Friday, February 6, 2009

A Pure Leader...To Be Or Not To Be?


I have been reading a book and there is a chapter about what it takes to be a true and pure leader. Reading this book has got me thinking about who is a pure leader? I feel that we are living in a world that lacks true leadership, especially the leadership that represents our country.
In Sheri Dew's book entitled "No One Can Take Your Place," she says: "It is easy to spot Pure Leaders, because they help those who follow them do more and see more and become more than they could ever do or see or become on their own."
In essence we are all leaders or can become leaders. But I want to know...Are our national leaders pure leaders?

These are characteristics that Sheri Dew believe are Pure Leaders:

A Pure Leader is Humble
A Pure Leader is Fiercely Devoted to a Righteous Cause
A Pure Leader Has Faith in God
A Pure Leader is Willing to Work
A Pure Leader is Optimistic
A Pure Leader Believes and Cares about People
A Pure Leader Communicates
A Pure Leader Has a Vision
A Pure Leader Has The Courage To Stand Alone

What do you think? Are these definitions of a Pure Leader correct? What is your definition of a True Leader? How does Pres. Bush and Pres. Obama add up? Who do you think is a great example of a True and Pure Leader?
To Be Continued....I want to hear what you think and than I will give my insight on these questions.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Hallalujah...The writer's strike is over

OK, I know that the writer's strike ended last year but we as viewer's got gypped on a full season of TV. There was some positives to the writer's strike. I got more done because I didn't watch as much TV. It is sad that TV is such a central part of our culture.

But I want to know is... what happened to starting the TV season in September? Very few of the TV series started their season's in September. So frustrating.

Well, most of the popular TV series started their seasons' this last week. My favorites like "24", Scrubs and the Bachelor. And my all time favorite TV show, Lost starts Jan. 21.

What did everyone else think of the new season's premiere's? What is your favorite shows?

The Bachelor- I'll admit, I like the bachelor but I am not an obsessed fan. I have only seen a few season's. But this new Bachelor does not disappoint. There are still crazed, obsessed, jealous psycho women that cat fight for the bachelor's attention.

American Idol- I will occasionally watch this show, but frankly this is the most annoying reality show on earth. Have you notice they focus more on the bad singers than the good ones? I can't believe they let the bikini girl through to Hollywood. Simon and Randy are pigs! I love the new judge.

The Real World- Brooklyn- I really hate this show, but I heard that there was a Mormon casted this season and I was curious on how he was going to represent. All I have to say is: Do MTV exec. purposely cast weird Mormons to make us look bad? Chet the newest housemate is from SLC and is a 23 year old Mormon. I am assuming he did not go on a mission considering some of his outfits of choice. What guy wears purple cut-off hoodies with a scarf and really tight pants. Sadly all the other cast mated thought he was the gay one. No...Chet is just a metro sexual virgin. At least, so far Chet has abstained from some temptations and is open about his moral convictions.

Let me know what you think about the newest season of TV shows.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

I am speechless

This article was found in the Daily Herald. You can also find it at http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/294066/79/

This issue has received national attention as well as appearing on the Daily Herald. Maybe some of you have already heard this story. I want to know what you think.


Tuesday, 30 December 2008
Provo mom leads 'lactivists' in protest on Facebook offices
Ace Stryker - Daily Herald

Heather Farley doesn't think there's anything obscene about breastfeeding. The 23-year-old Provo mom was told differently, though, when she posted a picture of herself nursing her 9-month-old daughter Margaret on the social networking Web site Facebook. On Nov. 6, the site unceremoniously removed the picture and sent Farley an e-mail explaining she had violated its terms of use policy because "photos containing nudity, drug use, or other obscene content are not allowed." Farley said when the company ignored her e-mails asking for further clarification, she decided to take the fight to them.
On Saturday, Farley led a group of about 30 in a three-hour protest in front of Facebook's Palo Alto, Calif., headquarters. The group marched, chanted, and -- yes -- nursed their children in a show of defiance. Though the "nurse-in" itself was a small gathering, more than 75,000 people have joined an online group called "Hey, Facebook, breastfeeding is not obscene!" since August in support of the message.
"I was just really frustrated, and I felt a little bit bullied because Facebook had simply removed the pictures," Farley said. "The Utah state law says that breastfeeding mothers are exempt from indecent exposure laws, even if the nipple is shown. If I can here in Utah sit on a park bench and breastfeed, why can't I have pictures of myself breastfeeding online?"
Protesters marched outside Facebook's front doors, waving signs with messages like "Your policies need to be reviewed and join the 21st century (and all other centuries that came before)" and "If you plan on sexualizing my breasts, you'd better be stuffing dollar bills into my waistband!" A group called Raging Grannies sang a song to the tune of "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean" that asserted, "Oh Facebook, you dis' us so badly/ You denigrate the female form/ You go in and take out our photos/ When will you learn our breasts aren't porn?"
Facebook spokesman Barry Schnitt said most photos are removed because of complaints from other users, but declined to say whether anyone had complained about Farley's. He said the policy exists to protect minors who use the site from exposure to images of naked breasts.
"We agree that breastfeeding is natural and beautiful, and we're very glad to know that it is so important to some mothers to share this experience with others on Facebook," he said in an e-mailed response. "We take no action on the vast majority of breastfeeding photos because they follow the site's terms of use. Photos containing a fully exposed breast (as defined by showing the nipple or areola) do violate those terms and may be removed."
Farley said she's concerned that such constrictive rules could affect the public perception of breastfeeding and inspire fewer mothers to do it. That's a health concern, she said.
"I would like Facebook to reexamine their policies," she said. "I don't want them to get the impression that breastfeeding is something that is shameful or should be hidden."
Schnitt said there are no plans to change the company's policy. Farley said she and fellow mothers have been discussing their next step, but haven't decided whether legal action is warranted. California also has a state law allowing breastfeeding in public areas.

What do you think?
I think breastfeeding is a great, natural and wonderful thing. Just because breastfeeding is a natural thing doesn't mean that it is appropriate to do in public or to take pictures of the act. Peeing is a natural act. But I do not want to see pictures of someone peeing or pooping. If you breastfeed cover- up. If you pee in public go behind a tree!

These pictures were indecent. It wasn't just a picture of a mother breastfeeding, it actually showed the women's entire breast (if you know what I mean).

I am glad facebook is taking action of indecent exposure.

Thursday, January 1, 2009

A call for a new kind of Patriot

What is a Patriot?
The definition of a patriot is: is someone who thinks, feels or voices expressions of support for their country.
The definition of Patriotism is: commonly defined as love of and/or devotion to one's country.

I love this country that we live in. I support the United States of America. I support capitalism. I believe in the American dream that is to allow all citizens to pursue their goals in life through hard work and free choice. Sometimes we may fail and sometimes we have nothing but through persistence and hard-work we can be the best.
I do not support communism, socialism or a moral decline that has surfaced as a result of greed and selfishness. I am calling for new Patriots to fight against government tyranny and corporate greed. We need to hold our leaders accountable, but also take responsibility for our own actions. We cannot expect handouts or play the victims. We are not entitled to the American Dream, we work towards the American Dream.

I believe that a new kind of Patriot must emerge from these desperate and turbulent times in the history of our Great country. Ron Paul calls for new patriots to emerge in order to reclaim our American Dream:
"The original American patriots were those individuals brave enough to resist with force the oppressive power of King George. I accept the definition of patriotism as that effort to resist oppressive state power. The true patriot is motivated by a sense of responsibility and out of self-interest for himself, his family, and the future of his country to resist government abuse of power. He rejects the notion that patriotism means obedience to the state."

I found this quote in this article by James Quinn titled: "What Happened to the American Dream?" This article can be found at http://www.financialsense.com/editorials/quinn/2008/1224.html . I encourage everyone to read this article and gain a perspective on our Nation's current economical and social situation.

James Quinn adds to Ron Paul's definition of the new Patriot:
"Many people are looking for an easy answer to the tyranny that is being imposed upon us by the oligopoly of government, corporations, and media. There is no easy answer. The original patriots struggled for 14 years to free themselves from British tyranny. Failure meant the hangman’s noose. Our politicians, corporate CEOs, and media pundits will provide comforting “solutions” that have been crafted by PR maggots. Their crafted talking points are lies. They have no idea what they are doing. The only question is whether rational change will come when the existing system collapses under the weight of its lies, or we take back the country through grassroots efforts and spreading the truth through the internet."

So, I am taking Mr. Quinn's advice to take back our country through grassroots efforts of spreading the truth through the internet. That is why I started this blog to discuss pop culture and politics. They are so intertwined and they influence one another.

For example, Do you really think Obama was elected because he was the most qualified candidate? Obama promised changed, but yet he is bringing back the Clinton administration. I will give Obama credit that he is a fantastic organizer which led to some of the success of his campaign, but I feel the real reason he won is because he became this cool, hip, good-looking pop icon.

Educate yourselves. Spread the word. Become active. And lead virtuous lives!

A Happy New Year but not for Hillary and Bill

Did anyone else notice? As I was watching the New Year's special on Fox News. It was announced that Hillary Clinton was the Honoree button pusher for the ball in Times Square. The first thing I thought was: "If I were the camera man the first shot of the New Year should be on Hillary and Bill. " Why? Because I wanted to see if Hillary and Bill would share a New Years kiss. I mean, this is a tradition between happy couples.

A few seconds after the midnight, the camera man captures Hillary and Bill sharing an embrace. Not a kiss an embrace. Very awkward. Are they really married?

Watch it. You be the judge. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoeIPMmYFQY