Eating Contests

Our local newspaper, The News & Observer had a front page article with four color photos of a hot dog eating contest. I almost called and cancelled my subscription. This is my notice that if the N&O continues such ridiculous front page "news, " I will not hesitate the next time. It is bad enough that the newspaper waste precious print on articles on such subjects as the latest fashion trends. It makes me wonder how many women purchase the newspaper just for the fashion information. Maybe if the N&O put a greater emphasis on articles with substance and value, it would be in better financial shape.

Yes, I know that everyone has his opinion of what has worth, but in this economy we do not need to see emphasis put on such superficial activities as purchasing $200 garments or gluttony.

I usually enjoy Josh Shaffer's articles, but this one is not even worth printing.

Note added: This letter to the editor is a good one in regards to this hot dog eating contest.

Texting and Driving

Ruth Sheehan wrote a column in our local newspaper about Texting and Driving.

This is my reply to her column. I attempted to post the complete reply on the site, but it was truncated so I am publishing it in its entirety here.

Ruth Sheehan wrote of her desire to be free to text, apply make-up and eat while driving. It is her belief that to ban texting will allow for more of our personal habits to be attacked by our legislators and to allow the government's prying into our personal lives even more.

Until now, I have not noticed a Libertarian streak in her columns. She must be desperate to keep texting (and applying make-up) while driving available to all. I tend toward being a Libertarian, but once my actions begin to endanger others, that is when I must alter what I do. Unfortunately, the general public does not feel obligated to give up their cell phone use while driving and it is time for some laws to stop them from putting others' lives at risk.

May I ask, how many NRA gun carriers text while shooting? How many police officers text while pulling their gun? An automobile is no less a weapon than a gun. And not all multi-tasking goes well together.

In less than two days driving in Raleigh, I had to take evasive action to avoid serious accidents due to driver's texting or using cell phones. Yesterday my husband had to swerve out of our lane into another lane due to a phone user pulling out in front of us. It would have been a serious accident if he had not taken over half of the next lane and others had not given him the room. And I have no doubt that I would be either in the funeral home or in the hospital recovering from serious injuries. The same day we also witnessed a woman backing out of a parking space with a phone stuck to her ear. Four people walking had to step back quickly to avoid her and we had to stop in our vehicle. The driver never even realized we existed.

Using Ms. Sheehan's logic, I don't really know why we should have laws against driving while intoxicated. After all, some people can hold their liquor more than others. And it is only a few of these who may endanger others' lives. Cell phone use, both talking and texting, has become an addiction. And it can be just as dangerous when used while driving as an individual driving while drunk.

Ms. Sheehan, I am not buying that research that has been done by the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center. I can drive down Capital Boulevard every day and see dozens of near misses of accidents and an occasional accident due to drivers using the cell phones. I don't know where UNC is doing its research, but it definitely is not on Capital Boulevard. My eyes tell me more than any research numbers do.

Vehicle insurance companies should make it a campaign to ban cell phone use while driving. They stand to benefit on more than one level. They should realize a better profit and also show their concern for their customers.

With the heavy traffic in Wake County, we need all of our attention to be focused on driving when behind the wheel. I suggest that we put down those cell phones. Eat before leaving or take time while stopped to enjoy the food. Keep the kids in the car seats and seat belts on. If they are acting out regardless of age, do as I did when my children were young. Pull over on the side of the road, cut off the car and instruct them that the car does not move until their behavior changes. This will only have to be done a couple of times in this hot summer weather before they get the message. Put the radio station on NPR 91.5 before starting the car. Don't worry about your make-up if you don't already have it on. Better to make it to your destination without it than to make it to heaven with perfect lipstick and mascara.

Bonus information for you. Read this article to see how people feel about bad drivers.
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/anchorage/story/774084.html

Cao's One Certainty

There is an article in today's newspaper about Republican Representative Joe Cao from Louisiana. Cao says that he doesn't have a long list of policy beliefs, but he is certain of only one thing. That certainty is that he is anti-abortion.

It must be nice to be a male and be able to proclaim this one conviction as if this makes one morally above all others. Until Cao is in the position to birth a child, he should leave the abortion issue to females. I see more male zealots on this issue than women. Until men like Cao stand up for ALL human life and stand against war, hunger, poverty, overpaid CEOs, and other anti-life issues, then he should refrain from telling females what to do with their wombs. There are bigger issues for him to ponder. I would have expected more thoughtful analysis of the issue given that Cao is a lawyer. I only hope he has more opinions on many other issues now that he is in Congress.

An op-ed in today's paper about writing and books and Joe the Plumber. Go read here.

Equal Rights for All

I was tagged to make a list of seven things about me for my other blog yesterday. I use that blog for my artwork and usually do not post controversial opinions. But when someone requests that I tell something about myself, I feel it is okay to mention personal things that are unrelated to art. After all, my art is not me, it is just an expression of a part of me. I think my thoughts and opinions often tell more than what I can put into a piece of art.

As mentioned in that post, I think same sex couples should have the same right to marry as heterosexual couples have. I think religious organizations can make their own decisions on whether to conduct these marriages, but the government should give equal opportunity to all couples to be married.

I believe it is not an issue that should be determined by states or individuals, but should be granted as an equal right based on rights for all citizens. If individuals should vote to determine what is a right, then mixed racial couples would still be unable to marry according to statistics that I have read.

Popular vote should never be used to determine any issue that could be a right that any one group of people may have while others are denied that right. I also do not believe that these issues should ever be determined in state courts as we should have uniformity in our states on basic civil rights. Freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of religion and all of these civil rights should be guaranteed to every citizen of this country. I would argue that marrying whoever one chooses is one of the most vocal expressions that we can make.

Today there is an article in the News & Observer about this issue. It is a well thought out article and looks at the logic of gay marriage. Although I completely understand all of the author's views, it still comes down to the issue that as of right now, people who wish to have a gay marriage are denied the right while heterosexuals have the right. Simple to me---this is not equality.

I completely agree with the author on one point. The institution of marriage will not be cheapened if all homosexuals are allowed to marry. We heterosexuals have done plenty to cheapen it! Maybe it is time to allow the gay community to show us how it should be done.

Raleigh---Most Political City

There is an article in Men's Health magazine that ranks Raleigh as the most political city in the country. The rankings were based on percentages of active registered voters, income donated to the current presidential election, ballots counted, campaign spending, votes cast in the 2008 primary and recent elections for governor and Senate.

I wondered why I feel like I fit in here just fine. I have no problem speaking my mind and attempting to engage people in talking about politics in the proper setting. Still it is not often that I hear people who really try to hear views from different sides. May Raleigh become a place where people really talk about the issues and all the sides listen to each other.

Joe Cole's Philosophy
The News & Observer has a column that is filled by a rotation of local writers. Today Joe Cole wrote a column on Loving American with Reservations. It is a good article and worth reading.

No Good News in This War

Dennis Rogers is a columnist for the News and Observer. He has been a voice for the troops during this war. It did not matter why we were at war, whether we should be there or not, or any personal opinions. But it mattered to him that the troops were never forgotten and that we knew their sacrifice. His last column is an important one as it shows just how disconnected so many citizens are from what is happening to the troops. It is worth a careful read.

Common Sense

When I started this blog, I had planned on writing about just plain common sense. It never seemed to turn into that. However, I sometimes respond to articles in our local newspaper. Here is one that Check it out used in their column. Don't expect a lot. This is a column that I often think must be for those who have too much time on their hands, those who just want to state their opinions or those who are easily amused. I'm in the last two categories. They would not have a job if I had too much time on my hands as I could easily write it every day.