation had ensured the Phoenix's landing on Mars.

Like Earth, Mars' nothern hemisphere is begining its summer. For the next ninety days the Phoenix will have uninterrupted solar power for its systems and experiments. It will work tirelessly for the next three months, scooping and sampling soil for water and, hopely, life. The lander's stereospic camera will relay three-dimensional images of the surrounding terrain in order to help geologists further understand Mars' environment. Studies of Mars' polar region will also be used with studies currently being done on Earth's North Pole.

The results of Phoenix's tests and experiments are expected to be ground-breaking.The images above were sent about one hour after the probe's arrival. More images will be made available at Phoenix's website.

The Phoenix Lands

Orbital photos of water on Mars: Top - A view of the Red Planet showing the Valles Marineris, a canyon that spans 1/3 of the planet. Center - Water-ice appears on the interior of a crater. Bottom - The mysterious "lake" (color enhanced)composed entirely of water-ice.



This coming Sunday, May 25th, we'll be taking another small step toward finding water on our planetary neighbour Mars. Since the landing of Viking in 1976, scientists have been looking for water or water ice on the Martian surface. Recent probes orbiting the planet have found incredible evidence showing water on Mars, a direct analysis of the water-ice has yet to be made. NASA hopes that this time will be the charm as they land Phoenix very close to Mars' noth pole where water-ice exists in abundance. Although the search for evidence of life is closely tied to the discovery of water on Mars, the existence of water will also be important to future missions to the planet as fuel neccessary for return trips. Ice found at the southern pole of the Moon would also serve as propellant for potential manned missions in space.

The following is a press released issued by NASA on May 19th and contains all the important facts about the landing of the Phoenix.




Phoenix Mars Polar Lander

Spacecraft
Launch: August, 2007
Arrival: May 25, 2008


Overview

The Phoenix mission is the first chosen for NASA's Scout program, an initiative for smaller, lower-cost, competed spacecraft. Named for the resilient mythological bird, Phoenix uses a lander that was intended for use by 2001's Mars Surveyor lander prior to its cancellation. It also carries a complex suite of instruments that are improved variations of those that flew on the lost Mars Polar Lander.

In the continuing pursuit of water on Mars, the polar regions are a good place to probe, as water ice is found there. Phoenix will land farther north than any previous mission, at a latitude equivalent to that of northern Alaska. During the course of its three-month mission, Phoenix will dig down to an ice-rich layer that scientists calculate lies within inches of the surface. It will check samples of soil and ice for evidence about whether the site was ever hospitable to life.

To analyze soil samples collected by a robotic arm, Phoenix will carry tiny ovens and a portable laboratory. Selected samples will be heated to release volatiles that can be examined for their chemical composition and other characteristics. One goal is to check whether subsurface samples hold carbon-containing compounds that are essential ingredients of life.

Phoenix's stereo camera, located on its 2-meter (6.6-foot) mast, will use two "eyes" to reveal a high-resolution perspective of the landing site's geology. It will also provide range maps for the team's use in choosing where to dig. Multi-spectral capability will enable the identification of local minerals.

To update our understanding of Martian atmospheric processes, Phoenix will also scan the atmosphere up to 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) in altitude, obtaining data about the formation, duration and movement of clouds, fog, and dust plumes. It will also carry temperature and pressure sensors.

For more information on the Phoenix mission, visit: http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu

Vatican: It’s OK to Believe in Aliens

(AP) -- Believing that the universe may contain alien life does not contradict a faith in God, the Vatican's chief astronomer said in an interview published Tuesday.

The Rev. Jose Gabriel Funes, the Jesuit director of the Vatican Observatory, was quoted as saying the vastness of the universe means it is possible there could be other forms of life outside Earth, even intelligent ones.

"How can we rule out that life may have developed elsewhere?" Funes said. "Just as we consider earthly creatures as 'a brother,' and 'sister,' why should we not talk about an 'extraterrestrial brother'? It would still be part of creation."

In the interview by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Funes said that such a notion "doesn't contradict our faith" because aliens would still be God's creatures. Ruling out the existence of aliens would be like "putting limits" on God's creative freedom, he said.

The interview, headlined "The extraterrestrial is my brother," covered a variety of topics including the relationship between the Roman Catholic Church and science, and the theological implications of the existence of alien life. Just as there are multiple forms of life on earth, so there could exist intelligent beings in outer space created by God. And some aliens could even be free from original sin, he speculates.

Funes said science, especially astronomy, does not contradict religion, touching on a theme of Pope Benedict XVI, who has made exploring the relationship between faith and reason a key aspect of his papacy.

The Bible "is not a science book," Funes said, adding that he believes the Big Bang theory is the most "reasonable" explanation for the creation of the universe. The theory says the universe began billions of years ago in the explosion of a single, super-dense point that contained all matter.

But he said he continues to believe that "God is the creator of the universe and that we are not the result of chance."

Funes urged the church and the scientific community to leave behind divisions caused by Galileo's persecution 400 years ago, saying the incident has "caused wounds."

In 1633 the astronomer was tried as a heretic and forced to recant his theory that the Earth revolved around the sun. Church teaching at the time placed Earth at the center of the universe.

"The church has somehow recognized its mistakes," he said. "Maybe it could have done it better, but now it's time to heal those wounds and this can be done through calm dialogue and collaboration."

Pope John Paul declared in 1992 that the ruling against Galileo was an error resulting from "tragic mutual incomprehension."

The Vatican Observatory has been at the forefront of efforts to bridge the gap between religion and science. Its scientist-clerics have generated top-notch research and its meteorite collection is considered one of the world's best. To strengthen its scientific credentials, the Vatican is organising a conference next year to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of the author of the Origin of Species, Charles Darwin.


The observatory, founded by Pope Leo XIII in 1891, is based in Castel Gandolfo, a lakeside town in the hills outside Rome where the pope has a summer residence. It also conducts research at an observatory at the University of Arizona, in Tucson.



© 2008 The Associated Press

Robin Williams on "Who's Line Is It Anyway?": A Laughingly Deadly Combination

Whose Line Is It Anyway? #1 - Scenes From A Hat

Design Toscano: The Reply

In July of 2007, I posted an item about a website called Design Toscano. They sell lawn sculptures, computer accessories, art, and so many other things that revolve around a Medeival/Gothic theme (although I have seen some religion-themed items). The works are incredibly beautiful, hand crafted, and very reasonably priced.

Recently, Liam from Design Toscano contacted me. For those who missed it, I'm re-posting it here:

Hey Luke,

Thanks for the call-out. We here at Toscano love yer blog. I am a big fan of Toscano too and I even sculpt some of the products. Check it out
http://www.designtoscano.com/product/dragon+and+gargoyle/gargoyle+garden+statues/gaston%2C+the+gothic+climber+sculpture+-+medium+-+ng832115.do

Cheers!
Liam Manchester

Actually, on the Design Toscano site itself, type "Liam Manchester" in the search engine at the top of the page and you'll see all of Liam's work. He sculpted an awesome dragon's skull (top) and I've never seen anything like it. It's made for the garden, but if I had the cash I'd gladly put it in the middle of my living room!

Even if you're not looking to buy anything, you can still take a look at the wonderful stuff at www.designtoscano.com .

CASSINI IMAGING LEAD SCIENTIST TO PROVIDE COSMIC PERSPECTIVE FOR MILLIONS AROUND THE GLOBE

When the worldwide film event known as Pangea Day launches this Saturday, May 10, Cassini imaging team leader and veteran imaging scientist, Carolyn Porco, will be present to provide an inspiring perspective on humanity's place in the cosmos.

Pangea Day is a global event intended to bring the world together
through film and will link six locations around the world for a live program of powerful films, live music and visionary speakers. The entire four-hour program will be broadcast in seven languages to millions of people worldwide on television, on the internet and over mobile phones.

Known for her passionate advocacy of space exploration, Porco was asked by event organizers to kick off the program with a grand and sweeping view of humankind's cosmic place, providing the context for the human stories and songs that will be featured on Pangea Day.

"This will truly be one of those inspiring, hands-across-the-water
events that will be remembered for years to come," said Porco, "...a day when each of us will be able to see the world through someone else's eyes. I encourage everyone who hopes for peace to come to the world to tune in."

Other speakers include CNN's Christiane Amanpour, Queen Noor of Jordan, journalist Lisa Ling and former-soldiers-turned-peace-activists from many conflicts across the globe. There will also be musical performances and the airing of the 24 short films that were chosen from thousands of entries from over 100 countries around the world.

Porco will present from Los Angeles. The other live broadcast venues are in Cairo, Kigali, London, Mumbai and Rio de Janeiro.

American audiences will be able to take part in Pangea Day beginning at 2pm Eastern Daylight time (11am Pacific Daylight Time) on May 10 by viewing the live broadcast on television, online, in public and private venues and on mobile phones. The event will be broadcast live on cable television in the United States by Current TV and YouTube will be donating its homepage to the event. The program will be available globally on a full-screen broadband web-stream courtesy of Akamai and MSN in some 100 countries, including China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia all of Latin America, the US, Britain, France, Italy, and Ireland. It will also be streamed on the event website http://www.pangeaday.org.

Additional information about the event and how to watch and/or
participate is available at the event website.

Images from NASA's Cassini and Voyager spacecraft are available online at http://ciclops.org.

The Cassini Imaging Central Laboratory for Operations (CICLOPS) is the operations center for the imaging team of the international
Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn -- a cooperative project of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency. The imaging team consists of scientists from the U.S., England, France, and Germany.

The Coma

It's all a bit much to take in, even for me. It must be very difficult for anyone else to understand.

In October of 1990 I had a good job, with the prospect of a promotion close on the horizon. I wore a shirt and tie and commuted to work every day like so many others. I was an active member of Amnesty International and was still working with the sci-fi club I had founded four years before. And then, there was that cute little lady in the office, rumour had it that she had her eye on me, too. All that remained was see which one of us would be the first to ask the other out for coffee.

In November of 1990, I was standing outside the main entrance of the Alan Memorial Psychiatric Hospital, watching as a strong, cold wind blew loudly through big sheets of plastic hanging from scaffolding outside the building. I had just spent an entire week on a gurney in the emergency ward of Fleury Hospital. I had had what they call a "nervous breakdown", and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and "atypical" psychosis ("atypical" because I could tell what was a hallucinalition and what wasn't).

I spent two months on the North Two ward at the Alan Memorial, right through Christmas and New Years'. When I got out there was a letter waiting for me from my employer. Instead of confirming my promotion, they informed me that my services were no longer needed. I even got word that my lady friend was no longer interested on dating a "crazy" guy. While I was in the hospital, I went through a lot of tests. They determined that the problem was with an imbalance of the chemicals in my brain and that I was to begin drug therapy to re-establish a healthy balance.

What actually happened was not healthy in the least and proved to be traumatic to myself, my family, and everyone around me.

Part of this drug therapy seemed to involve numbing any negative emotions. Unfortunately, this involved numbing ALL of my emotions. As a result, I became a walking vegetable. It felt as if I was perpetually inside a cotton sphere. While I was totally unaffected by any external emotional impact, I was unable to reach out myself. To those around me, it seemed as if I had no interest in getting better. Actually, I was so "stoned" on all of those medications that I could actually put anything in motion. Whenever I tried, it came out as a lame, half-conceived plan. My friends left me one by one, then in groups. At the time, I was very resentful, but in hindsight I can't really blame them. I was making no progress and actually seemed to be getting worse. They were frustrated, I was frustrated, but my doctor thought it was necessary to keep my medications at their elevated doses.

Over time, my file was transfered from doctor to doctor, and the plan for my recovery (if their ever was one) seemed lost in red tape. Although I tried to voice my concern about my vegetative state, nothing was ever done to modify my meds so that I could function normally on a daily basis. I thought this drug therapy would make me feel better, and instead it turned my world into a living nightmare. My overmedicated self managed to alienate everyone around me, time passed painfully slow, and anything positive I tried to get myself out of that doomed life came to nothing - mostly due to my emotions being suppressed. This feeling of complete helplessness led me to try to take my own life in 1991 and later in 1992. Some people say that suicide is a selfish act done without any real thought. Believe me when I say that's complete bullshit. I was no longer able to take care of myself, and a great burden, both financial and emotional, had been placed on my parents. It was one thing for me to have to suffer through that but quite another for others to suffer, too. I did what I thought was right at the time. Then, I met someone who forever changed my views on suicide.

After my second attempted suicide, I was hospitalized a second time, and this stay lasted three months. I made a few friends this time, among them was a young lady named Diane. She was charming, very intelligent, and funny. I was attracted to her immediately. Despite warnings from my ward nurse that two patients should get "involved", I did nothing to prevent the natural progress of my relationship. Admitedly, when she was ill, she was very ill. Still, her positive side was always able to shine through and that's why I fell head over heals in love with her. We had been with each other for a few months when a series of events, that happened in quick succession, impacted her life. She had never discussed how much they had affected her. Then, on the night before I was suppossed to go to her place for a special dinner, she called me. In a voice that I found eerily calm, she asked me to come over that very night. The buses in her part of town had stopped working long before and I had no money for a taxi. She accepted my answer and wished me a good night. The next morning, I got a heart-wrenching call from her mom telling me that Diane had tried to take her own life with poison and was in a coma. It felt as if God's hand itself had reached down and smacked me. I went to see her everyday for a week, until the doctors decided that there was too much damage to her brain to actually revive her. She died less than an hour after turning off the life support machine. Seeing how her actions affected me and especially her mom, suicide is no longer an option for me.

Not surprisingly, my doctor increased my meds after that. In all, I spent a total of 18 years in an near-comatose state because of those damned medications. Six months ago, my current doctor was wise enough to make major changes to my "diet". He removed ALL forms of sedatives - which caused some truly horrifying and painful withdrawl - as well as drugs used to conteract other drugs that I hadn't even taken in years. As a result, I experienced a nice period of lucidity. But I soon realized that this gift was also a curse. I was 18 years behind the rest of the world; I have little or no memory of those missing years. This adversely affects my intentions to find work and go back to school. How will I explain an 18 year gap in my life? Friends who had just married when I got sick now have children who are nearly adults and I still have trouble wrapping my brain around that one!

This is supposed to be a time of recovery for me, but it seems that self-doubt and uncertainty dog my every step. Before I can go towards the future, I have to find closure with my past. Those long years hang over me like a huge weight about to fall. I guess that I would have made a crappy time traveler! So now, my fate remains to be seen. It all depends on how I deal with this time thing, what my doctor does, and who my friends are. I was never big on prayer, but this might be a good time to start.

Not By Its Cover

You, me, and that weird dude next door know that there's no way you can tell what's inside a book just by looking at its cover. Still, it's been shown that books featuring celebrities on their covers sell far better than other books. Still, I doubt if I'll ever walk into a bookstore and see a book on Medieval history with a bare-chested King Richard Coeur-de-Lion on the cover.

So far, dearest readers, the changes I've made to Rosetta Stone have been purely cosmetic. I've tried to create a page that's less cluttered, easier to read, and more easily accessible. But, like my poor little history books, I know that a pretty page does not a blog make. Unlike many other blogs I've seen, this one lacks a certain je ne sais quoi. My posts don't seem to stimulate many comments or discussions. So, from now on, I'll be expressing my own humble opinions. They may not be right, they sometimes might not be informed, but that doesn't seem to stop anyone else on this Internet thingie. If I have to, I'll be the Howard Stern (shudder) of blogs. I just hope it doesn't come to that.

Now that I have a new brain, I intend to use it. It might get me into trouble but so did my old one. And I'm pretty sure that everyone out there - well, most of you - has an opinion. Express yourself; this is a computer that has no ego to bruise. I'm just hoping that my stupid computer (yah, you, machine!) can hold together for a while longer. Guess it's in the hands of the machine gods.

Long Cold Winter

New Technology Used in Upcoming Game

This short video explains the first use of Digital Molecular Matter or DMM. Here, only a sheet of plywood is used as an example, but DMM technology has been applied with all sorts of materials including metal. DMM will make its premiere in LucasArts' The Force Unleashed, due for release in Spring 2008. I somehow lost another documentary that shows another new technology used on non-playing characters (NPCs). Instead of just being wooden peices in the background, NPCs are now given the "instinct" to save their own lives. For example, if you use the Force to push a bunch of stormtroopers over a cliff, they will try to grab on to anything to keep from falling. If one grabs onto a branch, another might grab his leg, and both will fall to their gruesome deaths. This makes for more dynamic - and entertaining - gameplay. Muahahahaha!




And finally, here is the first trailer for the game The Force Unleashed. Just 'cuz the intro is so friggin' amazing!!! The game will be released for 6 different game platforms. Unfortunately, there will not be a version for the PC. And then, depression set in ...

The Internet: An Unfornate Truth

Time (and more than a little patience) has opened my eyes to the horrible truth! The Internet is predisposed to attract a majority of weirdos. Please note, I'm trying to keep hope alive. In my post about "facebook", I said that the popular page was "goofy" when, in fact, I meant "crappy". At that time, I was trying to be diplomatic. Knowing that a good number of my friends were on "facebook", I didn't want to step on any body's toes. Now, however, I find that things are getting even crazier among the facebookers.

At first, even I thought the little applications were kinda cute. Now? It's like being a diabetic in a candy store! How many applications to you need to use before going into a diabetic coma? You can paste pretty much anything on anyone's Super Wall (including, apparently, hard-core porn!), but does everyone have to send the same pre-created message at once? The same chain letter-type crap that I still get in my regular e-mail has now graduated to "facebook"! Yippee! I delete the good luck fairy/angel/gnome in my regular mail and now I do the same on "facebook". Don't I get overwhelmed by bad luck? Any luck I have in life, be it good or bad, can usually be cured by one thing; work. If we all relied on things like luck or fortune to change our stagnant, every day lives, the world would be in an even worse state than it already is. God said that we make our own miracles (it's in the Bible, folks); a less impressive individual said that we make our own luck. I believe them both.

I'm no expert on the subject, but for me marriage always equaled fidelity. Yet, I couldn't help but notice that a lot of people who say they're married look as if they're "playing the field", as the old saying goes. Thing is, I might know some of these adventurous people. But I promise there won't be any finger pointing. Still, a lot of people who are not married indicate their status as "married". Why? To feel safe and "protected". Still, there are those wanting to form relationships. Great way to start any kind of relationship, with - y'know - a lie! Those individuals who are really and truly married, and who are trying to find out if they've still "got it" after "x" number of married years, are just as guilty. Instead of writing slightly steamy passages to strangers, why not try turning up the heat with your spouse? I'm sure he/she will soon let you know if you've "got it". Strangers on "facebook", "myspace", or whatever, will tell you anything you want to hear, especially if you're of the opposite sex (i.e. a woman). On the other hand, your spouse will tell you what you should hear - often what you need to hear. You don't need the Internet for that crap.

On a more jovial note ...

I have discovered redneck central, and it is "myYearbook"!!! Until I became a member of "myYearbook", I thought that the whole redneck thing was just a cute little American myth. At worst, I figured, it was restricted to communities hidden way back in the woods of West Virginia (see "Deliverance"). It seems that I was wrong - very, very wrong. I should have realised that these days, every backwater, moonshine-guzzling, trailer-loving man/woman/mutant has access to the Internet. Yes, I know it's their God-given right - nay, duty! - to use and abuse the 'net. But this is, well, plain weird! I've seen pics of women proudly holding up a very dead deer by the antlers, or posing with their favorite Harley, or some - errr - "larger" women trying way too hard to be sexy (put those away, lady). So far, a greater per centage of men post images of themselves shirtless, beer bellied, and man-boobed, and a lot of women post images of their wedding and/or grad pictures because they are so purdy in 'em. Personally, I enjoy a wide range of musical styles. But it seems that everyone here loves just one type - yup, country. I know a lot of people in their forties and fifties, and they all look sooo good! I guess the folk on "myYearbook" just didn't age very well. Finally, one tiny detail seems to be missing; class. One lady (bless her soul), just to say 'hi', send me a picture of an atomic blast shaped like a hand giving the middle-finger. Of course, there are a number of truly wonderful people. Unfortunately, they are in the minority. We live in a democratic society where the majority rules. And so, they rule here.

I should point out that the species reddus neckus is not only native to the U.S. They exist right here in Canada, too. I've even spotted a few overseas. I think that they probably exist in every country that has a member in the U.N. They're part of our culture and, like it or not, we should love them as we love every part of our culture.

I have found some really great, talented and kind individuals on sites that were, by nature, kind of twisted. So it's not always easy to tell what you'll be getting into. Sites like "facebook" or "hi5" are really geared more toward a younger crowd (pre-pubescent). Who else would get off so much on all those useless applications? Myself, I prefer sending an actual personal message if I want to get in touch with a friend. Or - here's a novel idea - call your friend on the phone! Throwing a friend a "sheep" is cute and all, but how about actually trying to reach out and touch someone? Hopefully without hurting them - unless they like that kind of thing.