tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87563586155388393382024-03-13T02:36:20.736-05:00Random Ramblings and other Non-SenseThis has become the parent page to a number of child blogs. It occurred to me that while I may find a blog about anything and everything interesting, for most people it might be a bit too random. So random still stays here, but on subjects I seem to blog about often, I've created their own blogs for my thoughts to live in. So look for the links below for my thoughts on Movies, Technology, Motorcycles, Cars, Do it Yourself projects, and Family. I will add more if find the need.Doonzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06037484374336236456noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756358615538839338.post-34314131099876767782020-06-14T03:01:00.001-05:002020-06-14T03:03:02.559-05:00Random Vinyl Ramblings: Jensen CS315 Review 2020<a href="https://randomvinyl.blogspot.com/2020/06/jensen-cs315-review-2019.html?spref=bl">Random Vinyl Ramblings: Jensen CS315 Review 2020</a>: Jensen CS315's So the infamous Jensen CS315. First of all, these are loudspeakers, no two ways about it. An audiophile would ca...Doonzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06037484374336236456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756358615538839338.post-47074646501199934872020-06-13T10:51:00.001-05:002020-06-13T10:51:56.442-05:00Random TV Ramblings: Fringe TV series (2008-2013): A 2019 review<a href="https://randomtvramblings.blogspot.com/2020/06/fringe-tv-series-2008-2013-2019-review.html?spref=bl">Random TV Ramblings: Fringe TV series (2008-2013): A 2019 review</a>: The cast of Fringe *As always, my reviews aren't traditional reviews. My idea is to give a quick overview and some general thou...Doonzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06037484374336236456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756358615538839338.post-18116064664571086132018-02-11T10:21:00.001-06:002018-02-11T10:21:25.852-06:00Random Amine Ramblings: Cowboy Bebop, life set to the blues....<a href="http://randomanimeramblings.blogspot.com/2018/02/cowboy-bebop-life-set-to-blues.html?spref=bl">Random Amine Ramblings: Cowboy Bebop, life set to the blues....</a>: For me, this is the one that started it all. I knew what anime was, at least the idea. I'd seen examples here and there. Then Adult S...Doonzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06037484374336236456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756358615538839338.post-91185519271218022018-02-07T11:09:00.001-06:002018-02-07T11:09:22.643-06:00Random TV Ramblings: Supernatural, when cable channels get it right!<a href="http://randomtvramblings.blogspot.com/2018/02/supernatural-when-cable-channels-get-it.html?spref=bl">Random TV Ramblings: Supernatural, when cable channels get it right!</a>: So for me, this is what happens when non-network channels get it right! Supernatural was created in the days when all your good shows we...Doonzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06037484374336236456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756358615538839338.post-41377904225439992622018-02-04T08:50:00.001-06:002018-02-04T08:50:30.507-06:00Random TV Ramblings: Altered Carbon, Netflix nails it this time!<a href="http://randomtvramblings.blogspot.com/2018/02/altered-carbon-netflix-nails-it-this.html?spref=bl">Random TV Ramblings: Altered Carbon, Netflix nails it this time!</a>: New shows come and go. Some are good, some are bad, some are just ok. Then some.... some are amazing enough to bring a retired blogger ba...Doonzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06037484374336236456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756358615538839338.post-28207696701213004822018-02-04T08:49:00.001-06:002018-02-04T08:49:37.892-06:00Random TV Ramblings: The Librarians, a strangely good show...<a href="http://randomtvramblings.blogspot.com/2018/02/the-librarians-strangely-good-show.html?spref=bl">Random TV Ramblings: The Librarians, a strangely good show...</a>: This show is a little strange to me. I really enjoy it, but I can't explain exactly why. The writing is a little weak at times, the s...Doonzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06037484374336236456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756358615538839338.post-82316988130572506342015-04-07T04:35:00.005-05:002015-04-07T04:35:53.015-05:00Random Vaping Lounge: My Vapor Store, a vendor review...<a href="http://randomvapinglounge.blogspot.com/2015/04/my-vapor-store-vendor-review.html?spref=bl">Random Vaping Lounge: My Vapor Store, a vendor review...</a>: I first started vaping on a whim, I was at Wal-Mart to pick up a couple packs of cigs since it was late and the normal shop I got my cheap s...Doonzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06037484374336236456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756358615538839338.post-14073005944299889932015-04-07T04:35:00.003-05:002015-04-07T04:35:40.435-05:00Random Vaping Lounge: Vista Vapors vendor review...<a href="http://randomvapinglounge.blogspot.com/2015/04/vista-vapors-vendor-review.html?spref=bl">Random Vaping Lounge: Vista Vapors vendor review...</a>: Vista Vapors (VV) is my favorite juice source. I've ordered at least several hundred dollars of juice from them so far, and have alwa...Doonzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06037484374336236456noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756358615538839338.post-25227512473278926292015-04-07T04:35:00.001-05:002015-04-07T04:35:01.969-05:00Random Vaping Lounge: Vista Vapors vendor review...<a href="http://randomvapinglounge.blogspot.com/2015/04/vista-vapors-vendor-review.html?spref=bl">Random Vaping Lounge: Vista Vapors vendor review...</a>: Vista Vapors (VV) is my favorite juice source. I've ordered at least several hundred dollars of juice from them so far, and have alwa...Doonzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06037484374336236456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756358615538839338.post-29573971961575290412013-07-27T18:13:00.001-05:002013-07-27T18:13:10.212-05:00Moonrise Kingdom: A review and other thoughts..<a href="http://randommovieramblings.blogspot.com/2013/07/moonrise-kingdom-review-and-other.html?spref=bl">Random Movie Ramblings: Moonrise Kingdom: A review and other thoughts..</a>: **Spoiler Free** Moonrise Kingdom was a surprising and interesting experience. If it were a painting, it would be a watercolor. Almost...Doonzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06037484374336236456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756358615538839338.post-41179272873679450392013-06-19T13:07:00.001-05:002013-06-19T13:08:19.895-05:00New NWA Motorcycle Forum!I created a new forum for <a href="http://www.nwariders.proboards.com/" target="_blank">NWA Motorcycle riders</a> from any group or club. Here's the blurb.<br />
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<span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; max-height: 1000000px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">This Association is meant to be more then a Meetup group, and less than a club. The goal is to build a group of like minded people who can enjoy sharing, talking, meeting, riding, and helping each other out. We want to be a bridge between different clubs and groups in our area, not to replace them. We also wish to provide a place for the Lone Wolf, those that have no club or group to call their own. The only entrance fee is a love of riding, membership does not relay on the ownership of a bike. All are welcome here. From those who are just starting out, and thinking of getting their first bike, to those who have lost their rides for one reason or another. All we ask is you have a love and passion for the ride, no matter what your current situation.<br style="max-height: 1000000px; word-wrap: break-word;" /><br style="max-height: 1000000px; word-wrap: break-word;" /><a href="http://www.nwariders.proboards.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;" target="_blank">NWA Motorcycle Riders Association</a></span>Doonzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06037484374336236456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756358615538839338.post-25586394214556217332013-03-10T09:09:00.000-05:002020-06-09T10:38:00.581-05:00Hi-Point JCP 40 S&W review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image borrowed from Cheaper Than Dirt!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://www.hi-pointfirearms.com/handguns/handguns_40sw.html" target="_blank">Hi-Point </a>gets some pretty bad press in the mainstream, hardcore gun forums. I think this is sad, and mainly stems from an elitist view. I've found that the more someone pays for a gun, the more extreme they become in justifying the huge chunk of change they plopped down. I can understand if you shoot 1,000 rounds a month, or completion shoot, the bells and whistles (and quality) of the higher-priced guns might be worth the cost. However, for just a sidearm for the woods, or a home protection piece, this Hi-Point is all the gun you would ever need.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">First of all, this is not going to be an in-depth review. I'll let the experts do that, this is a common man's review. I have shot guns since I was 5 years old, and have experience with Rifles, Shotguns, and handguns. But I'm no expert, I'm just the common man. So I'll make this short and sweet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I want to cover one thing before I start. Hi-Points may be cheap, but they DO come with a <a href="http://www.hi-pointfirearms.com/about/about.html" target="_blank">lifetime warranty</a>. So if you ever do break it, or wear it out, just send it in, and they'll fix it, or send you a new one. In fact, let me quote it for you.</span><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Damage, age, and plain old wear and tear—these things happen. When they do, Hi-Point customers enjoy a lifetime, no questions asked warranty. And lifetime means just that— free repairs for the life of the gun, whether you are the first owner, or the third. That service is fast, friendly and expertly performed. Your Hi-Point will be back in action, good as new, in no time."</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I can't say how many times I've heard Taurus owners tout the lifetime warranty as the reason to buy a Taurus (UPDATE, Taurus has ceased its lifetime warranty program, they have a 1-year warranty now). But no one seems to point that out with the Hi-Point. In fact, when I bought the gun, the girl behind the counter tried hard to push me to a Taurus, and that was one of her biggest selling points. She didn't even mention that the Hi-Point had a lifetime warranty also, I'm not sure she even knew.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, to get to it. When I decided it was time to buy a new handgun I went around to all the local shops to see what was out there, I handled quite a few guns. To be honest, I settled on the Hi-Point for one main reason, it felt the best in my hands of all the guns I looked at. It just fit right. Also, I had owned a Hi-Point 9mm before, so I didn't have any negative preconceived notions against it. It was also the cheapest 40 they had and was brand new. It was cheaper than even any of their used guns.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now, about the gun itself... Some think it's ugly, but it's the kind of ugly that grows on you. This isn't some eye-candy type of gun, it's plain and simply a brick. That shoots. It's also heavy as hell, and large. This is one hefty gun. This is due in large to the insane 4.5" barrel, this as about long as you get from a run of the mill semi-auto. A 1911 .45 does come with a 5" barrel, but that also is a massive semi-auto. What that should mean is this gun is more accurate to a much longer distance than your average auto. And I've read some reports from "expert" shooters that they have in fact found this to be true. I'm not a good enough shot to either confirm or deny this. The plus side is that if you run out of bullets you can hit them over the head with it, or throw it at them and do some damage. It also means is THIS IS NOT A CONCEALED CARRY GUN. While I'm sure a large person, in bulky clothes, could carry this as a CC piece, to be honest, it's too heavy and large to be a good candidate for CC. Now throw it in your glove box, or under the seat, and that would be just fine. Also at home is perfect, but I'm not ever going to try and carry this monster as a CC. I'm of medium build, and I also must say it's not a great one-hand shooter either, just too heavy. I mean it does OK, but I wouldn't want to shoot it all day one-handed. But it's a great two-hand piece.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The sights are easy to see, thanks to the day-glow markings. It also seems to come up naturally aligned for me. Without trying, wherever I point it I'm already pretty close to lined up, the front sight is right there and just needs a little adjusting before firing off the shot. Some guns seem to be set up well this way for me, some aren't. I've read of others with the same observation of this Hi-Point, so I don't think it's just me. The rear sight is also fully adjustable, I'm still trying to get mine dialed in better, out of the box it shot low and to the left. I made some quick adjustments at the range with a borrowed screwdriver and got it closer, but I noticed last time I had it at the range it's still a little low and to the left. That's my fault, not the guns, I just need to work on the sights more. I'm still trying to figure out if it's the sights, or me jerking slightly left when I fire.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I've fired several hundred rounds down range with this gun so far, without a single failure. I've got two clips, and neither clip has dropped while firing or caused any type of jam. The recoil is firm but expected and very manageable. The weight of the gun helps some with recoil. I have no problems staying on target, even under rapid-fire situations, and I'm no sharpshooter. The safety is a little cheesy to me, as it's a slide up lever instead of a button, and honestly LOOKS cheap, but it works well and is easy to get to one-handed. It is in a very comfortable place for me, and once I got used to it, it's really pretty clever design. It serves three purposes. First, it's a safety and will prevent the pin from firing, second it's a slide lock and prevents the slide from being worked while the gun is on safety. Third, it's also the slide lock for when the slide is open. The downside is that there is no way to un-chamber a round while the safety is on. So if you have a round in the chamber, the only way to extract the round is to take the gun off safety and cycle the slide. However, the gun does have a magazine safety and cannot be fired with the magazine removed. So if you wish to manually eject a round, for any reason other then a miss-fire, remove the magazine first. On a side note, if the clip is removed the chambered round will most of the time fall out the bottom of the gun through the magazine hole instead of side ejecting. But this not uncommon with semi-autos, just very common with his gun.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The last piece of info I wish to share is the magazine release, it's in a great location, easy to get to without even looking and works very well. But I do wish to point out, both the safety and magazine release are set up for right-hand shooters, and they don't make a left-hand model. Just FYI.</span><br />
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<br />Doonzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06037484374336236456noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756358615538839338.post-72986964394550407292012-10-11T02:28:00.001-05:002020-06-09T10:23:46.787-05:00Facebook Post turned blog.... <br />
<span style="font-size: large;">**Started out as a Facebook post, but it got a life of its own and outgrew the narrow confines of Facebook, so pasted it here. I miss Myspace and the blog-type atmosphere it used to have. Facebook has become twitter pro, just little tidbits, but no real meat.**</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Since the day I moved out of my parents, in fact until the last few years, money has always been in short supply. Many times I wasn't sure where I was sleeping that night, or where I would be when the sun rose....or as was often the case...set. But somehow in my life I manged to only have to live in my car for two nights. I never went hungry, I always had clean clothes, and I always had what I needed, if not always what I wanted. Once Rais was born, I always had a home. It may have changed, but I always always had a place that was <i><u>mine</u></i>. Most of my good fortune goes back to the fact that no matter what, I always had a job. Maybe it was McDonald's, and maybe it changed from week to week, but I always worked. I have been on unemployment twice, both times I quit when I found a job that paid more than the unemployment. And the only reason I even bothered with it was that I wanted to find a "better" job, not just another job. I'm not dissing unemployment, just saying I always made sure I had what I needed to get by. Once I had a family, I always made sure I had enough to provide for them as well and make sure if we didn't always have what we wanted, we had what we needed. And a little of what we wanted, when we could.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I look around me now, and I have stuff, I have niceish things. It might not always be new, or pretty, but it works. I buy my xbox games 2 years late, when they are under $10, I shop for my clothes at Wal-mart, and if I own a big ticket item (like cars), I didn't by it new, and I didn't pay but about a fraction of what it cost when whoever owned it first bought it. But yet I can't complain, I wouldn't have it any other way. I had lived the life of not knowing, and I wouldn't have traded it for the world, but once I had others to take care of, that was not longer an option. In all things, I endeavored to make sure there was a roof over our heads, food on our table, heat, water, clean clothes, and little worry that these things would go away. In fact, somehow I always equated stable with everything being ok, I guess in my own way it was showing love. Not that it translated well that way, no one has ever understood how I show love it seems, but meh.... it is what it is. And I am who I am.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And now with no one here, no one to provide for, no one to take care of... I'm kinda lost. At the end of a workday, I could say "That sucked, but I'm doing it for a great reason. I have those at home depending on me." Now when I try to tell myself that it rings hollow in my ears. First among all the things that bring me joy, make me feel like I matter, and are important to me, is to be a provider for (and supporter of) those I love. Not just financial support, but emotional and everyday life support as well. I'm lost without that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now, I'm not going to go back to my old ways, I have two amazing sons who I'm sure don't want to live in daddies car when they come to visit, but I can't help but feel lack of purpose now... Maybe I should get a cat....or 3..... LOL Seems I have written a novel here, and it went astray, I was just musing and rambled a bit. Times like this I miss old Myspace, I enjoyed writing down my thoughts and sharing them. You never know how something will ring true with another. Back in those days, every post was a novel, and many of the users were writers and poets at heart. You don't see that anymore. Twitter, Facebook, and text messages have taught us that life can be summarized in small little tidbits of thought. So constricting, so limiting, so small. It's amazing sometimes how as we've all grown more connected, we also become more distanced. We all want to see and touch the lives of others, but just for a sentence or two. Welcome to the new world I guess. I'll cliff note on Facebook some, but as for my real life, I guess it will have to live here. If it lives anywhere at all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Wow, ramble on wayward son! </span>Doonzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06037484374336236456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756358615538839338.post-70425430600086241582012-08-26T13:29:00.001-05:002012-08-26T13:29:06.715-05:00Random Journey's With Autism : Logan's ObsessionA post over on our new Blog about our son...<br />
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<a href="http://randomjourneyswithautism.blogspot.com/2012/08/logans-obsession.html?spref=bl">Random Journey's With Autism : Logan's Obsession</a>: One of the signs of classic autism is spinning of wheels on toy cars. Logan has always done this and we never realized it was a sign until w...Doonzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06037484374336236456noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756358615538839338.post-69045046373399627682012-08-23T10:23:00.001-05:002012-08-23T10:23:48.771-05:00Random Journey's With Autism : We start our Journey...We recently discovered our youngest is Autistic, me and my wife had started a blog we are both authors of to talk about journey.<br />
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<a href="http://randomjourneyswithautism.blogspot.com/2012/08/we-start-our-journey.html?spref=bl">Random Journey's With Autism : We start our Journey...</a>: Like a growing number of people these days we started to notice that something might not be exactly right with our son's development. He r...Doonzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06037484374336236456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756358615538839338.post-31501895368520755152012-07-26T06:54:00.001-05:002012-07-29T20:54:04.493-05:00Random Tech Ramblings: 100% CPU usage XBMC in Windows XP and others.<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Child blog post, click on the link so see the full post!</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://randomtechnologyramblings.blogspot.com/2012/07/100-cpu-usage-xbmc-in-windows-xp-and.html?spref=bl">Random Tech Ramblings: 100% CPU usage XBMC in Windows XP and others.</a>: So I recently decided to turn my old desktop, that we didn’t use since the wireless didn’t work anymore, into a HTPC (Home Theater PC). ...Doonzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06037484374336236456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756358615538839338.post-35800516438577440092012-07-15T06:00:00.001-05:002012-07-29T20:53:10.085-05:00A newbie motorcycle buying/riding guide!<span style="font-size: large;">Child Blog Post, click below to View the Blog!!!!!</span><br />
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<a href="http://randommotorcycleramblings.blogspot.com/2012/07/newbie-motorcycle-buyingriding-guide.html?spref=bl">Random Motorcycle Ramblings: A newbie motorcycle buying/riding guide!</a>: I have ridden motorcycles since I was five years old. I would not call myself an expert, but I ride well and have ridden a large number of d...Doonzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06037484374336236456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756358615538839338.post-77374071739617204332012-07-15T00:43:00.000-05:002012-07-15T01:40:48.000-05:00Trying out Live Essentials Writer<p><font size="4">Just trying this out to see how it works! </font><a href="http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-live/essentials-other-programs" target="_blank"><font size="4">Live Essentials Writer</font></a><font size="4"> is a tool you can use to write blogs, and it’s free if you have a valid installation of windows.</font> </p> <p><a href="http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-live/essentials-other-programs" target="_blank"><img style="display: inline; float: left" align="left" src="http://windowsteamblog.com/cfs-filesystemfile.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Blogs-Components-WeblogFiles/00-00-00-53-82-metablogapi/1537.Essentials_5F00_5BD7465E.png" width="219" height="155"></a> <font size="4">It seems I can post a picture and have my text be beside it. It took a little work, I had to click on the picture and then in the paragraph section of the ribbon click on the “align text left” then it allowed me to type to the right of the picture. When I first inserted the image I couldn’t type beside it, only under it or on top of it!</font></p> <p><font size="4"></font> </p> <p><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" border="0" align="right" src="http://www.viovio.com/storage/viovio/users/136/1136/images/2876273/blogger.png" width="192" height="146"></p> <p><font size="4">Ok, I take that back, when you first insert a picture there is a a format ribbon that opens at the top and allows you to change the layout of the photo’s and text. I hadn’t noticed it the first time I inserted an image. I’m not sure what options change depending on what service you use, I use blogger. When you click on a picture a new option opens up along the top, </font> <font size="4">“Picture Tools” and under that a “Menu” called FORMAT. That takes you to a pretty good amount of picture options. </font></p> <p><font size="4"></font> </p> <p><font size="4">Something that is currently annoying me is the fact that it keeps reverting back to a much smaller font whenever I add new stuff. So I have to change it back to the font I want. Not a huge deal since I’m just changing the size and not the font itself, but if I was using a custom font it could prove to be somewhat annoying. </font></p> <p><font size="4"></font> </p> <p><font size="4">Lets see how adding a video works. </p> <p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:edb32011-9b75-4933-aa8c-e32fb0c1c6d4" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="36d837cd-6da8-4794-8087-f03fff479313" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZiSWbFXlbE&feature=youtube_gdata_player" target="_new"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-g_rLI0EIE-Y/UAJl5DsVMXI/AAAAAAAABfE/tjkq4lGSHgg/videoaa1416553133%25255B37%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('36d837cd-6da8-4794-8087-f03fff479313'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"359\" height=\"269\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/NZiSWbFXlbE?hl=en&hd=1\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/NZiSWbFXlbE?hl=en&hd=1\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"359\" height=\"269\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div><div style="width:359px;clear:both;font-size:.8em">Baby Logan can’t Stop Laughing!</div></div></p> <p> This seems to have worked pretty well, you get a special inserting and formatting ribbon for video’s. It’s somewhat more limited then the picture one, but it’s still pretty good. Blogger itself my have these features also, but so far it seems <a href="http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-live/essentials-other-programs" target="_blank">Live Essentials Writer</a> does make things easier to do, and offers a more precise way to put together your blog. Lets see about adding multiple images!</p> <p></font> </p> <p><font size="4">That worked pretty well, I even added a tilt to each just for fun. It </font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6X9o9SsgvxY/UAJl5-Bpx6I/AAAAAAAABfM/Bdo8rTY4tUo/s1600-h/BLog%252520photos%252520005%25255B19%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="BLog photos 005" border="0" alt="BLog photos 005" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-l8POsWJlGJo/UAJl6Vr5ZJI/AAAAAAAABfU/ix-YGBSUDxw/BLog%252520photos%252520005_thumb%25255B16%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="265" height="211"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kjz37wUHols/UAJl66VM1oI/AAAAAAAABfc/lqGnE0CwjRI/s1600-h/BLog%252520photos%252520014%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="BLog photos 014" border="0" alt="BLog photos 014" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-kalPwLXt7RI/UAJl7bWgmoI/AAAAAAAABfk/uD3XGNlOvbo/BLog%252520photos%252520014_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="207"></a><font size="4">Does seem kind of cramped putting two pictures on the same row. However this is something my wife does on a regular bases, and something I don’t do very often at all. She has her blog set a little wider then I do. But I don’t think I would have any great problems making pictures fit 3 across. Another thing that is kind of nice is the ability to add a watermark to the picture when you put it on the blog, at least if you upload it from your own computer!</font></p> <p><font size="4"></font> </p> <p><font size="4">Now lets see what this picture gallery option does! <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:6fb32196-358e-47de-b7ea-b4e38275912a" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;width:410px;border-collapse:collapse;'><tbody><tr><td style='margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;width:auto'><a style="outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;" target="_blank" href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=377842b7af0c2b62&page=play&resid=377842B7AF0C2B62!113&type=5&authkey=!AInzQ9tVdnol8GQ&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" alt="View album" title="View album" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bSgnTq6vBSk/UAJl7iKhv1I/AAAAAAAABfs/_aZyeW6xg7E/Blog%252520Shots%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a><div style='width:410px;text-align:center;overflow:visible;padding:0px;margin:0px;'> <div style='width:410px;overflow:visible;'><a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=377842b7af0c2b62&page=browse&resid=377842B7AF0C2B62!113&type=5&authkey=!AInzQ9tVdnol8GQ&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" target="_blank"><span style="line-height:1.26em;padding:0px;width:410px;font-size:26pt;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" defaultText="Enter album name here">Test Album</span></a></div> <div style="text-align:center;padding:9px 0px 0px 0px;margin:0px 0px 0px 0px;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;"> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style="text-align:center;width:auto;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;border-collapse:collapse;"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:6px 12px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=377842b7af0c2b62&page=play&resid=377842B7AF0C2B62!113&type=5&authkey=!AInzQ9tVdnol8GQ&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">VIEW SLIDE SHOW</a></td> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:6px 0px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=377842b7af0c2b62&page=downloadphotos&resid=377842B7AF0C2B62!113&type=5&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AInzQ9tVdnol8GQ" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">DOWNLOAD ALL</a></td> </tr> </table> </div> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> Well, I have to admit it’s pretty darn awesome! This is one of about 6 layouts you can choose from, the they all are pretty neat! This alone is worth the cost of admission!! Course since this is free software that’s not saying much!! LOL I’m thinking at least for myself I’ll be user <a href="http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-live/essentials-other-programs" target="_blank">Live Essentials Writer</a> for my future blogs!</font></p> Doonzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06037484374336236456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756358615538839338.post-61665698630292127312012-04-13T22:27:00.001-05:002012-04-13T22:27:33.898-05:00Random Family Ramblings: Logan and the Terminix Commercial... he can't stop...Click to go to the blog!<br />
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<a href="http://randomfamilyramblings.blogspot.com/2012/04/logan-and-terminix-commercial-he-cant.html?spref=bl">Random Family Ramblings: Logan and the Terminix Commercial... he can't stop...</a>Doonzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06037484374336236456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756358615538839338.post-3254673064067516952012-04-12T22:32:00.001-05:002012-04-12T22:32:15.148-05:00Movie Night Thoughts: Blade Runner<a href="http://randommovieramblings.blogspot.com/2012/04/blade-runner-in-my-top-favorite-5.html?spref=bl">Random Movie Ramblings: Movie Night Thoughts: Blade Runner</a>: Blade Runner sits in my top favorite 5 movies of all time. The list is fluid in exact order, and has had some new additions recently,...Doonzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06037484374336236456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756358615538839338.post-67685525037295662022012-04-07T01:43:00.000-05:002012-04-07T01:46:16.189-05:00Bobbie Petrino Media Circus..... really?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXraDeeTsFhZeW1UBSh7yhsh0ghw9trDpwVTOQ7bI5X8GJb78njmTJjh_tQvelfBRtAFymwRFlidbBNetySmPe5JLcTcQnok66e26B2mYZNoJvgP6Gv4BpeIA34BaJ44qCh2zbkxtZXi0E/s1600/newssucks.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXraDeeTsFhZeW1UBSh7yhsh0ghw9trDpwVTOQ7bI5X8GJb78njmTJjh_tQvelfBRtAFymwRFlidbBNetySmPe5JLcTcQnok66e26B2mYZNoJvgP6Gv4BpeIA34BaJ44qCh2zbkxtZXi0E/s320/newssucks.png" title="http://www.stirringtroubleinternationally.com" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I've been trying to figure out lately when the nightly news, news papers, and general main stream news became The Jerry Springer/Nancy Grace shows???? I understand, you have to feed the people what they want, if you don't give them that then you can't keep your job, or have a channel. I just don't understand at what point the public stopped wanting the steak and potatoes of what's going on in the world, and instead just wanted to be fed the fluff and dribble.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizf8CxDBKRjCCGIvqtX0S9UTcX_C2bHcvT-ckxcbL_EpZ17E3959Y_xO-8y0Alr7IX-ul-MKKaJhRYAZU5lL7Q1sYZqdb486U0jPib1WEISOUTMFojppf8mdRMt4n9kZHur2FRKOem8QO8/s1600/Stupid-News--jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img alt="http://crapusa.blogspot.com" border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizf8CxDBKRjCCGIvqtX0S9UTcX_C2bHcvT-ckxcbL_EpZ17E3959Y_xO-8y0Alr7IX-ul-MKKaJhRYAZU5lL7Q1sYZqdb486U0jPib1WEISOUTMFojppf8mdRMt4n9kZHur2FRKOem8QO8/s200/Stupid-News--jpg.jpg" title="http://crapusa.blogspot.com" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I can understand the head coach of a major university team having a motorcycle crash is at least worth a mention on the news. But that's not what we got, we got 5 minutes about the crash, then 15 minutes about motorcycle safety. Never mind the dozens of other motorcycle crashes there have been, just lately, but oh my gosh coach has a wreck, so let's spend the whole news cast on it now.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I don't even care about the "inappropriate relationship", or that he lied to the media about having a girl on the bike with him. I don't give a crap about anyone who lies to the media, heck, I encourage it, the way the media is anymore. He didn't lie to the police, that would be a problem. He didn't lie under oath, like a certain president did. So he didn't tell people he had been having an affair, so what, the only people who's business that is would be his, hers, and his wife's. So he didn't tell his bosses, I wouldn't either. In fact, the only thing I can tell he really did wrong is leaving the scene of an accident.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpoBfoi_Rm1hY5nlnjxAgpuCM7hprlnrVgt3MxZYTIgdy82MukRrkdEnEdFrFzV_z8WfVS8-IJtiGRvRUJQVYvsR9lanvF71XPXNFsaquobzoUKaURrEU4hIO4XuB6J8ICz5-gYlcPr6J8/s1600/PETRINO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img alt="Gareth Patterson/Associated Press" border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpoBfoi_Rm1hY5nlnjxAgpuCM7hprlnrVgt3MxZYTIgdy82MukRrkdEnEdFrFzV_z8WfVS8-IJtiGRvRUJQVYvsR9lanvF71XPXNFsaquobzoUKaURrEU4hIO4XuB6J8ICz5-gYlcPr6J8/s200/PETRINO.jpg" title="Gareth Patterson/Associated Press" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Now, I'm not saying it shouldn't have been mentioned, maybe deserving 2 minutes if that. On the other hand, if the university didn't look into it, covered it up, or had not acted in the universities, and the states, best interest, then THAT would be news. So if Jeff Long has said he's looking into it, and it seems he is doing so, that should be the end of it till he makes a decision. Now if it seems that decision is against general public opinion, and that the university is allowing a sexual relationship in violation of the university HR polices, then THAT is news.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlkajK43dMN3VfNb-OYRSrYLNscHn2l8165s5s1qbC29vUOEf2415Im9MZBOTfrWS7Oo_dYif7t-63AfjSTNcshPnq9tAymgKfqjZ5gw1GJMSKGyJAsHqoWoIdG57dWxwX6kGn2tsvTqtZ/s1600/Breaking-the-Rules.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img alt="" border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlkajK43dMN3VfNb-OYRSrYLNscHn2l8165s5s1qbC29vUOEf2415Im9MZBOTfrWS7Oo_dYif7t-63AfjSTNcshPnq9tAymgKfqjZ5gw1GJMSKGyJAsHqoWoIdG57dWxwX6kGn2tsvTqtZ/s200/Breaking-the-Rules.jpg" title="http://check12check12.com" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In fact, as far as the Petrino issue goes, that's the ONLY thing, aside leaving the scene of an accident, he may have done worthy of the news. I don't think personal affairs (no pun intended) are worthy of the news. I understand there is a conduct clause in his contract, but that's between him and his bosses. But if he violated University HR policy, or if she got her current job because of his influence, that's another story. It's still up to the University to decide if he did violated their policies. If it seems he did, and they don't enforce the normal process for situations like this, then THAT is also news worthy. However, if it turns out he didn't violate any policies, or if he did, that he gets the same repercussions as others that have done the same thing, then it's not worthy of anything more then a mention in passing.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I'm somewhat on the fence about the conduct clause, really that's up to his bosses. But they will use public opinion to decide if they will use it to remove Petrino or not. And maybe precedence? I would like to know how they have reacted to others with similar contract in the same situation. That would be news worthy. If this has never happened before for someone with this clause, then I would say they have to follow public opinion. Since it's a public university. If it was a private school, that would be another matter.</span><br />
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<br />Doonzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06037484374336236456noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756358615538839338.post-38668124838829742602011-12-09T08:42:00.001-06:002011-12-09T09:13:44.786-06:00Movie Night: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtLAoFuWZJYis1Sq3B_3gNDYD24JUG_TkH3pV5iCacnDYkQuQ425mdCxAT4i_WSSYTkJJ2zBSukxrpdfwV6lej5p8XQLjXlfXMK8a1Q08wLtnNypBhfdtRD6AuQht8PG00v8nw439PVMhR/s1600/Harry+Potter+and+the+deathly+Hallows+part+2+movie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtLAoFuWZJYis1Sq3B_3gNDYD24JUG_TkH3pV5iCacnDYkQuQ425mdCxAT4i_WSSYTkJJ2zBSukxrpdfwV6lej5p8XQLjXlfXMK8a1Q08wLtnNypBhfdtRD6AuQht8PG00v8nw439PVMhR/s320/Harry+Potter+and+the+deathly+Hallows+part+2+movie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter_and_the_Deathly_Hallows_%E2%80%93_Part_2" target="_blank">Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2</a> I think is the best movie of them all, maybe it's because they've all come into their own, maybe it was the pacing, maybe the action. The special effects where top notch as well, really quite awesome even compared to the previous moves. But whatever it was, this was the best of the bunch. Seems the critics agree across the board as well, and it's rare I ever agree with the critics. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Finally the kids are not kids anymore, and all the sub-plots come to an end, course since it's the last one they had too. All the kids are finally treated as adults, and they fight dirty and hard. If you haven't read the books there are surprises after surprises. They almost waited too long, and the actors all had gotten just a little too much older, but it by no way took away from the movie. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This was by all mean a dark movie, and the series had moved away from being true "kids" stories books ago. It's ruff, it's gritty, most of the actors are dirty and injured somewhat during the whole movie. This movie had a great amount of attitude, and it made for an enjoyable experience. I may even watch it again</span>.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I do wonder how well it would come across to someone who hadn't seen the other movies or read the books. It doesn't spend any time with back story, but just jumps right into the current action. It assumes you already know the story. I think this movie would be 10x better if watched right after the other 7. The amazing thing about this series is that it's the only big budget, blockbuster movie series to feature 8 movies total, all comprising one long story. The closest Epic would be Starwars at 6, and they were made out of order, and the feel and quality from the first three to the last three were vastly different. However I can't say all the Harry Potter movies were perfect either, Part 1 of the Deathly Hollows really let me down, it was far too slow, it feels like 80% of the story and goodness was in part 2, but they had too much for a single movie. So Part 1 got 20% content, and 80% fluff</span>.Doonzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06037484374336236456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756358615538839338.post-67274018823929717382011-12-03T16:48:00.001-06:002011-12-03T18:39:38.931-06:00Bullying in the modern age....and why kids die.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTSbk50I99AYgbAtGHv-5y0t77HHYKtqrko2Bc8u1p2ROfEVs-QRX1C7habEDLj_4vsqMYPCbi__EXY92MroMTbpOww91yfqfKLNO0elXeTrm2AOxRfOtlYyUFNdjoYC9ofwKevHknxc-/s1600/bullying-kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTSbk50I99AYgbAtGHv-5y0t77HHYKtqrko2Bc8u1p2ROfEVs-QRX1C7habEDLj_4vsqMYPCbi__EXY92MroMTbpOww91yfqfKLNO0elXeTrm2AOxRfOtlYyUFNdjoYC9ofwKevHknxc-/s320/bullying-kids.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullying" target="_blank">Bullying</a> is nothing new. As long as there have been kids bigger then other kids, and as long as there has been kids who needed to make others feel small to make themselves feel big, there has been bullying. I'm not really completely sure if bullying is getting worse, in fact I believe it maybe getting somewhat better then in the past, the difference is how the bullied react as apposed to the past.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Here are some <a href="http://behavioral-management.com/bullying-statistics" target="_blank">Bullying Statistics</a> you might find interesting. You can follow the link to get the full rundown, but here's a summary. 60% of kids feel bullied, but only 16% of staff at schools feel kids are bullied. Right off the bat we see one of the big problems. Denial by the institutions we send our kids to. The thing is, most bullies have figured out how to do what they do where staff can't see. Out of sight, out of mind. Another problem is many school bullies are not the rough lugs they later become, but in school they are often well liked by the teachers, and are often involved in school sports and other programs. (However the statistics above show they often end up in jail, and even become life time criminals) The staff sees them as outstanding students, but once a teachers back is turned they become monsters.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And the more they get away with it, the more they do it, because they can. They don't pick on just the small, "nerdy" kids, they study the pack and figure out the ones the staff DOESN'T like, and are less likely to believe. Or the ones they can scare to the point they would never tell. The entire school system is prone to ignoring the pleas of "problem" students. When it comes down to the word of the "popular, well liked" student, and the "outcast", who is most often believed? I've seen bullying ENCOURAGED in school by certain staff if it was their star players or students picking on the non-popular kids. Bullies become teachers too, and let it go on under their noses sometimes, it's what they did when THEY were in school and think it's the right of the "upper crust" to keep the "under crust" in it's place.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">25% of students felt staff did something when there was bullying, 71% of staff believed they did something. Once again it goes to show just how little the staff of our schools really know and understand what's going on around them. 66% of school shootings have had bullying as a factor. So why has bullying turned so deadly in the last 20-30 years or so??? It's always been there, but why are the bullied now bringing guns to school to settle the score??</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The question is a complex one, but one of the main reasons I feel we are seeing an increase in retaliation against bullies and other kids in schools is because of pride and self worth. These aren't a bad thing in and of themselves, but can turn deadly when things are brushed under the rug because it's just "kids". Kids are growing up faster then ever, adults know if they attack other adults there's a chance someone is going to die. But with kids it's assumed it won't get to that point... but why is that??? What makes people think that just because they are kids that they won't try and react as an adult would? Kids are often taking care of themselves now at an early age, having to grow up and learn how to be responsible. Mom and Dad are often at work now, because people just can't live on single incomes anymore. Or even as often, it's a single parent trying to provide like a couple would. Long hours, late nights, and often kids are learning faster, and taking on more at an early age.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In the past, kids who were bullied might try and fight back, till one time they won. Or they might have just taken it, and grown up to be the timid and picked on adult. But the path of just giving in, and letting the bully win is becoming harder and harder for kids to swallow, they have more self worth than that now, and won't live like that. If they can't beat them back with their fist, and if they feel the school or the parents aren't doing anything, they will take care of it themselves. Somehow they will make it stop. However they can. And the next thing you know you have dead bullies. And often others as well, sometimes it's also the kids who stood around and laughed, or just the one's who watched and did nothing who get the busy end of the gun pointed their way. Sometimes it's just random people, because NO ONE helped or did anything to stop the pain. So everyone must pay. Bullying doesn't cause just physical damage, but emotional damage as well. Deep un-healing wounds in some.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The biggest problem is the old school thinking that it's just "kids being kids". It's just simply not that simple anymore, beaten down kids no longer have to stay on the ground eating dirt. It may ruin their own lives, and others as well, but they know they don't HAVE to just take it, if no one else can or will, they can make it stop. They don't have to let someone else make them feel like nothing, make them a laughing stock. They will show them, show them ALL!! And the next thing you know kids are dead.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">If schools would just change their thinking it could almost all be avoided. Zero tolerance schools are a good start, but everyone has to make stopping the bullying priority number one. Not even one singe kid should have to live in fear, or should have to be made to feel less then anyone else because of the others ability to "beat them up, or put them down". And if the schools react, and take care of the problems, then no one has to die. They have to be proactive, not every kid is going to report bullying, some will fear retaliation, humiliation, or not being believed. Schools are great about treating students in disrespectful ways, and ignoring what they don't want to deal with.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Parents also need to try and make sure their kids feel safe coming to them with these kinds of things. Parents don't get the chance like teachers do to see it happening, but if your kids are comfortable sharing with you, then they should let you know if this kind of stuff is going on. Sometimes it still may be to embarrassing for the child to admit. Then look for signs of wanting to avoid school, or certain people in school. Depression and sadness could also be hints. If your kid comes to you, or if you suspect, you MUST do something, drastic if need be. If the school won't do anything, pull your kid out of school and demand a review of the board, go to the papers, raise hell. Let your kid know YOU care, even if no one else does, and that it won't be tolerated!!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And for the 33% of school shootings that AREN'T bullying related? In part you can blame the media, not directly, but indirectly. If a kid is thinking of taking their own life, what better way to be remembered for all time then by going down in a blaze of glory? And they may not have been bullied, but often they are outcast, tormented by other student in other ways then physical, sometimes just by exclusion. Then you add in a broken heart, hurt feelings, rejection, or other extreme emotional pain and there is no telling what crazy stuff a kid might do. Almost all either take their own life directly, or do "suicide by cop". Often after taking as many of their tormentors, or random victims, along as possible. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">There isn't much you can do about the emotionally unstable. Almost all teenagers could be considered to fall into the category at one time or another. But you can try and pay as much attention to the triggers of these types of behaviors as possible. You can't stop hurt feelings, and you can't stop teenagers breaking each others hearts, but you can stop the bullying and tormenting. Zero tolerance, even from staff, and a policy of dismissal of any staff that doesn't act on knowledge of possible bullying or tormenting, is a great first step. The best way to make sure people are paying attention is to make sure that not paying attention has too high a cost to risk it. Because in the end it does, for everyone. Unforgivably the death of many kids hasn't been enough cost for the institutions yet, but maybe hitting their wallet would serve better?</span><br />
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<br />Doonzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06037484374336236456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756358615538839338.post-36020345130700885962011-12-01T11:24:00.001-06:002011-12-01T12:28:19.890-06:00From the ashes sometimes Rises the Phoenix<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So many people walk around blind to the truth and brainwashed beyond reason. And far too many walk around claiming to the world how they, and only they, walk in the light, while everything they do cast a shadow across all of mankind. In questions of good and evil, they believe they serve the forces of good, while their actions and all they do sows the seeds of evil. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I walked on the....er... wild side from about 15-27. Aside from murder, theft from individuals, and violent crimes, I've pretty much done it. I was raised very middle class, Christian, and conservative. There is nothing wrong with any of these things, except that all too often it becomes a trap. People seem to start thinking it's the ONLY way, and any other way is wrong, sinful, or criminal. Not that there are not other classes, or views, that do exactly the same thing, but I can only speak to what I know.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">My walk "outside" the norms I was raised into really opened my eyes to just how much more there is in the world other then the "truths" I knew and had always been taught. Even though that period of my life was a wild roller coaster ride, I've never regretted a moment of it, or the people I met or the experiences I had, even when they were unpleasant. I've seen the roughest, toughest, most tattoo'd man show the greatest kindnesses I've ever known. Or I've seen those with nothing, give all the have to help another. I've seen those who claim to hate God act more like Christ then any preacher I've ever known. And I've seen the reverse as well. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In my adventures I never harmed another person, except maybe myself at times, is some peoples opinion at least. I never saw any of it as harm, but experiences to help me grow, and expanding of my limited viewpoint. I tried anything that was different, or outside the "norm". I never shied away from any...aids.... in expanding the reality I knew, and tried everything I could get my hands on at least once. If it was a boundary, I crossed it. If it was a wall I climbed it. If it was a door, I opened it. And would do it all again without reservations. All these experiences added up to the person I became, the man I am. And I like this person I am, I'm comfortable in my own skin, and I'm proud of my traveled soul. And I owe it all to throwing away preconceived notions and finding my OWN truths, not another's truths. And the only way to find, is to look EVERYWHERE, if you don't then you haven't looked at all. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I did return more to the values and...calmness... of my early life. I settled down when Race was born, when I was 27. Now my wife says she married "boring" Justin...LOL. She sometimes wishes I still had some of that wild streak, but I'm pretty tame anymore. I sowed my wild oats, and loved every minute of it. But it took too much effort, and was far to hard to be stable while adventuring. Adventuring, and steady work, often conflict. You have to be free to live free, and things like work and money have to take a back seat to the thrill of new experiences, people, and situations. But when you have a family to provide for, the priorities change, at least for me. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I'm still as open minded as ever, and I will always have my broadened horizons. There were nights (it always seemed to be nights) of my life where after the fires died down, I emerged forever a changed person, shaped and tempered by the flames. And maybe a little singed around the edges, but all for the better. Those things changed me forever, and I am now cooled down and molded, but of soft supple steel that can bend and give, not cast of brittle and unmovable iron. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What I've learned in my travels is that there really is no good in black or white, but the world is really best when full of shades of gray. The best place to be is astride the line running down the Yin-Yang, because moving too far from the middle blinds and warps a mind and soul. Some of the greatest evils ever visited upon the earth were done in the name of "good", and some of the most evil intentions have resulted in great "goodness". But once you wander too much from the middle, nothing but pain and misery follow, if not of the one who wandered, then for others, often many others. Sometimes the whole world. All things are best in balance....all things!!!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I'm not saying my methods would, or even should, work for everyone, or really anyone else. It was my path, and my path alone, even while I shared it awhile with others. Some of those others I've also seen changed and molded by our experiences, and mostly for the better. But it wasn't a path for the weak minded or weak souled, some people are consumed or warped by the flames. You see them sometimes, the broken, the "burned out", the corrupted. Some of the worst become the users, destroyers, the ones we think of as evil, those that have wondered far from the balance. The ones for whom violence is the only answer, or taking what should be others for themselves, the greedy, the lost. Those that climb to the top on the broken backs of others they used up and tossed aside. You see them from the back alleys of the meanest streets, to the offices of wall street, to capitol hill. The warped and lost are not by any means cast to the bottom of society, they also rise to the top..... I often wonder what that says about society as a whole???</span>Doonzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06037484374336236456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8756358615538839338.post-67464729217879781082011-11-25T02:18:00.001-06:002011-11-25T05:04:45.530-06:00Move Night: Super 8<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Maybe it's<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._J._Abrams" target="_blank"> J.J. Abrams</a> as director, or maybe <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Spielberg" target="_blank">Steven Spielberg</a> as producer. Maybe it's just brilliantly written, casted, and acted. But this is one of the the best movies I've seen in a very long time. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_8_(film)" target="_blank">Super 8</a> is "Stand by Me" meets "The Goonies" meets "The Sandlot". With aliens. I give it a A+. It's your standard coming of age, early teen, "nerdy boy gets hot girl" movie, but with a heart and soul, and characters that move you. Set in 79 it falls story wise after "Stand" before "Goonies" and right around "Sandlot."<br /><br /> The acting in this movie was really great, or once again, maybe just really well directed. There was one scene that will forever stand out for me. It's where Alice is asking Joe how to "play" a Zombie. Then she's looking at him just normal like, and the "zombie" comes over her. She "attacks" him, abet in slow motion, ending with a bite on the neck. Then she draws back and goes back to normal Alice. This almost made the hair stand up on the back of my head, the way her expression slowly changes, and her eyes....it's amazing acting. I think the whole scene was to show off just how good <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elle_Fanning" target="_blank">Elle Fanning</a> really is. Since this is a movie, in part, about making a movie, there's another scene they really let her go to town on. It's her first scene in the boys movie, and she's to play the wife. They do a "run through" of the scene, and she just really nails it. You really feel like she's feeling it. Keep an eye out for this girl, she's going places. She's been in quite a bit of films already, but I think she's just coming into her own now.<br /><br /> Not to say the other actors, kids as they might be, are slouches. Most of these guys did a really good job, you can really get into some of them, Joe, Alice, and Charles really shine. Most of the rest of the cast, with the exception of Joe's dad Jac, take a back seat. I think all of them are solid performers in the film, the supporting cast really didn't get enough meat on the characters to really judge their talent. But there was no "bad" acting in my opinion, but with sketchy characters is can be hard to tell what's by design and what's by accident. I did feel the "sexy sister" was hammed up a bit, but that may have been design, and no fault of the actress. The video store clerk, mainly a plot device to get the kids from one scene to another, was also a bit awkward. I think it was the writing, not the acting. He was more a plot device, like the "sexy sister", then a character, they just needed to give him enough flesh to explain him, but they didn't really flesh him out enough I felt, but it worked. Movies are time limited.<br /> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> It's got a sweet "like" story going on behind the scenes (too young and innocent to be a "love" story), but it addresses deep issues in it's plot. It shakes a finger at human kind and it's fear of the unknown, it shakes a finger at blame, and guilt. As Sci-Fi as the film is, that's almost just a backdrop for this character driven story. It never goes into the Sci-Fi parts, just touches on them in passing. There is no science here at all, nothing is explained. It's not science fiction, but human fiction. It can be a bit campy at times, but unlike in many movies, it all fits with the feel of the movie. If this movie is lacking anything it's the character development could go even deeper and spread wider exploring more of the cast. But J.J. Abrams is always good at pacing, and this moves seems to have that great balance of pace, dialog, and action that makes a good story a great movie. This story would make a great book, then the characters could really be explored.<br /><br /> You see the love("like") story coming a mile off. The plot twist that explains an early scene, and the "Romeo and Juliet" type unexplained hatred between the two fathers, is foreshadowed and no surprise if your paying attention. I think it would have been better served WITHOUT the foreshadowing, I think it would have hit harder, but no one asked me. Anymore, most of us have seen so many movies, and read so many books, there's isn't much new in stories anyway. But just because you see it coming doesn't lessen the impact, or take away from the moment it is revealed. It's even kinda sweet and touching once it unfolds, even though for pacing it's quickly glossed over.. I must admit the scene with the two fathers facing their issues is really good, not because of how big and grand it is, but because of how much it's not. How small and down-to-earth it is.<br /> <br /> I must say, one of the things I think I like most about this movie, is how "real" it is. There are a few scenes that seem kinda out there, but mostly is seem like what would happen to normal people, in a normal town, on a normal day. Well, if a very angry, bad ass, alien is set free on that normal day. And it doesn't seem that far fetched to me at all, none of it. It's much like "Stand by Me" and "The Sandlot" that way. And the outlandish parts are not that far off what we see in "The Goonies". It is a touch scarier then the other movies in a few parts, and has a scene or two of gore on the bus. It also has a bit of cussing by the kids, not constant, and mostly justified, but it's there.<br /><br /> If you liked those other films, you'll like Super 8, if you didn't, well then you might not like this one either. I will say "The Sandlot" and "The Goonies" are in my top 20 FAVORITE movies of all time, if not in the top 10. "Stand by Me" wouldn't make my top 20, personally. But if I was to list the GREATEST movies, not just my favorites, it would rank in the top 20. I think I'm a romantic at heart, without the underlying "love" story I just doesn't make the list. And in this one they don't even kiss, or show their growing regard in any physical way, till the very last moment of the movie, then it's very, very tame. This had made the list however, my personal top 10 FAVORITES. It would be in the running on the GREATEST list as well.<br /><br /> And all with a no-name cast.... of course most good "kid" movies are....</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #f9f9f9;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span></span>Doonzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06037484374336236456noreply@blogger.com0