Thailand Adresses Morality

This was interesting (and no, not for the obvious reason). In Thailand scantly clad dancing young ladies are being hired by street vendors to help generate sales (there's that sex sells thing again). They're known as 'Cyote Girls', a title inspired by the movie 'Cyote Ugly'. Recently this stirred controversy when they performed near a Buddhist temple, on one of the religion's holiest days. The Queen and Culture Ministry have stepped in and banned them from dancing in public places, particularly near Buddhist temples. - From the Article "Royal Displeasure Over `Coyote Girls'", Wednesday December 27, AP News.

And of course there were protesters who felt the Queens line of moral judgement was too hard. I guess they have Liberal Leftists there too.

Transformers Grow Up

Whoa, I just viewed the trailer for the upcoming movie 'Transfomers'. I thought it was going to be something for kids, but I was wrong. This movie is in the 'Terminator' category. Looks like an exciting thrill ride if you're into the sci-fi CGI. Slated for summer '07. I'm game.

Study: Video Games Are Good

The Federation of American Scientists held a summit titled "Harnessing the Power of Video Games for Learning". Here's the gist of it...

(From http://fas.org/gamesummit/)
Modern video and computer games offer a rich landscape of adventure and challenge that appeal to a growing number of Americans. Games capture and hold the attention of players for hours as they struggle to operate a successful football franchise, help Romans defeat the Gauls, or go through the strict regimen of Army basic training in virtual landscapes.
People acquire new knowledge and complex skills from game play, suggesting gaming could help address one of the nation’s most pressing needs — strengthening our system of education and preparing workers for 21st century jobs. Numerous studies of American competitiveness completed in the past few years have emphasized that America’s position in the world depends increasingly on maintaining leadership in technology. The success of complex video games demonstrates games can teach higher- order thinking skills such as strategic thinking, interpretative analysis, problem solving, plan formulation and execution, and adaptation to rapid change. These are the skills employers increasingly seek in workers. Games and simulations can also serve as powerful “hands-on” tools for teaching practical and technical skills, from automotive repair to heart surgery. To explore how the United States can harness the powerful features of digital games for learning, the Federation of American Scientists, the Entertainment Software Association, and the National Science Foundation convened a National Summit on Educational Games, on October 25, 2005 in Washington, DC. The Summit brought together nearly 100 experts to discuss ways to accelerate the development, commercialization, and deployment of new generation games for learning.

The picture above is a screenshot from "Immune Attack", one of the games unveiled at the summit. Immune Attack is a new generation video game that engages students and teaches complex biology and immunology topics. In this first person strategy game human body tissue structures serve as the playing field where immune cells face off against bacterial and viral infections. A teenaged prodigy with a unique immunodeficiency must teach his immune system how to function properly, or die trying. Using a nanobot and aided by a helpful professor, the teenager explores biologically accurate and visually detailed settings in pursuit of this goal.
Sounds Interesting! Some ammo for the die hard gamers out there :)

Redefining Beauty

Sex sells - you don't have to look very far to see this marketing strategy being utilized. Sadly companies that use this tactic fuel low self esteem by portraying idyllic beauty as the norm, creating a society that is obsessed with outer perfection and generally unsatisfied with themselves. This has dramatic affects on people's health (particularly women), and has contributed to what I would call the plastic surgery revolution.

Interestingly enough, the very same venue that has created this social status plague is now seeing movements to help remedy the issue. In 2005 Dove launched their "Real Beauty" advertising campaing in which average women were used in place of supermodels. The recently released TV show "Ugly Betty" also seems directed at the issue. In the show Actress America Ferrera plays a relatively unattractive woman working in the fashion industry who achieves success via qualities such as intelligence, hard work, assertiveness and altruism. The show has sparked the soon to be launched "Be Ugly 07" Public Service campaing that will encompass appearances, website (BeUgly07.com) and various events - all promoting the theme "Be real, be smart, be passionate, be true to yourself and be ugly."

While I wouldn't say America Ferrera is ugly, I do appreciate and value the motive behind the concept. Your comments?

Offended? Too Bad!

Still having a hard time with our culture's assault on public expressions of religious Christmas music and decorations. The holiday Christmas is celebrated in America because of its Christian heritage. All countries are entitled to celebrate the traditions of their heritage, and people that move there DO NOT have the right to change that. If one moves to another country surely they can not expect it to remove all public expressions of its heritage simply beacuse it's not in-line with thier own. Why why why then is it expected here? Put liberalism and litigation together and that's what you get. I'm sorry, if you are in store during the holiday season and they are playing Christmas music too bad if that offends you. Live with it! America needs to get a backbone and put its foot down. Just like every other country, it has the right to public expression of its traditions.

Three Cheers for Evel

You have to love people who are not afraid to tell it like it is.

AP News | Tue Dec 12 Evel Knievel Sues Kanye West Over Video
Evel Knievel has sued the rapper Kanye West, taking issue with a music video in which the rapper takes on the persona of "Evel Kanyevel" and tries to jump a rocket-powered motorcycle over a canyon. "The guy just went too far using me to promote his filth to the world," said Knievel.

I've always said that I have no respect for people who are contributing to the moral decline of our society. The so called 'Gansta rappas' are a prime example of such people. Three cheers for people like Evel Knievel who are not afraid to go on public record to speak against the negative influence these dregs promote.

Nativity Story Two Thumbs Up

Just saw the movie and enjoyed it very much. For us Christians these are visual references to the stories we have known since we were kids in Sunday School. Personally I am very happy they are making such movies.

If you're a Christian do yourself a favor and definitely go see it before Christmas. It will help put the emphasis back onto the real reason for the season :) It was exactly what my heart needed this time of year.

The Environment is Not a Partisan Issue

Those that know me know I lean towards the conservative republican side and thus am not huge fan of Al Gore. But I watched his movie ‘An Inconvenient Truth’, and I must say I have a new found respect for the guy. I started writing this topic and after hours of reading and six paragraphs into it I just stopped and deleted everything. There is no need to make this complex. As industrialized nations, we are polluting our planet and working on ways to improve that is a good thing - as far as I’m concerned you don’t need scientific data to tell you that. With the issue of global warming, the data pertaining to its cause and affect has been put forth by over 700 environmental scientists worldwide. Anyone who disagrees with the seriousness of the issue is simply being a self-righteous ass (unfortunately there are quite a few of those in the world). I said it before and I’ll say it again - in fact this will probably end up on my tombstone – thank God for the right minded people in the world.

In the 80's when environmental scientists realized we were ruining the ozone the 'Montréal Protocol' was established. As the first international treaty designed to protect the atmosphere from the damage caused by people, it aimed to deminish our output of ozone depleating chemicals. It was ratified by 183 countries and ultimately did in fact actually reduce the drastic affects we were having on the ozone. The issue of global warming has recently incited a similar treaty known as the 'Kyoto Protocol'. Amazingly America (Bush) among the only two countries that will not sign it. Go figure!

Anyway, definitely check out the movie. If you're republican simply put your bias aside and forget about politics for a moment. (reread this blog entry's title)

New Jersey State Workers, Scapegoats

The state of New Jersey is currently suffering from a severe budget deficit. Basically, the government has grossly mismanaged and pilfered our tax money for years and now they are scrambling for ways to fix their mess. I don’t have time to list all the incidents that support this statement – but I don't have to - the fact that our state has earned the status of the most corrupt state in the country clearly speaks for itself.

Anyway, aside from raising the state sales tax, they are now looking to squeeze money from state workers by cutting pensions and initiating contributions to health care plans. Before that happens I would demand an end to the political corruption (sweetheart special interests deals, politicians holding several state jobs (with several pensions), and I would like to see more public involvement and supervision regarding issues of state spending. Adressing this problem should start with trimming the fat, not scraping the bone.

The other thing that bothers me is how everyone keeps comparing state jobs to the ‘private sector’. These are two different entities. Yes, in the private sector employees contribute to their health plans, however, in general those jobs allow for more advancement and salary increases. Many corporations even give bonuses this time a year. Whereas state workers are more limited salary-wise and benefits have always been the balancing compensation. I guess the problem now is that NJ has become such an expensive state to live in so the state salaries had to come up to a livable wage. My gosh, how horrible. I also think it’s not a good thing to compare to the private sector because corporate greed has it just about reverting that to the pre-union industrial revolution age where workers are worked to the bone for little while the CEOs achieve billionaire status, and only they are supposed to be financially secure in retirement.

As far as schools, the State-allowed population explosion has led to the need for more schools, and thus the staff salaries that go with it. Perhaps the state should consider the long term effects of urban sprawl, rather than just see the short-term tax profits and developer kickbacks.

And finally, looking into restraining the astronomically rising cost of healthcare might not be a bad idea either.

See No Evil

91 die, 40 hurt in Baghdad car bombings
(AP News 12.02.06)
BAGHDAD, Iraq - At least 91 people died and more than 40 were wounded as three parked car bombs exploded near an area packed with vendors in central Baghdad on Saturday, officials said. The bombs were about 100 yards apart in the busy al-Sadriyah shopping district and exploded nearly simultaneously, according to police Lt. Ali Muhsin. At least 10 other parked vehicles were destroyed in the area, where vendors sell fruit, vegetables and other items such as soap.

For the love of God, can anyone see the pure evil that exists in Iraq? These extremists are planting bombs in places like markets - where innocent people are merely shopping for groceries for their family.

America is there on the side of the innocent people, trying to help them make their society safe. There is right and wrong in the world. Good and evil. How anyone can't make the distinction, and sees the 'West' as the bad guy is beyond all comprehension.