Generation Helpless: Are Computers Making Kids Dumb? « CBS Los Angeles

Generation Helpless: Are Computers Making Kids Dumb? « CBS Los Angeles

And the New GoDaddy Girl is...A Pair of Legs

And the New GoDaddy Girl is...A Pair of Legs

Perez Hilton and the Miss USA scandal

Those of us who appreciate civil discourse should be appalled by the conduct of Perez Hilton. As you know, Mr. Hilton is a celebrity blogger who is openly gay. During the Miss USA pageant, he asked Miss California Carrie Prejean if she is for or against gay marriage. She stated she believes that marriage should be defined as only between a man and a woman. Never mind that Barack Obama said the very same thing during his presidential campaign. But, I digress.

There are several issues which are all very unsavory. Firstly, is it fair that Carrie most likely came in second because of her answer to the question posed? But, wait. It gets even more outrageous. The next day, Mr. Hilton made a video "explaining" what happened and called Ms. Prejean the b-word (among various other things). As if that weren't enough, organizers of the Miss California pageant came out and made statements professing their dismay at Ms. Prejean.

Imagine my dismay when I saw Perez Hilton debating conservative radio host Dennis Prager on "Larry King Live." I thought we would get to the bottom of this craziness. But, Mr. King did not ask one question regarding Mr. Perez' immature online tirades. In my opinion, anyone who lowers the bar so far with personal attacks should not be given the opportunity to debate someone of such high standards as Dennis Prager.

Perez Hilton should be ashamed of himself. There is simply no defense for his behavior and any legitimate arguments he may have in favor of same-sex marriage have been mostly lost due to his over-the-top and insane rantings.

For more coverage of this story, check out this site.

Laughable

I'm sure you've seen reports about media bias, but this really takes the cake! CNN should be ashamed of themselves to have a reporter that is so intent on presenting HER case.

Pirates

Somalian pirates may have found a way to extract cash from innocent victims. But, it would seem a bit ridiculous for people to refer to pirates' actions as a "good business model."

AWOL

KABC-TV7 had a story about a Southland mother kept her child out of school for 13 days. Interviews included parents and the school superintendent. Parent says something to the effect that school is education and "it's smart to take your child to school." Superintendent mentioned that it's highly unlikely the child would receive education if they weren't in their seat at school. Is this the most insightful tidbits of opinion they could find?

I'm back

I know I should be blogging more and I'll try to keep y'all posted on the latest and greatest news about news, family, and pop culture.

Call Center Hell

Oh, hi. It's me again, after a long break from writing here. But, I've been very busy trying to get things organized and I'm developing websites for recording artists and others in the entertainment industry. I'm currently working at a travel call center for one of the largest credit card companies in the world. This is my second (and hopefully last) job at a call center and I've got to say it is a hellish experience. One thing I've noticed about working at a call center is that customer service is always the stated goal. However, the REAL goal is to get to the next call. Everything is monitored from how long a person is on hold, how long the call is, how long there is "dead air" on a call, how much revenue, how many calls per hour, how much time between calls, how much time documenting a record, even how much time in the restroom. And, get this: my team leader actually encourages us to lie to customers. I don't think most cardmembers would expect that some of my coworkers (who are billed as "professional travel counselors" don't even know where certain places in the world are. One even asked me how to spell "Peru!" Things that make you go "hmmm."

I find it to be a thoroughly disrespectful environment. But, what should I expect from a company that keeps the temperature like a meat locker, despite the IT department denying they really need it that cold. And when the President of the company asked employees if they want to be treated like children or adults. Even the question is insulting. So, my advice to anyone who wants to maintain their sanity is do not work at a call center. For someone like me who truly likes to help people in a friendly manner, it's an environment in which it's almost impossible to function. That's why most people don't stay for even one year. Whew, that felt good to get it out. Now, I'll be focusing on seeking full-time employment in a civilized environment which is conducive to actually doing good in the world.

Rocket Online Media is always available to help you or someone you know gain greater exposure with fans and to help market your product or persona. You can reach me at rgordon@rocketonlinemedia.com.

Where's Ace Ventura when you need him?

I was just reading in today's Los Angeles Times about a planned freeway overpass widening project designed to help commuting wildlife. This planned re-tooling of an overpass to make a path for wildlife will cost an additional $455,000. For those familiar with this thoroughfare, it's one of the most congested around. The problem seems to be that not having deer and opossum able to cross the freeway causes problems such as inbreeding. Is this really the best use of taxpayer's money destined for use for transporation projects? 

I'm back!

Well, it's been quite a while since I last posted on this blog. I've been so busy with many new projects, especially my fan site CarrieNEWS.com. But, I plan on updating this regularly, so please check back often!
Rich

Moral Right-of-Way Defined

Hi everyone. It's been awhile since I've posted here, what with all of my projects with Carrie Underwood, and stuff like that. But, I can't help but opine on a couple of "road rage" incidents which have occurred these past two days.

Yesterday, I was on my way home when I saw a car waiting patiently to turn left and enter my lane of traffic. They were waiting and waiting and waiting so I thought I'll just keep cruising along. Dopey me! They decided to pull in front of me, causing me to slam on my brakes. I rarely honk my horn since there is really no point anymore. People seem to give a car horn about as much credence as a car alarm sounding ad nauseum. So I honked my horn anyway since I was giving in to my baser instincts to convey my disdain. The other driver immediately put on their brakes and came to a complete stop, causing me to now steer around them. I proceeded while muttering under my breath the word "stupid."
So I now continued on my "merry way." Then, two mile later, who drives up to the side of my car but this very same driver who had been following me the whole time. Hmmm, I was thinking I was now going to have to call the police. Is this person challenging me to a duel? I really don't have time for this type of aberant behavior. He seemed to be content just to make it known that he dislikes horns, with a passion.

Incident number 2 was this morning. I was now driving to work and the same situation arose, albeit with a different driver. Truck merges into my lane and, once again, I need to slam on my brakes. The difference is this morning, I did not sound my car horn. Fewer potential life threats I thought. So now I am right upon the tail end of this truck and, apparently in their mind, I did not offer them enough graciousness with space for their needs. They also slow down to approximately 5 mph, so I changed lanes to go around them. I see the light is yellow and I was thinking, darn it. Oh, well. Then I see them floor it and run the red light. Question to you all: Is it really that important for this person to try to impede my progress, and they have to run the red light, merely to make some misguided point?

Attention drivers: Here is the definition of "right-of-way" as defined by the city code of Elko, Nevada (per Google search): "Right of way" means the right of one vehicle or pedestrian to proceed in a lawful manner in preference to another vehicle or pedestrian approaching under such circumstances of direction, speed and proximity as to give rise to danger of collision unless one grants precedence to the other.

The connection I am making, in this context, is what is it about certain people who feel their needs (their right-of-way) takes precedence over another's? Everyone cannot simultaneousl have the right of way anymore than everyone can have their own morality. This is what I have often referred to as moral relativism. Likewise, this could be seen as right-of-way relativism. It's something we should all think about, and maybe we can avoid some accidents while driving ourselves and our loved ones about town.

Samantha Runnion's killer sentenced to death

This news, although it will never undue the harm done to Samantha and her family, goes a long way towards making the perpetrator culpable for their evil deeds:

USA TODAY

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — A judge on Friday formally sentenced to death the man who kidnapped, sexually assaulted and murdered 5-year-old Samantha Runnion in 2002 — a case that led to the expansion of child abduction alerts on electronic billboards along California's freeways.

		Alejandro Avila has been sentenced to death for the 2002 killing Samantha Runnion, 5.
		File photos

"I know she looked at you with those amazing brown eyes and you still wanted to kill her," Samantha's mother, Erin Runnion, tearily told Alejandro Avila in court before the sentencing. "And I don't understand it, and I never will. It's like you never learned to think. You have absolutely no concept of how heinous, how egregious your acts were. I can't help but wonder how it is you survived as long as you did, being so stupid." 

Avila, who did not speak during the hearing, appeared unmoved by Mrs. Runnion's comments and sat looking away from her. 

A jury convicted the 30-year-old former factory worker in April and voted for the death penalty in May. Superior Court Judge William Froeberg endorsed the jury's recommendation Friday. 

Avila was ordered to be sent to San Quentin state prison within 10 days. His sentence automatically will be appealed.

Outside court, Avila's lawyer said she would not be surprised if the issue of defense competence was raised on appeal.

"I can't help but think he would have gotten life if I had presented a better case," Assistant Public Defender Denise Gragg said.

Gragg declined to say whether Avila had indicated before the hearing whether he wanted to make any comments. She said she had advised him not to speak in court.

But Erin Runnion had a lot to say to Avila. At one point, she suggested she did not support the death penalty in his case.

"You don't deserve a place in my family's history and so I want you to live. I want you to disappear into the abyss of a lifetime in prison where no one will remember you, no one will pray for you, and no one will care when you die," she said.

But, she said: "I want you to feel remorse. ... You're a disgrace to the human race. Everything in me wants to hurt you in every possible way."

Avila snatched a kicking and screaming Runnion as she played outside her Stanton home. Her nude body was found the following day in the mountains about 50 miles away, left on the ground as if it had been posed. 

Authorities said she had been suffocated by pressing on her chest. 

More than 4,000 people attended her funeral and then-Gov. Gray Davis ordered a statewide increase in the number of electronic billboards that flash information about a suspected abduction soon after it's reported.

A friend of Samantha's gave police a description of her kidnapper that produced a police sketch resembling Avila. Prosecutors used cell phone and bank records to show that Avila had been near where Samantha was abducted.

They also said Avila's DNA was under her fingernails, and sneaker prints and tire tracks found near the girl's body came from him. Samantha's DNA also was found on the inside of the door of Avila's car, probably from tears or mucus, prosecutors said. 

The defense challenged the reliability of the DNA analysis and suggested that the material found inside Avila's car had been planted.

After the conviction, defense attorneys urged jurors to spare Avila's life, arguing that the abduction was an impulsive act prompted by a brutal childhood in which he was beaten by his father, raped by an uncle and neglected by his mother.

The defense challenged the reliability of the DNA analysis and suggested that the material found inside Avila's car had been planted.

Samantha's killing was one in a series of child abductions, including 7-year-old Danielle van Dam of San Diego and 15-year-old Elizabeth Smart in Utah.

Too Small a Target

I'm usually a great supporter of the police, however we've awakened to very disturbing news this morning. A father who was hyped up on drugs allegdly was using his baby as a shield. It didn't work. The police seem to have killed the baby, too. Now, admittedly I haven't yet heard the details regarding this incident, but I'm trying to justify in my head, why there could not have been a sniper used to take this man down without shooting his baby. I don't get it.