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Monday, July 21, 2008

Calling All Puzzle Lovers: Decipher a Clue to Solve a Murder

America's Most WantedImage via Wikipedia
On America’s Most Wanted, a gruesome unsolved double homicide was featured. Though one of the victims tried to leave a clue behind written in blood, the killer was able to wipe most of it away. Sealant on the garage floor has left investigators unable to recover more of the clue.

Investigators need your help in deciphering the clue. According to the show, they believe six to eight words were originally written. All that remains is one letter, and one possible 4-lettered word with jumbled letters.

Read more about the case HERE
View the clue by clicking on “View Larger” on the bottom photo (Jeep mudflap, garage floor)
View the entire AMW episode HERE

To review, investigators believe the top letter to be an “S”. They believe the first letter of the word below is an “S”. They believe the second letter of that second word is either an “E” or an “O”. They believe the third letter of that second word to be either an “L”, a “J”, or an “I”.

What do you think? What words or phrases do you get from the message? Look carefully at the way the letters were formed, and imagine writing while laying down, dying, with your killer close by. What would you write – what could the message say?

Please submit real tips to America’s Most Wanted. You may do so with complete anonymity by calling 1800-CRIMETV, or by clicking HERE The case is referenced on the AMW website as “Unknown Ron And Christine Jabalee Killer”.
Zemanta Pixie

Saturday, July 19, 2008

To Blog or Not to Blog - That is the Question

Photo © Chance Agrella
Over in one particular writer's blog I enjoy, the debate has been raging on as to whether writers should censor themselves on personal blogs or not. The reason being that so many 'employers' now troll the internet to check up on potential or current employees.

I have always been of the mindset that what people do in their off-time is their business. This goes both ways - employees and employers. I do agree that professional ethics do need to be considered in business settings. If someone repeatedly shows up to work hung over and it affects their ability to work, then their off-time behavior does become company business. However, if a school teacher wants to post a picture of herself in a bikini on MySpace, that is her business. Unless, of course, she called in sick to go on a national show and had the picture done there - that makes it the school's business.

Though I do find myself censoring my posts to a degree so I don't come across as harping on the same thing over and over or so that it is clear I am making a point, other than that, I freely blog about whatever I feel like blogging about. This is my creative outlet and my expression of my personal thoughts and views that does not show up in my professional writing, unless asked to include it.

If a potential employer doesn't like that I am LDS, a single mom, or love animals - they are free to hire someone else - despite their prejudice. I would rather not work for someone who is prejudiced against me as I prefer to work in a harmonious setting. Prejudice is not conducive to such a setting.

That being said, I have never had a prospective employer tell me that I either got or didn't get a job because of anything I had blogged about in my personal blogs. My professional writing has gotten me gigs, but I can't say my personal blogs have done anything other than give me an outlet, and get my readers free stuff.

When it comes to personal blogging, what are YOUR thoughts and experiences?

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Dani Hits the Airwaves – Across the Blogs Radio Show

Photo © Chance Agrella
I tuned into one of my favorite bloggers doing a guest appearance over on Blog Talk Radio today, and I even called in! It was suggested that I take my blogging experience to the next level and do a radio show. I write multiple blogs, but the suggestion was made to combine them all into one radio show, rather than try to figure out which one to devote a whole show to, or try to do shows for each.

At first I thought perhaps that would be a little too ‘multiple personality’ as I cover such a variety of topics in my blogs. Then, I thought it would be a good thing as it would allow me to talk about whatever was on my mind or in the news, and it would allow you, my audience to talk about whatever was on your mind or in the news, as well.

I am tossing around a few ideas right now, and if I did this, I would devote a ‘segment’ to each of the topics/areas I cover in my blogs.

I would like to get guests on my show, and one thought is to use many of YOU as my guests. Want your 15 minutes of fame? No need to cyberbully or injure yourself for YouTube – come on the show and share your story, your thoughts, and your expertise! Guests don’t even have to be in my home studio – you can “call in” by phone, Skype, or online. The show would have the ability to take callers, as well, by the same means.

I don’t want the show to get all Jerry Springer, but I do want to share stories that people can relate to or learn from. You can plug your new blog, book, or business, too.

Interested in advertising on such a show? Contact me and we’ll set up a sweet deal for you with my show and Blog Talk Radio.

Musician or indie band? I need theme music for this show, so you can get free exposure (aka advertising) by creating my theme or letting me use something you already have that fits with my show. Alternatively, I may get an ASCAP license or whip up something simple, myself. Contact me with your details and ideas, if you are interested. Please be sure to send me a link to your website/your online music samples.

So, what do you think? If I did this, would you listen or be a guest? I could archive shows so you could listen anytime, and I could put players on my blogs (I think).

Whether in the comment section here or by my contact email, please let me know what you think. There is some work involved in setting something like this up, and I am hesitant to jump into it unless I know it is going to be of interest to you.

Child Pornography in the Name of Art

Yet another way has been found to exploit children. In the news are reports about the father of a naked 6 year old cover girl. Nude photos of the 6 year old girl were featured in Art Monthly magazine, which also showed the girl’s nude image on its cover.

The girl’s father is angrily protesting comments about the inappropriate and disturbing photos with talk of children’s sensuality. He references a photo of his own child with a pacifier in this article by calling it a clear illustration of the hedonistic nature of children.

Children sucking on a pacifier is not an illustration of their hedonistic and sensual nature – it is a sign of them seeking comfort in the manner in which young children do. It comes from infancy when babies are held close and fed with a bottle or breast. That time is comforting to them, and as they age, when they need that feeling of comfort, they no longer have bottle or breast (usually) to turn to. They opt for a substitute such as a thumb or pacifier. It really is as simple as that.

Children are innocents, and to put adult sexual behaviors, drives, stimuli, and fetishes upon them is disgusting and incorrect. It says far more about the perversion and sexual stimuli of the one spewing it than it does about the child(ren).

I find the behavior of adults who see adult sexuality in children to be disturbing. I find the behavior of parents who see nothing wrong with displaying their young child’s nude image for all the world to see as disturbing. I find the behavior of not only displaying those images, but then adding sensual and sexual connotations to them to be disturbing.

I also find disturbing the choice of Art Monthly magazine to publish nude images of a minor child in the name of art. Thinly veiled child pornography is still child pornography no matter what other pretty names you try to give it.

Shame on you, Art Monthly magazine!

Friday, July 4, 2008

Americans Attacking America: Why America is Great

I am getting quickly tired of listening to Americans attacking America. Its one thing to disagree with policies and politicians. It is something entirely different to lump all the citizens, the policies, the culture, the politicians, the beauty, the glory, the history, and the traditions of this country into one big target for their hate and disappointment. The level of disrespect and ingratitude I hear in the voices and statements made by the whiners who attack this, their own country, deeply saddens me.

I, personally, am not going to apologize for my existence, my love of my country, and my willingness to die for the rights of each and everyone of these whiners to their free speech self-serving whining. I am tired of hearing it, and I am tired of seeing otherwise intelligent people spewing it – but I will always defend the right to free speech, which includes their right to whine.

And that, dear fellow citizens, is one of the great things about this country – we all have the right to whine. The government doesn’t kill our families because we say we think the government or any politician in particular sucks. The government doesn’t torture and kill us because we have posted real images of or breaking news about our leaders caught in the act of committing crimes.

We have the right to publicly spew orally and in print idiocy, falsehoods, unflattering truths, opinion, fact, and pretty much anything we want – short of hate speech, libel, and slander.

We have the right to pursue our education as far as we wish, and to work in the field of our choice. We have the right to have as many children as we wish, to marry whom we wish, and to live as we wish. We can freely travel across the country with no need for papers or permission. We have the right to freely move to another country, and even freely give up our US citizenship, if we so desire. We have the right to vote as we wish; and we have a voice in the creation of laws and in the election of our leaders.

We have the right to a fair trial and to representation. Our rights as citizens of this country are graciously extended to visitors to our country. Many nations and peoples worldwide view our own Declaration of Independence as the model for their own freedoms and laws.

Every year, we welcome into our fold citizens from other nations who choose to come to our country to have and achieve what they feel they cannot in their own nation. Every year, we send billions of dollars worth of aid in the form of money, resources and supplies to other nations in need. We quite freely share our abundance – moreso than the oil rich nations.

We are a relatively young country, and yet – look how far we have come. We have gone from a group of rebels wanting to be free to one of the most powerful countries in the world – and a world leader in many regards.

Our nation is blessed, and of course it is not perfect. That is because people are not perfect and people are the heart and lifeblood of what makes this country great – and imperfect. For all of our imperfections, we still have much to be proud of and much for which to be grateful.

I, for one, am proud to be an American and to live in this magnificent country where I am free. Cue Lee Greenwood:


Video courtesy of Fuzzy700

I wish you all a happy and safe Independence Day weekend.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Hooked on Widgets

My latest fun widget find (besides the Stargate clock)

THE IMPOSSIBLE QUIZ!

This game is addictive and zany. Thinking outside the box is a plus to win this game.



I have to admit, I am getting a bit addicted to widgets. As much as I want to keep my blogs and websites looking streamlined and clean, I have a hard time not adding stuff I think is fun or might be helpful. Oy!

I am thinking its time to 'clean up my act' and reorganize my blogs so there isn't so much stuff in the side panels. Its not that I am looking for more stuff to do, but I have considered writing a blog just about widgets so I have a place to load up all my favorite widgets while keeping my blogs and websites clean.

What do you think? Do you like a little bit of clutter, or do you like bare-bones sites? Is the clutter ok if its fun or informative? Should it only be strictly related to the site?

What is YOUR opinion about widgets and blog/website clutter?
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