Wet Willie Wednesday

And we're off to another fun start this Wednesday morning!

Fiesta At Your Own Risk
Mexican officials have warned U.S. citizens to "stay home". Recent deaths, attacks and kidnappings in Mexico have prompted the government to warn tourists about these hazards, and recommend they not expose themselves. With presidential and regional elections going on, the focus on tourism has been pushed to the back of the donkey.

Stiff Warnings
Overseas doctors are issuing urgent warnings to users of drugs like Viagra and Cyalis. They warn users should contact their doctors immediately if they experience vision problems during use of the drugs. The lawsuit-enhancing warning gives a whole new meaning to the old phrase "Careful, or you'll go blind."

From the "Who Cares?" Department
O.J. Simpson is back in court. This time "The Juice" was caught stealing cable satellite and was ordered by a judge to pay $25 thousand in fines. While it's not murder, you still have to wonder what channels he was snatching that racked up the big bill.

Small Town Perils

Once again a bunch of kids died in a traffic accident. They were going too fast, the kid at the wheel shouldn't have had more than 1 or 2 passengers with him because of his age, it was a dangerous curve, - whatever. They're dead.More than that, they're dead and they were local kids with parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, cousins, and friends. Now they are no more.The headline in the paper read "Families Mourn Goodview Teens". Yeah, we kinda figured that. Let's be a bit more informative. The headline should have read "Community Mourns Goodview Teens". I think we all know why.

Having moved here from Houston, TX, I used to wonder why the news made such a big deal when someone from the area died. Local television news would actually mention a person's name, the location of the accident, they'd interview people about it, and I was shocked this was going on. The paper would mention the accident, name names and locations, and give the story it's own spot. Wow.

Back in Houston, all traffic deaths for the day before were neatly summarized into a one, or two-line sentence in the paper if they were mentioned. On television they rarely got mentioned. It took an accident of epic and delaying proportions to make news in the big city. If the accident didn't involve hazardous chemicals, blazing fires, vehicle pile-ups, and major interstate closings, then it wasn't newsworthy. Such is not the case in our community.

Last year when a friend's nephew committed suicide, I suddenly realized why seemingly common deaths get so much attention. Everyone here is family. It doesn't immediately matter how someone died. It matters that they're gone. Everyone feels the hurt. Death is death no matter where you go, but the effect it has are so much more powerful here because everyone cares about everyone else despite the bickering, political views and racial tensions.

I didn't know the four teenagers that died in the Goodview accident, but I still feel the pain from their deaths. Although I prefer no one had died, I'm glad I live in a community that cares enough to mourn the deaths of its citizens. I suppose this is one of the perils of living in a small community, but I'll gladly take my risks.

Don't Ask, Don't Spell

A couple of interesting things happened this morning when I checked the Times at 8:50 a.m.
They must have been in the middle of a web update because when the page finally came up, it was the same story in two columns. At least, it was pieces of a story in two colums, and everything was off-center and jumbled to one side. The crisis finally went away when I hit the magic green circular arrows on my browser and refreshed the page. That's when I read this morning's stories and headlines.

The lead story mentioned the "Virginia Property Rights Coalition" and they'd misspelled the word coalition. Not just in the story, but in the very bold headline. I was stunned.
The reason I was stunned was because the Times, misspellings, and I have a little history.

In the past, time permitting, I've perused through as much of the Times website and found half a dozen spelling and grammar errors. I took the time to email the editor, a few other key people, and even their web people to bring it to their attention. I was courteous and respectful about it in my email (almost ashamed) but I felt I'd done my civic duty. I had that feeling you get when you tell one of your friends his fly is open. You want them to know, but you don't want them to think you're some sort of perverted crotch-watcher.

It's a good thing I didn't hold my breath for a pat on the back, or some sort of acknowledgement to my email. I never got so much as a "Thanks!" or "We appreciate your note" or anything of the sort. I guess they were afraid I might find mistakes in their notes, too.

I wasn't trying to throw their mistakes in their face because Heaven knows I make more than my share of spelling and grammar errors. (See?) I just thought they'd like to know. Well, they fixed the errors after about 30 minutes, but I never got a note from anyone. Oh, how the true colors shine in the bright light that is humility!

So today, rather than point out their little error, I decided to keep the knowledge to myself and let the ingrates bask in their spellcheck-devoid deadline of a life. I did print the page and filed it for later when I kick back and wonder how I helped to make a difference. I'll look at it, and remind myself how sometimes it's better to let your neighbor walk around with his fly open because it may prove to be more interesting than having him close up shop.

07.15.05 - Friday

Friday snuck up on me completely! I hadn't realized it was the weekend until my coworker mentioned it. My mind registered a vague feeling of Wednesday or Thursday when I got to work this morning, for some reason.

This week probably flew by because I've been so worried about not having money, and about still having to pay bills. There should be some sort of law where you shouldn't have to pay your bills if you're broke. Can we start that? Thanks, that would be great. "Hey, Ford Motors, lemme get back to ya. Yeah, dead broke this month. Thaaaanks."
Shyeah, right.

I had a recent roadside mishap that set me back $500 and as a result threw all my bills limbo. My bank account is currently a joke at $35 in the negative, and I don't know where it'll be by next Friday when my direct deposit finally goes in. I still have no idea how I'm going to get all my bills paid. I feel I should be pulling my hair out trying to figure out how I'm going to get my expenses under control, but I've been too busy playing with my new cell phone from T-Mobile.

The New Toy
Ladies, and gentlemen, I give you (for $319.00) the new and improved T-Mobile "Sidekick II". This little gadget features a tiny "qwerty" keyboard, a flip-style color screen, and all the functionality of a cell phone, digital camera, personal digital assistant, real web browser and chat messenger all wrapped into one. This new toy has all but replaced my notebook computer at work, and I can't believe how incredibly handy it is to have around. I haven't worked out the details of how I'm going to pay for it yet, but I just can't put it down long enough to worry. The total cost was added to my phone bill which is due next month, so I have all that time to come up with something. (Procrastinators unite!)
But, to be honest, I think this tiny gadget has been my saving grace during this past week. I've been so wrapped up in its functions and features that I didn't have time to feel depressed about being short on funds. I didn't have time to dwell on the fact I'm thirty-five dollars overdrawn at the bank. I didn't have time to stress about the fact I missed my car payment for the very first time.

Who says electronics aren't therapeutic? I may not have the solution to my financial problems, but it's a vastly fascinating electronic world of blissful denial here. And I like it.

"Deprivation" - Shyeah, right.

I think I've scrolled past the overly-done "No Soda Challenge" enough. Is it over yet? Can we move on? I mean, honestly! A thirty-day "no-soda" challenge? Big deal. I think my kid sister did that for Lent last year. Are they really that bored at the Roanoke Times?

Why not do something most of us have always been curious to challenge ourselves with? How about 30 days with no television? Maybe 30 days with no home computer? How about 30 days without sex? Well, scratch that one. Most of us are already living that challenge.

Okay, better yet, how about 30 days of daily sex? I bet that would be a challenge. The rules would be simple. You keep the same partner, it HAS TO BE once in a 24-hour timespan. Location, and other unmentionable details would be up to the discretion of the "challenged" couple.

I know most of us guys brag about how we could have sex everyday if it were possible, but I have a feeling we're more talk than anything else. My theory is we'd probably get bored if we had to have sex everyday,... day-after-day,... with the same person,... over and over.

Hmmm... I'm getting images of Al and Peggy Bundy on Married With Children.

I'd love to hear what you think about this.