What's That? Who Cares!

Really, Nothing Wrong With Our Health Insurance America!?

2011-07-01T09:11:00.000-07:00

I have many friends, family and co workers who think there is nothing wrong with our medical system and insurance. Well I am going to tell you a true story and I want to hear what these people suggest!

Healthcare Background

I have had continuous insurance coverage since I was about 16 years old (never a days lapse). About 8 months ago a I had an issue where my back/shoulder hurt. The pain was so severe that I had to go to the ER on Thanksgiving morning. I went to the doctor and she prescribed some pain meds and such. Later she suggested physical therapy and an MRI. Well the insurance would not approve the MRI so I never could get an accurate diagnostic of what was wrong. But, after a few weeks, the physical therapy seems to have done it's job and I am fine again.

Current Healthcare Situation

I recently decided to start my own business (Sit Means Sit Austin dog training). So I changed over to my wife's insurance through her company. There was one last physical therapy session and I ended up having to pay that out of pocket because it was a preexisting condition (even though insurance coverage never lapsed).

A few months later my wife decided to join our personal business so we had to shop around for our own health insurance. We found a policy we could - barely- afford and completed the application. A couple days later we were approved but told there were riders on the policy that we could review when we got the packet. When we finally got the packet there were different riders in different places in the policy including:

They would not cover any work for a bunion I had a doctor look at years ago and have not gone to a doctor for since. Now if it gets worse and I need surgery I am expected to pay that fully out of pocket. Does this make sense? No, but okay fine, that is a particular diagnostic that is easy to see cause and effect on if I do get something done with it in the future.
They will not cover any neck or spinal related injury. Please note, it is not that they will not cover a re-occurrence of the previous problem - which would still be unacceptable - but they will cover nothing. If I fall down the stairs, get in a car accident, fall off a curb, anything! Not covered. How shitty is that? Fine, don't cover the bunion but do you seriously expect me to accept an insurance policy that will not cover something so incredibly important such as my spine?

Think abut this. We are in a "recovery" from a recession. People are always saying we can grow because Americans don't stand around; we start our own businesses; we grow them and hire people...But the entire system, not just healthcare" stacks the cards against the entrepreneur!

The Question

What are we supposed to do now? What kind of situation am I risking putting my wife in if I do hurt my back or neck? How is she supposed to pay for it? This is why the preexisting condition loophole needs closed. I am not some person who went without insurance until something happened to me. I have always had insurance!

Really, THINK about this!! Are you always going to keep working for a company that has a group policy? What if you are diagnosed with cancer and have to stop working and get insurance? Yes, you MIGHT be able to get insurance but they either won't cover the cancer or it will be very expensive and you likely won't be able to afford it!

Again, what do you suggest? What did I do wrong? Do I just fall through the system now? Come on people, help make me a believer in the current healthcare system.

Wind Energy Everywhere

2007-07-03T02:28:00.001-07:00

Traveling through Spain it was great to see so many huge wind farms. I hear arguments all the time that the wind turbines are ugly. I thought maybe I would tire of them and maybe agree. However, after seeing complex after complex of wind turbines I still think the are beautiful! They are sleek, put of no pollution, show a lessening requirement on oil and coal, etc. I hope that the US is taking as active a roll in increasing the use of wind power. I did notice after being gone for 2 years that there are many more gas/electric hybrid cars on the road and that is very refreshing. We did not travel around the country enough to see any large wind farms. But the more they are used, the cheaper the technology. Maybe by the time we buy our next house we will be able to afford a personal wind turbine generator and solar power for assisting electricity and heating. Wouldn't that be cool!

Bunch of Punks!

2007-07-03T02:20:00.001-07:00

I am disappointed in the youth and/or law enforcement of Europe. Okay, I have no idea what percent of the youth it is, so that is probably too broad of a statement. However, everywhere we go in Europe - yes I mean everywhere - there is graffiti. It may be an equal problem in the US but I haven't seen it. It is definitely not as bad in Asia. This is not often even "nice and artistic" graffiti, but crappy tagging. It makes everywhere you go feel less nice then it really is. Why is graffiti so prevalent? Is there nothing that can be done? Seems like stiffer penalties (e.g. jail time and/or major community service cleaning graffiti) would be a good start. Also, for the artistic kids, give them structured places to do graffiti and have it actually be art. Today we were passing a brand new convention center and two days ago some kids "tagged" it and last night some more kids shot paint guns all over the nice new marble sides. That is just punk ass stupid behavior. Are they that board, lacking that much creativity, having no parental guidance or control, what?

Winding ties of life

2007-07-03T02:18:00.001-07:00

I find it exciting how the more we travel the more ours and others experiences tie together. We were at the Guggenheim Museum in Spain and there was a gallery by Keifer Anslem that included the observatory "gadgets" Shelly and I saw in Jaipur India. I know, big deal, but it makes everything that much more interesting when you have also seen or experienced it and have the opportunity to see it through another eyes.

Ouch! Next time where socks!!!

2007-05-24T14:41:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share some valuable insight for everyone - where socks when you hike. The first couple of hikes in Costa Rica were VERY wet and I don't have great wet hiking boots. I was tired of getting all my socks super wet, so I thought I would go without socks. As you can see from the picture, this was a very bad idea. These are not so much blisters but more like burns. We skipped the hike today ad hopefully I will be good to hike - with socks - tomorrow. Understandably Shelly has very little sympathy for me.

My Kind of Pharmacy

2007-02-11T21:20:00.000-08:00

I just couldn't resist this. We were in LKF in Hong Kong the other night and there is a new pharmacy. For those of you that don't know, LKF is the "western" party district in Hong Kong. There are almost exclusively pubs and restaurants in multiple level buildings for about a square block area. So I guess if you are going to open a pharmacy in this area, you better have something to attract the customers (like beer, wine and cigarettes). Nothing like those to cure what's making you sick!

Inconvenient Truth is a Must See!

2007-01-12T16:49:00.000-08:00

I admit, I was not a very big fan of Al Gore. I don't remember why. It could have been the media; could have been how he carried himself when running for president (or I perceived he carried himself); could have been preconceived bias; etc. Anyway, that view is beginning to change.

On a flight from Hong Kong to Japan today I watched his movie An Inconvenient Truth and I have to say I found it very well done, not all that political, and very eye opening. Before you make a decision about global warming you really must see this movie. I don't have kids, and it scared the hell out of me. If you have kids, and you are ignoring global warming, you really need to re-think things. I knew the climate is changing, and I have heard more and more and read more and more over the last couple years, but I think we are on a at a point of being able to make a change or not.

Please don't read this and think, "oh man, not Troy too. We all know global warming in a cycle with earth; there is plenty of time; what about other countries; there isn't anything I can do; etc." Do some research, see the movie, and you will understand this is a real big and immediate problem and there are things you can do to help.

Where did my wife go?

2006-12-18T01:15:00.000-08:00

Hong Kong has really been a great experience for myself. Shelly (my wife) has also told me it has been a great experience for her. However, I was thinking about it today, and I am not sure she (the person I spend all my time with and is in my bed at night) is really my wife!

Now she looks like Shelly, sounds like Shelly, cooks like Shelly, but so much has changed. For example, when we moved here her idea of a exotic dinner was a new Mexican restaurant and she never would have tried other foods like Indian, Thai, Lebanese, Middle Eastern, etc - I know, I tried. She also never ate spicy food - even here Mexican food tended to be on the mild side. Also, She was not very outgoing to meet new people (just a little shy). Don't get me wrong, Shelly has always been fun and very outgoing with friends but she didn't try and meet new people. Additionally, she never traveled to much and didn't care much about (or wasn't exposed to) world news and almost never read the paper.

Now, the person living with me is not this way at all. For example, she eats all sorts of weird stuff. She loves dumplings and dim sum, street noodle restaurants, Indian food, and the list goes on. She also eats not only spicy food, but even peppers on her pizza! In fact, I usually am more sensitive to spice then she. Oh, and she makes a new friend it seems like every week while she is out leading hikes in Hong Kong, doing charity work at schools with dogs, etc. AND, she is probably more comfortable traveling to new exotic locations then I am. Finally, she really cares about international news and reads the paper every day (goes through withdrawals if she doesn't have it).

So you tell me, can it be my same wife Shelly that has just grown and learned so much, or have aliens replaced her? Sometimes I have to wonder who was more impacted by this experience.

I Really Have Left the Nest

2006-12-06T21:56:00.000-08:00

This is definitely a "Who Cares!" blog...I am in New Delhi India tonight and just got back from dinner. Until the last few months, I almost always - but not always - travel with at least one person (or meet someone in the city I am traveling to). However, this time I arrived a day early because of flight issues. When I do travel alone, except for meetings, I pretty much lock myself in my room and work and order room service. After a long day of work today, I decided I wanted out of the hotel, so I asked the hotel where to go to dinner and away I went. Now, if you haven't been to India, this will seem like no big deal, however, if you have, and you grew up in the Wester US and didn't travel much growing up, you might understand. Anyway, the dinner was in a little shopping district (outdoor mall and stalls) and was very traditional Indian. In fact, so few tourists go here that nobody even asked me for money or tried to sell me something. After wandering around, finding the restaurant I left, wandered around some more, found a motorized tuk-tuk, and got a ride back to the hotel. I know, what a stupid thing to write about, but I was thinking as I was riding back on the tuk-tuk, that I NEVER would have imagined three years ago I would be wandering around India by myself and not at all stressed about it. What amazing turns life takes if you just let it!

Hong Kong Man Sues McDonald's for Hair

2006-08-09T22:40:00.000-07:00

I know I have really neglected this site - no excuse, just busy - but I came across this article the other day and had to post something about it. First, because it is so ridiculous. Second, because it shows that the US is not the only country with frivolous lawsuits. In the South China Morning Post, Bobbie Chou Si-li complained about a hair in his hot cakes – not a short and curly but a 16cm black hair (he said 3 hairs, but “the lab only found one”. Okay, gross, but it gets better. "Securities trader Bobbie Chou Si-li is a long-term and frequent patron of McDonald's but he told a court yesterday he would never again eat the fast-food chain's hot cakes after finding a hair in one of them." Wait, theirs even more...he is suing McDonald's for "selling food no of the substance demanded by the purchaser." Mind you, he didn't go back to McDonald's to get a refund but rather complained an hour later then submitted 2 digital photos a month later. He also says it is impossible the hair could have gotten in the Hot Cakes during transit from the McDonald's to his office. Why do courts waste their time with these things?!

Hard Rock Chinese Grandma?

2006-03-16T22:39:00.000-08:00

I have been busy and unable to post for awhile, but when I saw this article in the South China Morning Post I just couldn't resist. At first I thought it might be interesting, and who knows, she might be good. One of my favorite lines from the article, "The jury is still deliberating on whether Wing is a birdbrain or comic genius". Heck, you have to give her credit as she got a half page color article in the paper. That will have to drive up even her sales.

You can go to Wing's website and, if you register, download samples via the "listen" link. Note that I think you need to register to get one free sample (listen) download. I highly recommend listening to one of the AC/DC songs. In fact, maybe this direct link to it will work for you. It might just be the best - funniest - think you have heard all year. For those of you that don't know, here is a link to the original AC/DC Back in Black song.I just think I might buy one of her CD's - she has eleven of them. It would have to be a great conversation starter - or stopper - at a party. Wouldn't it?...

For those about to rock, Wing salutes you

DONALD ASPREY
Meet Wing, a middle-aged former nurse from Queen Mary Hospital who is taking the world by storm with her musical renditions of rock 'n' roll classics from the The Beatles, Elvis Presley and hard rock icons AC/DC.

And she is interested in returning to Hong Kong to perform in front of her home crowd at the Rockit festival this winter.

Tsang Wing-han, or simply Wing, who emigrated to New Zealand before the handover, has captivated the imagination of her adopted home since she began crooning melodies to cheer up residents in elderly homes across Auckland.

"I didn't really like nursing," Wing said. "But I love to sing. Singing helps you express feelings and overcome your emotions when you are feeling down."

The jury is still deliberating on whether Wing is a birdbrain or comic genius. But beneath that self-parodying exterior lurks a shrewd business mind that identified her special niche market years before William Hung set foot on the stage of American Idol.

Cartoon Protests, or Energizer Bunny

2006-02-15T22:39:00.000-08:00

Are they really protesters, or are they the Energize Bunny reincarnated? This thing just keeps dragging on and on and on and on....

70,000 gather for violent Pakistan cartoons protest

By Times Online and agencies

Two people, including an eight-year-old boy, have died during a second day of violent protests across Pakistan over depictions of the Prophet Muhammad in European newspapers.

Dozens of demonstrators were injured in clashes with police in Peshawar, the restive capital of North West Frontier Province near the border with Afghanistan, when a crowd of 70,000 marauded through the streets, burning three cinemas, scores of cars and a KFC outlet.

Further protests also took place in Lahore, where 1,500 students staged an unannounced rally outside Punjab University...

Cartoons to go w/ Yesterday's Blog

2006-02-07T22:38:00.000-08:00

I found a couple cartoons that I think go well with yesterday's blog...This first one especially. The second one I just think is prudent with what is happening with Iran, the holocaust and the nuclear crisis.

Protesters Torch Danish Mission in Beirut

2006-02-06T22:37:00.000-08:00

This is really beginning to annoy me. I am stunned at how stupid - yes stupid - the Islamic community are behaving. I understand to some degree why they are upset. I also think that free press allows the Danish paper to print what they want - but they could have used better judgment.

I keep hearing how peaceful Islam is supposed to be; and how violence is strictly forbidden; how they are being stereotyped because of the violent extremists; etc. This would have been a great chance for the leaders of Islam to scream out to their followers to protest peacefully. However, taking over buildings by armed men, burning down the Mission, violent protests, etc does nothing to support the Islam claim of peace.

I believe that Islam is a peaceful religion, but once again the leaders of the faith failed. The first time is by not being much more vocal and active and constant in renouncing terrorism. This time by not screaming out against the behavior of these - probably few in the scheme of things - followers.

Protesters Torch Danish Mission in Beirut Over Caricatures of Muhammad; One Reportedly Killed

By JOSEPH PANOSSIAN

BEIRUT, Lebanon Feb 6, 2006 (AP)Ã— Muslim rage over caricatures of the prophet Muhammad grew increasingly violent Sunday as thousands of rampaging protesters undaunted by tear gas and water cannons torched the Danish mission and ransacked a Christian neighborhood. At least one person reportedly died and about 200 were detained, officials said.

Muslim clerics denounced the violence, with some wading into the mobs trying to stop them. Copenhagen ordered Danes to leave the country or stay indoors in the second day of attacks on its diplomatic outposts in the Middle East.

In Beirut, a day after violent protests in neighboring Syria, the crowd broke through a cordon of troops and police that had encircled the embassy. Security forces fired tear gas and loosed their weapons into the air to stop the onslaught.

The protesters, armed with stones and sticks, damaged police and fire vehicles and threw stones at a Maronite Catholic church in the wealthy Ashrafieh area a Christian neighborhood where the Danish Embassy is located.

Flames and smoke billowed from the 10-story building, which also houses the Austrian Embassy and the residence of Slovakia's consul. Protesters waved green and black Islamic flags from broken windows and tossed papers and filing cabinets outside.

Witnesses said one protester, apparently overcome by smoke, jumped from a window and was rushed to the hospital. Security officials said he died.

Thirty people were injured, half of them members of the security forces, officials said, making it the most violent in a string of demonstrations across the Muslim world. All the injuries were from beatings and stones.

Prime Minister Fuad Saniora said before meeting with top Islamic leaders that about 200 people were detained, and police said they included 76 Syrians, 35 Palestinians and 38 Lebanese.

The first apparent victim of the political fallout from the violence was Interior Minister Hassan Sabei, who submitted his resignation. It was not immediately clear if the resignation was accepted...

Read more at: abcnews.go.com/Internat...

America = Sue, sue, sue, sue...

2006-02-03T22:37:00.000-08:00

It never ceases to amaze me the things that Americans will sue - and win - over. There was the now famous McDonald's coffee lawsuit and many others. Now it appears there is the "I played my iPod too loud and now I have hearing loss" lawsuit. Come on! If your clumsy and spill coffee in your lap, or are too stupid and listen to your music too loud, that is your problem. I have traveled all over the world, and American is by far the worst when it comes to personal accountability. Are there too many rich people floating around so the middle class or poor feel they have a right to sue and get some of the goods? Whatever it is, it needs to stop and Americans need to take responsibility for their own action - McDonald's didn't make you fat, you super-sizing every meal did - sue yourself! Why is insurance so high, because we sue for everything.

Apple Hit With iPod Hearing Loss Lawsuit

The suit asks for unspecified damages, and demands that Apple Computer update the iPod software so its portable music players can't blast tunes at more than 100 decibels.

By Gregg Keizer
TechWeb News

Feb 2, 2006 12:05 PM

A Louisiana man filed a lawsuit this week claiming that Apple's iPod can cause hearing loss.

The suit, submitted to a San Jose, Calif. federal court on behalf of John Kiel Patterson of Louisiana, seeks class-action status, asks for unspecified damages, and demands that Apple Computer update the iPod software so the portable music players can't blast tunes at more than 100 decibels.

Hard on the heels of experts saying that the use of earbud-style headphone like those bundled with iPods can lead to hearing loss, Patterson's suit charges Apple with not advising users of a safe listening volume, nor including a meter on the devices to monitor decibel levels.

"The ear buds are small and are placed in the listener's ear canal, close to the cochlea,'' the lawsuit read. "The close proximity to the ear canal directly impacts the amount of hearing loss caused by the MPs [music players], simply because there is less chance of dilution of the sound.''

Apple's practice is to not comment on pending legal action, but it has made some adjustments to iPod volume in the past. In 2002, for instance, it had to restrict the devices' output to 100 decibels to sell them in France.

The last time Apple was hit with a class action was in October 2005, when disgruntled buyers of the iPod nano complained that the gizmo's screen scratched too easily.

The company's iPod line has a stranglehold on the portable digital player market, and holds an estimated 70 percent of the business globally. In January, Apple said that it sold 14 million iPods in the last three months of 2005.

Oh the cover-ups continue

2006-01-18T22:36:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I am stunned at how progressive China is begging to become - other times I am stunned at how completely barbaric they still are. Living in China is very interesting. You get to see an economy steaming ahead, more freedoms, Internet use and growth, etc. However, living in Hong Kong, you also get to hear about the economy leaving behind so many in rural China, land being taken away, major Internet censorship, etc.

Yesterday I read an article in the South China Morning Post that was very disturbing. Coming from a country with free press it is always disquieting to hear about the government blatantly covering up issues – yes, it happens everywhere but not like this. Is China really becoming more progressive, or is only Shanghai and Hong Kong? I guess time will tell - but actions like this are not encouraging...

The family of a 15-year-old Zhongshan schoolgirl beaten to death on Saturday during a clash over land disputes is believed to have received 130,000 yuan to say their daughter died after a heart attack, villagers said yesterday.

An aunt of second-year middle school student Feng Meiying said the girl's body was cremated yesterday, but declined to say if she had been killed by police.

"My niece did not come to the highway [demonstration scene] on Saturday night because it is far from our home. She died of heart trouble," the aunt said.

Meiying's father hung up the phone when the South China Morning Post asked whether his daughter was beaten to death.

Residents of Sinfeng village, Sanjiao township, where the Feng family lives, said the family had received 130,000 yuan from the local government. "I believe they are lying," a villager said.

Another villager said Meiying was seen throwing rocks at police during the protest. One resident said he saw Meiying beaten unconscious after being dragged from underneath a police car.

"More than 200 pairs of eyes witnessed the girl being beaten," he said, adding that police attacked everyone they came across.

Officials from various levels of the Zhongshan government contacted yesterday denied Meiying died during the clash.

A Zhongshan municipal propaganda department spokesman said the girl's death was a rumour. "I hope you will not be misled by it," he said. Another spokesman for the Sanjiao township government said police never used force to disperse villagers.

A township government official confirmed Meiying's death, but said it was not related to the clash as the girl died on Friday, a day before Saturday's clashes.

An employee of the Hong Kong textile company which bought the land from the township government said it had no knowledge of the land dispute.

Nearly 1,000 villagers staged a sit-in outside government offices and blocked traffic on Saturday near the provincial expressway connecting Guangdong with Beijing. It was the latest chapter in a 12-year battle to obtain reasonable compensation for land taken by local governments for industrial development.

No villagers were at the scene of the demonstration last night, with the area under tight surveillance as police cars patrolled from one village to another.

The Zhongshan Daily yesterday reported more than 300 armed police had been sent to the scene to disperse thousands of protesters and onlookers on the highway. It said no one died in the incident, but two police officers were injured when the villagers threw firecrackers.

A woman from Heping village said they blocked the highway to attract media attention because there were seven villages involved in the land disputes.

"We are fighting for later generations because the township government sold our land to a Hong Kong-owned textile factory for 50 years," she said.

The resident said about 12 hectares in her village had been requisitioned by the government. Officials promised to pay them 180,000 yuan for one hectare three years ago.

"They paid us 600 to 700 yuan a year in rent three years ago, but not a cent after that," she said, adding that officials even refused to let them see the land contracts with the Hong Kong company.

She said villagers suspected public funds had been embezzled by the township government. "We have to fight for justice at any cost."

Why didn't I think of that?

2005-12-30T22:35:00.000-08:00

It has been awhile since I have blogged (crazy time of year), but I couldn't pass this one up. I am always trying to think of some way I can do something really cheap, legal, and simple to earn a bunch of money on the net. This guy has to have figured out the best thing yet. Holy cow, he "earned" $1 MILLION by simply creating a website and selling advertising on it. Obviously he must have had some sort of a plan to get hits (called free media attention), but how simple can you get?!

A view of Alex Tew's page, www.milliondollarhomepage.com. Tew, a 21-year-old student from a small town in England, earned a million dollars in four months on the Internet by selling pixels as advertising space on his home page for $100 for each 10 pixel by 10 pixel square. REUTERS/Handout

One-child Policy Alive and Strong

2005-12-03T22:35:00.000-08:00

I think that many people do not understand that the Chinese one-child policy is still in place. In fact, I recently read a financial article where it stated "for years China had a one child policy..." This same article went on to discuss how bad this policy is going to be for China in the coming years. According to Nicholas Eberstadt, writing in The Wall Street Journal, over the next 20 years about two-thirds of China’s total population growth will occur in those 65 and older. That age segment will comprise over 200 million people. By 2025, China’s median age is likely to be higher than the U.S.’s. This is going to make it very difficult for China to remain at high levels of output in manufacturing and the low wage younger population is going to be burdened with having to support their parents because of the poor retirement funds - even more difficult when most families only have one child.

Nevertheless, China still keeps the policy going. Today in the South China Morning Post there was a half page story about a family that decided to have a son even though they already had a 1 1/2 year old daughter. To summarize, the father had a decent job but:

He was fired and fined 45,000 yuan

His 300 colleagues each lost their 1,000 yuan bonuses

His boss no longer qualifies to run for vice-mayor

His wife almost lost her life while on the run from forced abortion - for the last five months of her pregnancy

She was caught at 8 months, brought to the hospital, and escaped from the operating table where they were preparing to do a forced abortion

His wife gave birth one month early by Cesarean section in a clinic because no hospitals would have her

Another woman was caught at 8 months and forced to abort. Interestingly, since their first child was a girl, both couples could have a second baby, but not until the first child was over 4 (the first child of the woman who had to have the abortion was 3 when she became pregnant)

Tests to reveal the gender of a baby are banned on the mainland (but still done in secret)

They both lost their communist party memberships

I have to wonder if anything will happen to them since they spoke to the paper about it?!

According to the United Nations, Chinas population would be 100 million greater with out the one-child policy. Not to mention the fact they would have a much more accommodating male to female ratio.

This seems like a very antiquated rule and symbolizes another example of the clash between modernism and historical behavior. China is going to continue to be a very interesting country to watch over the coming years while these and many other issues work themselves out as the population becomes more educated and information becomes more readily available.

HELP, I can't breath!

2005-12-01T22:34:00.000-08:00

I don’t expect Hong Kong to have really clean air. They are too close to mainland China and the factories, and there are just too many people for such a lofty expectation. However, I would like to see Kowloon from my Hong Kong flat!

These last couple of weeks have been even worse the normal. I use to think it was fog, but it is the haze of pollution – I get that now. Two recent events brought this home.

First, I recently went to Guangdong and saw what really bad pollution is. Most buildings have a black smoke emitting from them and I literally could not breathe – my nose was plugged – and you could almost feel the particulates in the air. On the train, when I looked out the window at the banana trees the leaves were literally gray. Not because they were dead, but because they were covered with pollution (this makes me wonder about the safety of eating vegetables from China now too – but that is a different topic).

The second event was from a hike last weekend. It was not only because I could not see the peak next to us, but because that night and the following few days I had a cough and my lungs felt congested and my nose was stuffed. I go out to get exercise, and actually probably damaged my lungs. In fact, I have heard stories of people who train outdoors in Hong Kong getting lung infections and pneumonia because of the pollution.

There seems to be lots of talk from the Chinese government about working on the problem, and I hope that something is done soon and we will start seeing some of the fruits of the stricter regulations. I guess it is probably similar to Los Angeles and other US cities in the 70s and 80s so I don’t want to be too critical. Hopefully they can learn from the mistakes and changes in the US and have a quick impact.

For more information, you can check out Clean The Air -- Hong Kong.

eHugs, Yea right!

2005-11-30T22:34:00.000-08:00

A friend sent this to me and I just had to post it. I like her comment, "Um hugs? When you think of what this will REALLY be used for (I mean its for use over the Internet), you really must wonder "why chickens?"

Think about it, pornography has been a staple of the Internet since its inception. According to TopTenREVIEWS, Internet porn generates $2.5 billion a year! So, what do you really think will be the first industry to make "good" use of a vibrating hug jacket? Of course, this is being developed in Singapore - "where Barney will go to retire" - so they have to make it have family appeal. And, yea, what's with the chickens? Why not start with cats, small dogs, normal household pets that you might actually hug.

Reuters: SINGAPORE
Singapore scientists looking for ways to transmit the sense of touch over the Internet have devised a vibration jacket for chickens and are thinking about electronic children's pajamas for cyberspace hugs.

A wireless jacket for chickens or other pets can be controlled with a computer and gives the animal the feeling of being touched by its owner, researchers at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) told The Straits Times.

The next step would be to use the same concept to transmit hugs over the Internet, it said.

"These days, parents go on a lot of business trips, but with children, hugging and touching are very important," the paper quoted NTU Associate Professor Adrian David Cheok as saying.

NTU is thinking of a pajama suit for children, which would use the Internet to adjust changes in pressure and temperature to simulate the feeling of being hugged. Parents wearing a similar suit could be "hugged" back by their children, the paper said.

Teen dumby has sex with dummy.

2005-11-22T22:33:00.001-08:00

It has been a log time since I was a teenager, but I don't remember my hormones running this ramped! At least have the decency to take the mannequin back to your room (hopefully after dinner and drinks ;-). Fortunately (or frighteningly) it doesn’t sound like this was their first “date”.

Teen charged with having sex with dummy

SIOUX FALLS, S.D., Nov. 21 (UPI) -- A South Dakota teenager has been charged with indecent exposure for allegedly having sex with a mannequin.

A security guard found Michael James Plentyhorse, 18, sans pants on the floor in the Washington High School Alumni Room in Sioux Falls, S.D., with a half-naked female mannequin, the Sioux Falls Argus Leader reported.

"There was inappropriate activity between him and the mannequin," a police spokesman told the newspaper. "That's the only way I know how to put it."

The spokesman said security staff had reported the same mannequin found undressed on several occasions.

© Copyright 2005 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Maybe more then head needs hit by train!

2005-11-22T22:33:00.000-08:00

This is ridiculous! This guy gets his head hit by a train twice! His head? Yes, his head! Now, most people dont need to be told once not to stick their head out into the tube looking for the train. This guy sticks his head out, gets it hit by the train and then does it again three years later. Okay, someone just push him in next time - I am afraid he might decide to breed!

Man Hit in Head by Train for Second Time

Nov 21, 11:22 PM (ET) POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (AP) - A man who was struck in the head by a train this weekend was also hit in the head by a New York City subway car three years ago, officials said Monday. Parker T. Hall Houghtaling, of Stanfordville, 23, was hit in the head Nov. 18 by a Metro-North train as it pulled into the Poughkeepsie station. He was listed in stable condition Monday. In 2002, Houghtaling was waiting at a subway station in Manhattan when he stuck his head out and was hit by a subway car. He was hospitalized with a shoulder injury, nose fractures and bruises, according to the Metropolitan Transit Authority. It was unclear Monday what led to either incident. MTA police are continuing an investigation, Metro-North spokeswoman Marjorie Anders said.

Step out for a cig...at 30,000 feet?!

2005-11-22T22:32:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine sent this to me and I had to post it. This is one desperate smoker! So, in brief, a French woman allegedly takes some sleeping pills, drinks some booze and then decides to step outside for a cig. Oops, she is at 30,000 feet on a Cathay Pacific flight to Australia (can you say watch that first step). The good news is that she was caught by a flight attendant and led back to her seat - not that the door would have opened anyway. The bad news is, she was only fined AUS$1000 and was not put in stupid school...

Woman wanted outdoor cigarette mid-flight

BRISBANE, Australia, Nov. 21 (UPI)-- An Australian court has chastised a French woman for trying to open an aircraft door mid-flight so she could step out for a cigarette.

Sadrine Sellies, 34, was placed on a good behavior bond Monday after pleading guilty in the Brisbane Magistrates Court to endangering the safety of an aircraft.

Her defense lawyer told the court Sellies was terrified of flying, had taken sleeping tablets and had consumed a lot of alcohol before takeoff. She had no memory of what happened on the flight and also had a history of sleepwalking, her lawyer said.

Sellies and her husband were en route to Australia on Saturday on a Cathay Pacific flight for a 3-week vacation, the Melbourne Herald-Sun reported.

She was placed on a one-year $1,000 good behavior bond, warned by the judge to behave while flying and then released.

© Copyright 2005 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved

I found while researching the article above another recent interesting story...at least this airline was serious about doing something. Cathay should take notes as I would estimate that about 50% of the their flights I take someone attempts to smoke...

Man Gets 15 Months for Smoking on Plane

Nov 17, 5:41 PM (ET)

ATHENS, Greece (AP) - A Greek court sentenced a man to 15 months in prison for smoking on a plane, and then hitting a male flight attendant who told him to put his cigarette out, court officials said Thursday.

The 50-year-old Greek resident of New York was also convicted of endangering the aircraft. He was traveling on Olympic Airlines Flight No. 412 from New York to Athens last week.

Flight attendants said the defendant had been smoking in the main passenger area of the plane and in the toilet.

The man, who remains free pending appeal, said a 45-minute delay in takeoff from New York had made him nervous.

Every time I sit on the couch I get kinda itchy!

2005-11-16T22:31:00.000-08:00

This is another one of those "just wrong" postings. I mean come on, did they guys not think they would get caught. And to subjugate your customers to something as gross and dangerous as this...

Yesterdays South China Morning Post reported,
Contaminated medical gauze used for stuffing sofas
SHANXI - Police confiscated 130 tons of fabric stuffing made from contaminated medical gauze, and other used and dirty materials over the weekend. Shanxi Daily reports the dirty stuffing was intended for quilts, sofas and other products being manufactured in Datong.

Dual Meaning URL's

2005-10-26T22:31:00.000-07:00

I couldn't resist...the following posting was made in a news group (GeoExpat.com) and it is just too funny. Look closely at the URL and how it could be construed...
People should make time to think of suitable and appropriate domain names for their business. The following domains are real (and work safe - click on them and find out!)...

Firstly there is Who Represents a database for agencies to the rich and famous:
http://www.whorepresents.com

Second is the Experts Exchange, a knowledge base where programmers can exchange advice and views (this has now been changed with a hyphen, but the address still works):
http://www.expertsexchange.com

Looking for a pen? Look no further than Pen Island:
http://www.penisland.net

Need a therapist? Try Therapist Finder:
http://www.therapistfinder.com

And last but not least, we have the Mole Station Native Nursery, based in New South Wales :
http://www.molestationnursery.com

Let these be a lesson to us all!!
If you don't get it, look again!

BBC Arabic Television Service

2005-10-26T22:30:00.001-07:00

According to The NY Times, “the BBC Arabic Television Service is to broadcast 12 hours a day across the Middle East, beginning in 2007, and will be free to anyone with a satellite or cable connection. It will make the BBC the only ‘tri-media international news provider offering Arabic news and current affairs on television, radio and online,’ BBC said in a news release.”

I think this is good news. The BBC will be competing directly with al-Jazeera and will hopefully continue to provide less biased media. "Most people in the Arab world are very clear that, despite being funded by the UK taxpayer, they see the BBC as an independent broadcasting force and have done for over 60 years," said World Service director, Nigel Chapman. With this move, more of the Middle East will be able to get more honest news and not propaganda disguised as news. Of course, this assumes we in the West and East are ready to hear things that we used to dismiss as al-Jazeera propaganda and is now something we must consider no matter how painful.

At the same time, al-Jazeera is preparing to launch an English language version. I honestly think that will be interesting but, unfortunately, many people with not filter what they hear with other sources and, since it is on TV, will believe everything they read. Oh well, guess that is just a risk of free media.

Scary Side(sky)walk!

2005-10-26T22:30:00.000-07:00

This is a proposed skywalk sidewalk at the Grand Canyon in the United States. Yes, I confirmed this is real and is under construction and scheduled to open January 1, 2006 at a cost of $30 million. Can you imagine walking on this? It sticks out over the canyon wall about 70 feet and is 4000 ft above the Colorado River - that is 3/4 of a mile or 1220 meters!

It is built with more than a million pounds of steel beams and includes dampeners that minimize the structure's vibration. In fact, “enabling it to withstand the weight of 71 fully loaded Boeing 747 airplanes (more that 71 million pounds)”, withstand an 8.0 magnitude earthquake 50 miles away, and withstand winds in excess of 100 mph. Of course, it also has a glass bottom and sides - four inches thick - so you can hang out with 120 of your friends 4000 feet above the ground on a piece of glass.

While I would not have a problem with this (I do stupid stuff all the time), I know many people with a fear of heights that would make this an ultimate challenge for them.

BUSTED for Sharing

2005-10-25T22:29:00.000-07:00

Any of you Hong Kongers that thought sharing files in Hong Kong might be safer then in the US or other countries think again. I have not even heard of another such case where a "small time" file sharer got busted in another country. It is common for the courts to go after the "big guys" but this guy had a whopping 3 movies he was sharing...

Hong Kong court convicts file-sharer

Oct 25, 2005
Telecom Asia Daily

(Japan Economic Newswire via NewsEdge) A Hong Kong court set a precedent by convicting a BitTorrent file-sharing software user of copyright infringement.

Chan Nai-ming, 38, was convicted on three charges of copyright infringement at the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Court for using the peer-to-peer software to share three movies with dozens of users on the Internet.

Copies of Hollywood films "Daredevil," "Red Planet" and "Miss Congeniality" were found on the defendant's home computer during a customs raid in January.

Magistrate Colin Mackintosh said in his judgment that Chan had the intention to distribute the files, and that even though he did not profit from the sharing, his act violated copyrights and caused financial loss to the movies' owners.

Chan will be sentenced Nov. 7 so that the judge can have time to decide an appropriate sentence for what was described as a "complicated" case.

The maximum penalty for copyright infringement under Hong Kong law is four years imprisonment and a HK$50,000 ($6,400) fine for each infringing article.

Commerce, Industry and Technology Secretary John Tsang welcomed the judgment, saying it "means a lot to Hong Kong" and "should have a big deterring effect on copyright infringement."

The customs department said it will continue combating file-sharing, bolstered by the case.

The movie and music industries were also pleased with the judgment but said the law against downloading is still too lenient.

© 2005 Japan Economic News

© 2005 Dialog, a Thomson business. All rights reserved

Space...is there any?

2005-10-12T22:29:00.000-07:00

Personal space is an interesting concept in crowded places like Hong Kong and China's big cities. I am sure this is the same in cities like London, but I haven't spent enough time there to know. Anyway, when I first came to Hong Kong I found it difficult to even walk down the sidewalk. I always felt like I was having to dodge people, move away from people, etc. It was exhausting!!

In a couple weeks, walking down the street just became naturally easier and now I don't even think about avoiding people and such - it just happens. However, I sometimes still am stressed out by the lack of personal space. When in line for the subway, an elevator, anything, people will literally be pushing or leaning against you - even if you cannot possibly move any further. If you leave any room between you and what they are trying to get to, people will walk right in front of you. Even when exiting an elevator it is not uncommon for those wanting on the lift to push there way on, while you are trying to make room by getting off the lift.

That all said, there is another interesting aspect of personal space. Today (and other times) I was sitting down for lunch in a small sandwich shop. In the US, if there was not an open table, you would just wait for one. However, in Hong Kong, there is not really the concept of an open table, just an open seat. So, for example, today I sat with another gentleman at a 2 foot diameter table. Then, when he left, another young man and woman sat with me at the table. There the 3 of us were eating together and having no idea who the other person was. It is kinda strange to be looking at someone less then 2 feet away you don't know while eating a sandwich. I actually don't mind this, in fact I like that I don't have to wait for a table and I find it interesting.

Smurfs to Teach About War?!

2005-10-12T22:28:00.000-07:00

Okay, this is just crazy. If not for the fact this is being used to educate children, I would find this picture hilarious! I don't have kids, but it doesn't seem right that Unicef is taking a friendly, happy, fun, cartoon - the Smurfs - and turning them into these poor blue folks getting bombed to teach about war. There is often more to war then some imperial force bombing the poor Smurfs (or other society).

Yes, war sucks. Sometimes it is necessary, sometimes it isn't. Sometimes (often) there are atrocities - some intentional, some unfortunate side effects. But come on. I mean look at the poor Smurf crushed by the rock on the bottom right. Also, isn't it interesting they are not shooting back or shown as soldiers. Good way to brainwash children that any force bombing is obviously just attacking poor innocent people. If Unicef is using this as a parody of war, then kids are going to replace the image of Smurfs with themselves and it will have a similar effect to showing the real thing - nice - more trauma...

In this photo of a poster provided by Unicef on Tuesday Oct. 11, 2005, the cartoon Smurfs and their village are seen being bombed by airplanes. The recent advertising campaign by Unicef, both in print and on television, is intended to teach schoolchildren about the horrors of war. The title in French at left bottom reads 'Don't let war destroy the world of children'. (AP Photo/Unicef/IMPS/Peyo)

What about Typhoons

2005-09-26T22:27:00.000-07:00

It is interesting to me that the media is so focused on the Hurricanes in the US while substantial Typhoons are hitting Asia.

"Chinese officials have described it as the worst typhoon to strike the province in decades, with winds comparable to Hurricane Rita."

We have gotten over 10" of rain in Hong Kong and gale force wind over the weekend; over 100,000 people have evacuated coastal areas of Vietnam; 170,000 people moved to safety on Hainan island; etc. But I have seen very little coverage. I can understand why the US media is focused on the hurricanes, but come on Asia and Europe media, pick up the ball. I think they so many of these media outlets just get their news from "the wire" and don't do any or much of their own reporting anymore.

Horse Fight

2005-09-25T22:27:00.000-07:00

I don't post these because I condone or condem the activity. Different cultures support different activitis. While I don't approve of, nor would I attend this event, I do find it interesting that such an event exists in a modern society. The differences in cultures is always interesting to me.

Reuters - Tue Sep 20, 7:12 AM ET
Chinese residents watch two horses fight in Rongshui Miao Autonomous county, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, September 19, 2005. The horse fight is part of activities for the Miao people in Rongshui to celebrate their mid-Autumn festival. Picture taken September 19, 2005. CHINA OUT REUTERS/China Newsphoto

Want an Elephant? You can buy one...

2005-09-20T22:24:00.000-07:00

BANGKOK, Thailand article - They don't have to be housebroken because these pets won't fit in your home.

But not just anyone can own an elephant, says Laithongrian Meephan, 47, owner of the Ayutthaya Elephant Farm, 45 miles north of Bangkok, who is selling about 20 elephants between the ages of 1 1/2 to 3 years.

Prices start at $48,700 apiece for the beasts, which he promises are well-bred, well-trained, well-behaved and a source of luck.

But there are conditions attached. Only animal-loving Thai nationals boasting bank accounts of at least $243,300 can buy the pachyderms, and potential owners must have sufficient space for the beasts to exercise and mud holes where they can cool off.

Owners also will be tested on their elephant know-how three months after their purchase to ensure their seriousness, Laithongrian said. Flunk the test and the farm will buy the animal back from you.

"It is not easy to raise elephants," he says. "According to an old saying, only those who have great prestige and merit can raise them."

Laithongrian says that "post-sale service" will be provided, including the provision of a mahout — a traditional elephant trainer — and victuals to a pachyderm's taste.

The elephant is the de facto national animal of Thailand, and once graced the nation's flag. But with massive deforestation in recent decades, its numbers have decreased.

The sale of wild elephants is forbidden by law, but the Ayutthaya ones on sale are domesticated, the offspring of an "elephant wedding" held several years ago, said Laithongrian. He didn't explain why they were for sale.

There are about 140 elephants, including 40 calves, at the Ayutthaya Elephant Farm, where the elephants put on shows and give rides to tourists.

Adds and Articles volume 1

2005-09-20T22:23:00.000-07:00

I love when I see an article that has a particularly inappropriate (or in this case appropriate) advertisement that turns up next to it. This is by far not the funniest I have seen, and I am always on the lookout...

Is it coincidence that both these pictures are of people that would benefit from the product being advertised? Perhaps web advertisements are getting smarter then we realize.

Bathroom Break

2005-09-15T22:21:00.000-07:00

I can completely understand the need for President Bush to go to the bathroom - he is only human. However, if this is truly a note that he is writing and not responding too, it is a bit embarrassing. I suppose he shouldn't just get up to leave, but I guess we don't think of the president havening to ask permission often...

As reported on Yahoo...
U.S. President George W. Bush writes a note to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during a Security Council meeting at the 2005 World Summit and 60th General Assembly of the United Nations in New York September 14, 2005. World leaders are exploring ways to revitalize the United Nations at a summit on Wednesday but their blueprint falls short of Secretary-General Kofi Annan's vision of freedom from want, persecution and war. REUTERS/Rick Wilking

Skin of Executed Used for "Beauty"

2005-09-14T22:20:00.001-07:00

An article today reports that, "Skin from prisoners executed in China is being used to develop cosmetic collagen treatments aimed at the European market". I am not a big fan of plastic surgery and other beauty enhancing procedures. So, as you can imagine I kind of got a kick out of this news. I also find it VERY disturbing. How gross is that? Also, how safe can that really be?

How do we stop Jackson?

2005-09-14T22:20:00.000-07:00

Do you think if we pay Michael Jackson NOT to make this song? If we all donate $5 will it just go away? Does the world really want to listen to this song play over and over again? A song that is going to be a bunch of has been artists. The other funny thing is how many of these artists have criminal records.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Michael Jackson has recruited pop superstar Mariah Carey, rappers Snoop Dogg and Jay Z, "Godfather of Soul" James Brown and other top artists to perform on a charity single for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, his spokeswoman said on Monday.

Also joining Jackson will be retro-rocker Lenny Kravitz; rappers Wyclef Jean, Laryn Hill and Missy Elliott; R&B crooners Ciara, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Yolanda Adams, R. Kelly and Mary J. Blige; and 1970s soul icons the O'Jays, spokeswoman Raymone Bain said.

"Mr. Jackson is continuing to reach out to artists who would like to work with him on this project, which he humbly hopes will make a tremendous difference to all individuals who have been affected by this tragedy, Bain said.

Jackson, who raised more than $60 million for African famine relief in the mid-1980s with a campaign built around his anthem "We Are the World," announced last week that he had been moved by images of Katrina's devastation to write a song for the hurricane's victims.

Bain has said that the 47-year-old singer, who left his Neverland Valley Ranch in California for Bahrain after his June acquittal on sex abuse charges, will return to the United States to record the song, tentatively titled "From the Bottom of My Heart."

All proceeds will be donated to hurricane victims, she said.

Those Aussies sure do love their footy!

2005-09-14T22:19:00.000-07:00

I know several Australians, and they do love their football. Especially the Australian Rules football. I have been meaning to learn more about the game, but I understand it to be very athletic and fairly violent. But, for those of you who don't know (and any Australians are sure to yell at me) think of it as American football without pads. If you want more information, go to the the AFL site. So, these guys are tough. But to choose to amputate your finger...The AP reported...

SYDNEY, Australia - An Australian professional football player said Tuesday he plans to have one of his fingers amputated in an attempt to improve his game.

Brett Backwell, who plays Australian rules football for Glenelg, a suburb of the city of Adelaide in South Australia state, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. he has suffered from pain and restricted movement since he broke his left ring finger three years ago.

Doctors had suggested fusing the bones in the finger, but Backwell rejected the proposal.

He said he believed that amputating the finger was the only way to stop the pain and allow him to keep playing.

"To chop a finger off, that's a bit drastic," Backwell told the ABC. "But I love my footy (football), and love playing sport, and if that's going to help me to succeed at this level then it's something you've just got to do."

Asia Culanary: Chinese Eatery Sold Donkey in Tiger Urine

2005-09-12T22:16:00.000-07:00

I have found that from time to time I find (or experience first hand) some Asian culinary ideas that we in the west often just can imagine. So, welcome to installment one of Asia Culinary.

In this case, I do not feel sorry for the patrons who were participating in an illegal activity anyway - kind of got what they deserved...but GROSS!!!

Sep 8, 6:58 PM (ET)

SHANGHAI, China (AP) - A restaurant in northeastern China that advertised illegal tiger meat dishes was found instead to be selling donkey flesh - marinated in tiger urine, a newspaper reported Thursday.

The Hufulou restaurant, located beside the Heidaohezi tiger reserve near the city of Hailin, had advertised stir-fried tiger meat with chilies for $98as well as liquor flavored with tiger bone for $74 a bottle, the China Daily reported.

Raw meat was priced at $864 per kilogram.

The sale of tiger parts is illegal in China and officers shut down the restaurant, only to be told by owner, Ma Shikun, that the meat was actually that of donkeys, flavored with tiger urine to give the dish a "special" tang, the newspaper said.

The report didn't say how the urine was obtained.

Authorities confiscated the restaurant's profits and fined Ma $296 it said. It wasn't clear what Ma was fined for. Selling donkey meat is not illegal in China and it is widely consumed in the northeast.

Ma had initially claimed that the meat came from dead tigers sold to him by the management of the Heidaohezi reserve, but later changed his story, the report said.

While Heidaohezi's director denied that claim, the reserve, with about 150 tigers, has been involved in similar controversies in the past.

Until China outlawed the trade in 1993, the reserve received most of its revenue from the sale of tiger skins, bones and other body parts, which are believed by Chinese to imbue vigor and sexual prowess.

Worst Disaster Ever?

2005-09-12T22:14:00.000-07:00

Whoops, gotta love those short story intros at the bottom of the screen!

I LOVE to dive, but not this much!

2005-09-11T22:17:00.000-07:00

My wife and I spend a lot of time underwater, but this is more then I could tolerate by far. After 60 minutes of scuba diving we are usually cold and ready to dry out and decompress for an hour or so before the next dive. However, the thing I really can't imagine is how bad they are going to smell. The ocean in not a clean place and soaking in it (and probably a dirty weat suit if you know what I mean) for 10 days - stinky. But all in the interest of science (and some fame), so good for them...

Scuba Divers Begin Living Under Water

Sep 8, 7:02 PM (ET)
PONZA, Italy (AP) - There are beds, exercise machines, table and chairs and even a television in the new home of two Italians trying to break a record. The catch: the furniture is anchored to the sea floor and to live there the duo must don wet suits and masks.

The divers, Stefano Barbaresi, 37, and Stefania Mensa, 29, on Thursday completed the first of 10 days living 26 feet under water off the island of Ponza, off the coast between Rome and Naples.

The duo is trying to break a world record by spending 240 hours there as part of a project that also will allow scientists to study the effect that living under water for so long has on the human body.

"It's a unique opportunity to understand the limits of mankind under the sea," project organizer Pierfranco Bozzi was quoted as saying by Milan daily Corriere della Sera.

However, about every five to six hours the divers will be able to access a dry chamber under water where they will be able to change, go to the bathroom and be examined by researchers including from several Italian hospitals and Rome's Sapienza University.

Among other things, scientists will monitor the divers' heart rates and ear drums, Corriere reported.

(AP) In this photo made availabe Thursday, Sept. 8, 2005 by Progetto Abissi 2005, scuba diver Stefano...

New Orleans & Religious Extremism

2005-09-08T22:13:00.000-07:00

Didn’t take long for the religious right to blame the affected citizens for the disastrous hurricane. For example, Repent America said…

"Although the loss of lives is deeply saddening, this act of God destroyed a wicked city," stated Repent America director Michael Marcavage. "From ‘Girls Gone Wild’ to ‘Southern Decadence’, New Orleans was a city that had its doors wide open to the public celebration of sin. May it never be the same," he continued.

New Orleans is also known for its Mardi Gras parties where thousands of drunken men revel in the streets to exchange plastic jewelry for drunken women to expose their breasts. This annual event sparked the creation of the "Girls Gone Wild" video series.

"Let us pray for and help those ravaged by this disaster. However, we must not forget that the citizens of New Orleans tolerated and welcomed the wickedness in their city for so long," Marcavage said. "May this act of God cause us all to think about what we tolerate in our city limits, and bring us trembling before the throne of Almighty God," Marcavage concluded.

Come on, like there isn’t more sin in other cities and the world in general. God couldn’t find others to pick on - he chose New Orleans?

However, on the other hand, there are those that say they stayed – or are staying – in their homes because "God will protect us". Again, have some responsibility for your actions. God gave us free will. That means we are free to make choices (stupid ones included). Staying home when there was a mandatory evacuation because “God will protect you” is a stupid choice. In fact, other Christians (e.g. those mentioned above) think he is doing this to you.

Of course these are the same people that refuse medical treatment for their children because it is "God's will" that their child be sick, even if the child will die unless given simple treatments. Again, you have free will, which means God is not intervening in every aspect of your life. He gave you a child, and wants you to care for it...so do. He allowed the invention of TV and radio that is telling you to leave - LEAVE!

Typical US Media - Making Things Worse

2005-09-05T22:10:00.000-07:00

It isn't enough that some of the people in New Orleans are acting like completing asses looting (and I mean steeling TVs not bread), shooting at people, etc. The US media is up to there normal, piss pore, reporting. Yesterday the AP reported that, "Army Corps of Engineers says police killed some of its workers as they crossed a bridge on the way to repair a canal." Of course this was immediately released on the news wire and, since it is such fantastic news, broadcast on CNN. Oh, but whoops, 30 minutes later, when the facts are checked, the AP releases, "Army Corps of Engineers says its contractors were not killed by police, but gunmen who fired at them were killed."

With racial tensions high - e.g. "the response would have been faster if those affected were white"...

mini rant: Come one people. Do we really believe that. The Mayor is black, the majority of voters are black, and, even if they weren't, these are people that needed help. Focus the blame on the Mayor who did a terrible job preparing. Or the governor for responding to slow to making it a state of disaster. Oh, better yet, focus the energy and helping the people that need help - not working them up over some BS. Positive energy, not negative, is needed here!

...this is just adding false fuel to the fire. When is the US media going to learn to report the news and not just sensationalism. Leave that for Jerry Springer :-). I suppose it is the news watchers that cause this. I guess they want to see and hear excitement instead of the facts. For example, Heraldo Rivera has to be the worst, must sensationalizing "reporter" on TV today - he is the Jerry Springer of "news". Also, on the CNN commercial, one of the clips they show is a reporter talking about how something the media is doing is a first...Since when did the news reporters become news...