Today is World Aids Day 2008.

Dec 01, 2008 in Announcements, World News

Image via Wikipedia

I don’t have aids, nor do I personally even know anyone who does. (I am a big rent fan though, of which aids was mentioned quite a bit).

I would just like to ask that everyone take a few moments today to offer up a prayer to all of those who’ve been hurt by this disease. Also don’t judge those who have the disease as evil, many people still associate the disease with immoral acts, but aids is as often transferred by mother to child, or unfaithful spouse to spouse, or through rape, and a plethora of other ways as it is through immoral activity of the victim.

Take a moment today to watch the movie Rent, or just think about the disease, and maybe even think of a way you can help, whether it’s via volunteering, donating money, etc.

Just my two cents on World Aids Day. Not really a holiday to celebrate - yet(maybe someday), but one to be ponderous of, and to take a moment to remember those who’ve died from it, and to say a prayer of thanksgiving that you don’t have it.

I also hope everyone had a wonderful weekend - Thanksgiving was yummy. Lots and lots of turkey, mmm…. I could go it again.

Blackfriday was a nightmare as always, and I’m looking forward to Cyber-Monday.

The Tragic Side of Web 2.0 / Progress…

Nov 21, 2008 in General News Topics, Social Media

Image by Matthew Stewart (aramisfirefly) via Flickr

New Media can be Bloody at Times

Social media and all encompassing ‘new media’ is a boon of opportunity, it’s a way to socialize without even leaving the home for many. It is a way to build relationships with people in different lands.

Many have also embraced New Media to share the many aspects of their lives. From the birth of a new child as Robert Scoble, and This Guy did, via twitter; to the suffering of people.

To the joys of a nation embracing change, amidst a changing the world (yeah I’m talking about the election, duh!)

As Tony Hung of Deep Jive Interests put it quite poigantly:

The “new” web is more than the spectacle of the crushingly banal or the bruisingly idiotic, and like it or lump it, it will probably catalogue the depth and breadth of the human experience in a way that’s never been done before.

Which brings us to the Tragic Side of Web 2.0.

It was reported today that a young man took his life, while streaming it live on Justin.tv.

Justin.tv being a video service which streams content live. This may be one of the first suicides committed on live internet tv, but I doubt it will be the last.

I’m sure there will also come a day when serial killers torture, rape, and kill their victims whilst letting the whole world watch.

Let’s pray that it doesn’t get that bad, and lets pray that if that day comes, that we won’t be so base to not even acknowledge it as newsworthy.

Breaking News: Magnitude 7.8 Earthquake hits California..

Nov 13, 2008 in General News Topics

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 12: A film produce...

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

At 10am today the Great Southern California Shake Out will take place, in which organizations across SoCal will pretend that there has been a magnitude 7.8 earthqake on the Southern San Andreas fault-line.

According to officials:

“In an earthquake of this size, the shaking will last for nearly two minutes. The strongest shaking will occur near the fault (in the projected earthquake, the Coachella Valley, Inland Empire and Antelope Valley). Pockets of strong shaking will form away from the fault where sediments trap the waves (in the projected earthquake, it would occur in the San Gabriel Valley and in East Los Angeles).”

“An earthquake of this size will cause unprecedented damage to Southern California—greatly dwarfing the massive damage that occurred in Northridge’s 6.7-magnitude earthquake in 1994. In summary, the ShakeOut Scenario estimates this earthquake will cause some 2,000 deaths, 50,000 injuries, $200 billion in damage and other losses, and severe, long-lasting disruption. The report has regional implications and is a dramatic call to action for preparedness.”

It is estimated that more than 5 million people will be taking place in this earthquake drill that may be the largest in history.

Click here for a page that tells you how to prepare yourself, families, business, and schools.

Of God and Universal Healthcare… Why God Approves!

Nov 12, 2008 in Community Action, Faith, LDS / Mormon, Politics & Community News, Religion

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I’ve had many people stating that they don’t know where God says Universal healthcare is a freedom, or where it’s mentioned in the constitution, or how it related.

Here’s my view: First off I’m lds / mormon a christian denomination founded by Joseph Smith in 1830.

For all those politicians, business men, republicans, etc who are against Universal Healthcare - I suggest that you are also against the Bible.

Here’s the scriptural support for Universal Healthcare:
Matthew Chapter 25, Verses 34-46
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his aright hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or a thirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

I submit that - to deny someone medical care is to cast them aside and is un-christian.

Christianity has no room for hypocrites and if you do not support Healthcare for all people, then you have no business saying you are a Christian.

There are people suffering with Cancer, Leukemia, Heart Disease, and all manner of common, and rare diseases. Many cannot afford the health care they need, many show up in the ER which costs 10 times more than a normal doctor, and helps raise the overall cost of healthcare across the board.

Write your congressmen, and senators and let them know that they cannot go on being hypocrites and call themselves Christians and expect to be believed if they go on not supporting Universal Healthcare. After all your congressmen and senators have the best health care our Government can afford, of course they may not care about universal health care.

We may have won a huge victory with Obama getting elected as he favors a more universal plan - but the fight isn’t over yet. Keep fighting, and spread the word!

Some great websites to check out about Universal Healthcare include:

Veteran’s Day 2008 - Give a Veteran a Hug Today!

Nov 11, 2008 in Community Action, General News Topics

Happy Veteran’s Day 2008.

Image by horizontal.integration via Flickr

Do you know the history of Veteran’s Day? If not sit down, as I tell you a bit about the history.

Veteran’s Day was originally called Armistice day celebrating the end of the first world war on November 11th, 1918.

In the 1950s, it was changed to a day to honor all veterans of America.

Many veterans have, and continue to give their lives so that we can claim the supreme privilege of having our freedom.

We should each take a moment today to sit in silence, and think of the many sacrifices of the Veterans who have given their life for this country.

As a believe in this country I honor and support our veterans and soldiers. I don’t support the reason they are fighting, I don’t support the Iraq war, but I do support our veterans. Today is their day. Tell a veteran that you know - how much their sacrifice has meant to you.