Joshua Horwitz, Executive Director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence had this to say:
"Our condolences go to the victims of today's shooting in Germany. Americans -- with the impact of Columbine still emblazoned on our national conscience -- know all too well the pain that the German people are going through today. No community, in no nation anywhere in the world, should have to endure such gruesome acts of violence and death."

Philip Morris Hasn't Changed - As Company Adopts New Name, It Blames Parents Rather Than Its Own Advertising For Youth Smoking

The First Three Months of 2002 were the Warmest in 1,000 Years
Charles Clover writes in the London Telegraph, "The first three months of this year were the warmest globally since records began in 1860 and probably for 1,000 years, scientists said yesterday. Dr Geoff Jenkins, director of the Meteorological Office's Hadley Center, said the record on land and sea was consistent with computer predictions of the effects of man-made global warming. The three months were about 0.71C warmer than the average for 1961 to 1990, itself the warmest period for 1,000 years according to ice-core analysis, he added. The record warm period was the more remarkable because there was no sign of the cyclical El Nino in the tropics, which has attended the succession of record warmest years in the past decade."

Moe and Jen

Credit to David Horsey

J.Lo wears short shorts, Britney chokes under the pressure, Sandra Bullock makes a killing .... Say what? The fashion Police tells us who is fine and who should be fined.

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"The Osbournes" Set MTV Cable Record
"Heavy metal pioneer Ozzy Osbourne, wife Sharon and kids Jack and Kelly continue to break records for MTV, as Tuesday's episode of the reality smash pulled in 7.8 million viewers--the most-watched series ever on the cable network."

That to me is amazing, maybe I'm out of touch but I've never watched the show and do not care to. Most TV watching to me is chewing gum for the mind. Although I enjoy the Discovery and History channels my time in front of the TV is usually an exercise in channel hopping. Besides, This week is Turn off your TV week, an event that is being officially observed by yours truly.

DNC Launches "Every Vote Counts" Voter Registration Drive
Newsday reports, "Democrats Wednesday kicked off a national voter registration drive in Manhattan and urged voters not to forget the outcome of the 2000 presidential election. 'This country belongs to you, but you have to claim it,' Clinton told the cheering crowd gathered outside of New York University for the noontime rally. 'We would win big for our side if all of you voted.' The Democratic kickoff of 'Every Vote Counts' is part of a national effort to court people of color, particularly African Americans and Latinos, who could be key to Democrats taking control of the House and the Senate this fall. Across the country, Democrats also launched voter registration drives at immigration and naturalization ceremonies and historically black colleges...

Gossip?
"Gossip is the human equivalent of 'social grooming' among primates, which has been shown to stimulate production of endorphins, relieving stress and boosting the immune system. Two-thirds of all human conversation is gossip, because this 'vocal grooming' is essential to our social, psychological and physical well-being. Mobiles facilitate gossip. Mobiles have increased and enhanced this vital therapeutic activity, by allowing us to gossip 'anytime, anyplace, anywhere' and to text as well as talk. Mobile gossip is an effective and important new stress-buster."

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Hey ya'll, the artists formerly known as ... uh, I mean ...Prince is Back

Rays of Inspiration [ No. 3 of a series]

Learn from past experiences
We often get into ruts, caught up in habits and patterns that are not useful. We keep doing the same things, fighting the same alligators, struggling with the same weaknesses, repeating the same mistakes. I have been down that route. We don't stop to ask ourselves: what can I learn from last year that will keep me from essentially repeating errors of the past.

The value of the past is not limited to what we do in it but also in what we learn and have become as a result. I suppose that is why self-evaluation is always an important thing. "What I like about experiences" wrote C.S. Lewis "is that it is such an honest thing ... you may deceive yourself, but expreience is not trying to deceive you".

Google adds another service Live Researchers answer your questions on any topic for a fee.

Google, call me if you need to add another researcher to the team. I'm available... part time of course.


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Stating The Obvious
Govt. Report Finds No Evidence That Abstinence-Only Counseling Prevents Teen Sex, Pregnancy, Disease
"The abstinence-only initiative, created in the 1996 welfare overhaul, has caused heated debate because it bars any discussion of condoms or birth control other than to explain their limitations ...There still is no evidence whether programs that push sexual abstinence prevent teen sex, pregnancy or disease, the government reported, as Congress debates whether to renew an abstinence-only initiative."

The abstinence-only idea has been preached for generations, obviously is has never worked ... Put the money into programs that teach pregnancy prevention, safe sex etc. It's foolish to think that the majority of people are going to stop doing something that Mother Nature intended for us to do. Let's deal with reality.

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Rehash
Interestingly, people have sex for all sorts of reasons, such as love and respect, caring, lust, attraction, curiosity, too much alcohol and the old tried and true it-just-seemed-like-a-good-idea-at-the-time. That is reality. Sometimes 'the sexual act' is 'just a physical one'. I suppose that humans are wired accordingly, so the truth of the matter becomes which direction will you choose (or have you chosen). Reality has also proven that most people prefer to sample all of the above.

New items on the list of foods that may cause cancer: French Fries and Bread ...Oy!

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New York has a new Protector

Vast Oil Stores Put Caspian Sea on the Political Map



In this original report, Paul Roberts (ABC News) writes a thought provoking article on how the amount of crude in this area is shifting the global oil dynamics.

Rightwing Heritage Foundation Now Spends $1 Million Year to 'Train' Mainstream Journalists
They call it "Database 101" and claim it's merely a way to train mainstream journalists in the art of "fact-finding". Seems like a ploy designed to indoctrinate journalists into the "right" way of thinking.

Sure, they claim it's strictly nonpartisan. But take a look at the guy who's running it ... a former top Reagan spin doctor.

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NY Gov. Pataki Looking for Independence Party Nomination
"It is my hope, my honor and my intention to have the support of the Independence Party this fall. It is an honor I will fight for," Pataki wrote in a letter to Independence Party leaders."

He understands that the democratic nominees are going to give him a tough run (they will indeed). He also realizes that unless he wins with more than 55%, his victory will not do much to enhance his national reputation.

What about my expectations and aspirations as a New Yorker? Am I satisfied with his record? Absolutely not.

This Man is thinking along the same lines.
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R.I.P.
The woman once known as Linda Lovelace, star of a 1972 X-rated movie ["Deep Throat"] that became a phenomenon in the world of smut, died in a Denver hospital yesterday from injuries received in a car crash almost three weeks ago. Linda Boreman, 53, of Aurora, Colo., died at 2:53 p.m. at the Denver Health Medical Center after being brought in April 3 with massive injuries, a hospital spokesman said.

Brothers to Another Planet

by Erik Baard Via Village Voice.com

(illustration: Patrick Arrasmith)

"Of the roughly 6400 astronomers in America, two dozen are black. Facing that and similar voids in its astronaut pool and engineering base, NASA is sponsoring the fledgling City University of New York space science program to draw bright college students into its ranks, but more surprisingly, it's reaching down into junior high and grade school to spark black kids into thinking about getting fitted for a space suit. NASA began after-school programs last week in Brooklyn for junior high school kids to study the science they'll need to be part of the space program decades down the line." [LINK]

Lisa Bonet will skip the "Cosby Show Reunion".

"I was not feeling the love. It was a take-it-or-leave it, with-or-without-you offer, and I felt devalued and disrespected," Bonet told People magazine, adding that the idea of the reunion and "the energy behind it felt disingenuous and motivated by corporate profit."

Right Wing Stupidity
Karen Taylor, a criminal justice professor at Alabama State University, was pulled over and given a ticket for going 51mph in a 35mph zone. Fair enough. But then, in a fit of conservative small-mindedness, the cop proceeded to give Taylor a ticket for covering the word "Dixie" on her license plate. Alabama's criminal code requires that all license plates have a representation of a heart and the words "Heart of Dixie" on them. Taylor, an African-American, covered the word "Dixie" ten years ago to protest the song's racist heritage - she has paid the $118 speeding ticket, but is fighting the tag violation.

Earth Day 2002 is Monday, April 22, the 32nd annual observance.

"All individuals and institutions have a mutual responsibility to act as Trustees of Earth, seeking the choices in ecology, economics and ethics that will eliminate pollution, poverty and violence, foster peaceful progress, awaken the wonder of life, and realize the best potential for the future of the human adventure."

Do your part, be an active participant and help make a difference.
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Speaking of Earth Day, this next story fits along quite nicely:


Victory for the Arctic

"The United States Senate voted 54-46 against opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil and gas drilling. In a year dominated by President George W. Bush's energy-centric plan, the victory couldn't have been a more timely present for Democrats and an environmental community that has lobbied extensively against pro-oil Republicans and developers."

"The Senate's overwhelming rejection of oil drilling in the Arctic Refuge sends a strong message to President Bush that Americans want clean energy and a clean environment," said League of Conservation Voters president Deb Callahan in a written statement. "When faced with a choice between protecting our natural resources for the public good and giving in to the White House's call to exploit them for private gain, the Senate chose the public good."


Way to go!

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Also, I totally forgot about National Workplace Napping Day I would have certainly celebrated it fully, I assure you. Perhaps if I do a little bit of This I might incerase my salary too.



UPDATE: I've just been informed by a special someone that Thursday 4/25 is National take your daughter to work day ok, enough already.

The road to clean elections: The route to taking America back

Bryan Zepp Jamieson writes:

A buddy of mine put it perfectly: "I haven't been this excited—excited in a good way—about politics since December 2000."

Rays Of Inspiration [ No.2 of a series by Ray Garraud]

Managing Your Greatest Resource
The old concept that “The more you sweat, the more you get” may have made sense back in the days when people grew what they ate. These days, however, it is meaningless. In fact, the super-successful almost never work harder, they work smarter.

Whatever you do professionally or in life will always involve managing resources. The most important of these resources is you. Managing yourself is an active exercise, something to be done objectively. You have a certain amount of intelligence, skills and energy. Now, your mandate is to figure out how you can get the most out of what you have.

Self-management will help you gain a good understanding of your limitations and potential, and also help you increase your daily productivity. You’ll achieve balance in your life, operate at peak performance and gain a greater sense of control over your activities.

The 2002 NY Gubernatorial race
Current Govenor George Pataki will be challenged by either Andrew Cuomo, left, or Carl McCall. Here are the candidates websites:

Cuomo McCall and Pataki

From Andrew's announcement speech in Brooklyn on Tuesday, April 16: "It's time for new ideas. It's time for fresh energy. It's time for action. It's time to end politics as usual. We must raise our sights and think outside the box. It is a new world, and we need a new way."
I'll be watching this one closely.