There is a young white woman speaking on her phone. Notice how the black woman is staring at her with this face of disgust. Directly over her head is a black man grimacing her as well. Over the white man's head is yet another black woman frowning at her. I know that this pic is a bit tough to view because I had to take it while I was on the train. I completely agree with the message of the ad. People yapping on the train on their cells is totally aggravating. But imagine now that the add was just a bit different. 

Imagine this add had the black woman yapping on her phone and all the white people in the add giving her dirty looks. The outcry would be everywhere. And the ad claims "Courtesy Matters." It also encourages to 'keep the phone on vibrate and keep the call short.' I have sat on this train and have seen blacks and women hold hour long phone conversations and even select their ringtone for their new phone, never mind vibrate mode. If the black woman was the one on the phone in this ad, it would be down in two days.

The reason is most likey that the MTA didn't want to play into the black woman stereotype of them being loud and rude on their phones in very public places (i.e. train, movies, restaurant). But they are exactly who this ad is for. And since it is not easily spelled out for them, they will miss the point completely.

I can't stand the way because of historical racism, black people can have advocacy groups, and rights supporters. Is there anything more racist than not allowing whites to have the same? Minorities rights groups are encouraged by society, yet all whites have is radical white supremacists like the KKK, who only serve to hinder white people.

Cell Phone Tumor: New Study Says Kids And Teens More At Risk For Brain Tumors From Cell Phone Use! Read on…
Cell Phone Tumor

Several studies over the years have linked cell phone use to brain tumors.

Dr. George Carlo, who was hired by the Cell Phone Industry to front a research group whose main objective was to prove cell phones safe, found-after 6 years of research-that they were anything but!

According to Dr. Carlo, “The big picture is disturbingly clear. There is a definite risk that the radiation plume that emanates from a cell phone antenna can cause cancer and other health problems.”

When he communicated this to the CEOs of the Cell Phone Industry, they ignored him.

Brain tumors, brain cancer, and findings that cell phone radiation caused leaking of the blood/brain barrier, were definitely not considered good for sales and the cell phone industry wanted to hear nothing more about it.

Dr. Carlo eventually resigned as head of the study and went on to become an activist for the regulation of wireless electromagnetic frequencies. His non-profit organization, Safe Wireless Initiative, cites the only safe wireless is no wireless and advocates a return to fiber optics, aka wired technology.
Cell Phone Use More Dangerous for Kids

Instead of taking any precautionary measures, the Cell Phone Industry went on to market cell phones to kids and teens. Kids and teens are now among the fastest growing users of cell phones.

Unfortunately, they are also the most likely to develop brain tumors from cell phone use.

A recent Swedish study head by EMF researcher Lennart Hardell found children absorbed more radiation into their brains from cell phones due to the thinness of their not yet fully developed skulls.

“People who started mobile phone use before the age of 20 have more than five-fold increase in glioma,” said Professor Hardell. “This is a warning sign. It’s very worrying. We should be taking precautions.”

Learn more about the hazards of cell phone radiation and how you can best protect yourself.

References:

Cell Phone may Perk up Brain Cancer Risk among Kids/ www.themedguru.com

Taken From:

 The next time you are in a park and someone in running clothes asks to use your cellphone to call their husband because that person just ran 3 miles to a soccer field to see her daughter play a game and since no one was there and she had just biked 24 miles and  didn't want to run all the way home and potentially miss the game and she needs to find out where the game is, don't look at her like she has just asked you to pay her mortgage or to give her your left kidney, just smile and say sure and hand over your phone.  You may even go so far as to offer her a ride, but I realize that may be asking way too much from society.

Also;

The next time you run into an acquaintance who is still in treatment for cancer don't mention every other person on the planet that you know with cancer and how every other person on the planet that you know with cancer just "sailed" though chemo and looks "wonderful" and has a "fabulous attitude" because even though that all may be very true and very inspiring to the few left on earth without cancer it is somewhat irritating to those of us who do because although you are trying to be nice and supportive and sympathetic it's almost like saying "Oh, Jane just sailed through that car crash she was in last month" because the truth is no one sails through chemo, it is a horrific, brutal shock to your system that really truly sucks while you are in it.  Yes people recover from it and come through, just like a car crash, but the memory will always remain and while they are "healing" nicely, they didn't "sail" through  anything.  More like they rowed and paddled their way through chemo probably having to stop and bail the boat a few hundred times.

So maybe this Tamoxifen has made me a little irritable.  Do you think? Or maybe I have moved out of my "I have cancer and might die so the world is a wonderful place and everyone loves me so I should appreciate every minute" mode.  Maybe that's it and maybe that's fine.  That is a tough attitude to keep up for too long.  Completely unrealistic and frankly exhausting.  But I do feel better getting it off my chest.   

Anyway, if you have continued reading all that drivel you now get actual information.

 I will be going in Thursday to have two lumps under my arm surgically removed by my favorite surgeon,Dr. Christian.  He will send my lumps to be checked by the lab but hopefully they are just cysts.  It will be done under local anesthesia which is good in the fact that general anesthesia is tough on the body but the thought of that needle going in my armpit makes my toes curl.  So I won't think about it.  I will let you all know the results. I am going to have to get in copious amounts of biking and swimming before the procedure since I will be out of commission for a little while, but I will try to check in here with you all. I'll try not to be so irritable next time.

Our simple money management looks like this:

We live below our means, even though our current means qualify us for some state assistance.

• One of my least favorite sayings is "you spend what you earn."  So not true.  The very thought of spending my husband's full paycheck every month is frightening.
• We lived below our means even when we had two jobs and no children.  That made things much simpler when it came time to transition to one income!
• We have learned so much about being content with what we are blessed with. 
• When an unexpected expense comes in (recently it's been doctor bills) we can write a check.  The money is there.  That doesn't make paying the bill any more fun, but it sure simplifies matters!
• Because we live below our means, we are able to give.  Giving brings peace to our lives.

Aside from our 15 year mortgage, which we are working toward paying off early, we have no debt.

• We are extremely thankful to be nearly debt-free.  If something were to happen to our income, we wouldn't have the added stress of trying to hang on to things that aren't yet paid for. 
• Payments irk me.  I can't stand the thought of paying interest money for anything.  I would much rather watch interest pay me in our mutual funds (which I am confident will rebound ;-).   If we can't pay cash (or we just don't want to!) we don't buy it. 
• Having no debt leaves necessary wiggle room in the budget.  Even though it's hard to watch prices go up on nearly every type of item, we can make the adjustment. 

Who are the Joneses, anyway? 

•  It's just a guess, but I picture the Joneses being incredibly stressed out about paying for all the things they've collected, watching in horror as their credit card interest accrues... on items they don't remember needing or purchasing.  Again, just a guess, but who needs that?
• Another thing with the Joneses.  If they really can pay for all of that stuff, what are they sacrificing?  Their time?  Health?  Relationships?  Defiitely not simple, and definitely not worth it.
• Again, contentment.  We're content with our older home (with a nice big yard for the kids to play in and for a garden!)  We're content with our tv, and our cell phone, and our two older vehicles.  They get us where we're going safely.   

Keeping our finances simple has been a true blessing to our marriage.  The teamwork that it takes to create and implement our financial goals, and to hold one another accountable when one of us really wants something ;-) , has contributed to our unbreakable bond.  We are so richly blessed.

For more Living Simply Saturdays, visit Keeper of the Home.

Today I'd like to pick three things that pleases me in some way.

Books:

Mark Twain said that good friends, good books and sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. I think he's right. Good books are the ultimate source of pleasure, information, stimulation and imagination. I always feel good after reading something that touches my soul, my inner self. I would have shared my shelf picture... but er... I like privacy and to to be honest it is so stacked with books that it seems like crashing :)

I would nonetheless share the photos of two books that are unforgettable to me due to one reason or the other. The first one is called The making of Asoka. That book will always be important for me since I won it in a draw. Believe me I had never won a single draw before that. If any of you used to read children magazine Taleem-o-Tarbiat you would know that it had a quiz section and those who used to give correct answers would get gift books published by Ferozsons. The problem was that many would give correct answers and then draw would come into play. My best buddy from school, lucky girl, won thrice in a draw. While I would be like, heck! what's wrong with me. As a consolation I would only see my name published in the print.

So when I woke up one fine morning in 2002, I got a mail. I was asked to send my mailing address. I had even forgotten that I had ever participated in that online quiz. I was skeptical but I was proved wrong when within a month I got that big parcel right from UK. Won't forget it. Winning is pleasurable and then winning a book that was about my favorite movie and actors. That feeling is still alive in my memory!

Book number 2 is Still Reading Khan. To understand my passion for books and for SRK it is enough to say that I own this book. Well this is the most expensive book I ever bought. I don't think I'll ever spend that much on any book :P I bought it for 5,000 Rs :? I am not kidding but I think it was worth buying.

Windows Live Messenger/Yahoo Messenger:

Well, I am addicted to both. It connects me with my loved ones. And yes, my messenger buddy list is not something like 50 0r 100 people. It is very limited :)

Cell Phone:

Lastly, cell phone! I like my current cell phone. I am not much into playing music on phone. But I like it for video and still camera and internet connectivity. Whenever I am taking rest I end up fiddling with it. Sending texts, setting alarm (snooze is wicked), writing quick short notes, ringing up my siblings at odd times, checking the time or just to see my way in it's light when the power is out :P

After messenger it is the second best thing.

That is it on my part. Although my list could have been long but I would limit it to three things like my fellow bloggers. I wish I had cute pets to talk about. But I have none! Gosh! I am so boring! :P

I now tag:

Asma

Aadil

Sarah (Though I doubt she'd write on it because she is busy)...

Are you coppin'?

So it drops in a month according to engadget mobile. I heard it's not going to have 3G but Verizon's wireless network is fast enough supposedly. It has 1GB of onboard storage with a 8GB micro SD card bundled in. The main problem is that I'm not a fan of touch screens even though I haven't messed with them that much. Either way I always liked Blackberry's for some reason. It's going to be on Verizon but i'm sure people will get to jailbreakin' when it drops (not that I condone such activity haha.)

I'll be in the market for a new phone this June anyway. It's probably gonna be expensive as hell. Either way I'll be keeping an eye out for this new line of Blackberries in the future.

"When you enable Mail Goggles, it will check that you're really sure you want to send that late night Friday email. And what better way to check than by making you solve a few simple math problems after you click send to verify you're in the right state of mind?"

This is a really good example of a company doing something that plays to people's amusement and interest...which resulted in some widespread press coverage. My only problem is that I don't know how well I'd fair at the math problems while I'm stone cold sober.

For you text messagers, try LG's cell phone with a breathalyzer installed, as told in the CNET post.

Serious iPhone Security Flaw. http://snurl.com/48mey

Can INQ Cell Phones Whack iPhone in the Knees? http://snurl.com/48ktd

Recently, the mobile compounds of Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, and the undercarriage, etc, launched a series of models with very new and the latest configurations 3G. The latest devices 3G include to call visual, visual recording, the numerical camera, MP3, manufacturing companies etc try to launch the latest models and devices to compete with the market demands. Motorola V3i, Nokia 6680, Nokia NR series, Samsung X660, Sony Ericsson W550i, chocolate telephones of undercarriage, etc, are among the latest compounds which are request much inside on the BRITISH market.

The latest devices 3G include the visual service calling where the visitor will be able to look at the person on other side during their maintenance. Other devices 3G include the high telephone of numerical camera of mega-Pixel to capture special moments, visual recordings, and the service of Internet to connect to you any time everywhere in the world, anywhere. Service MP3 enables you to listen to your preferred songs and to also download songs of your choice. The mobile suppliers of network also compete with the ones with the others. Although all are in same raveled material, the customers obtain advantages of these services. The mobile companies of network like three, T-mobile, Vodafone, the Virgin, O2, and the orange are available to RU with their high quality services. Being a user of cell phone, you can come into contact with no matter whom of your telephone and you do not need to seek a phone box to make a call. Same manner, no matter who can reach you with your number of cell phone. The new cell phones 3G are equipped with the latest configurations. The Internet is one of the most important devices. You can review Web pages and send email as you can receive email. For a business man this device is an advantage to remain related to the people.

To choose and see latest compounds having all the devices 3G and obtaining connected themselves to the network as well as with reviews of cell phone.

...but all in all, we have good times. :)

Laura & I are awesome and go for nerd glasses from Hot Topic.

The Twilight posters never stood a chance.

-C

How to know it’s time to delete them from your phone?

I can always stick to the same rule of thumb I have with my wardrobe. If it’s been a year and you haven’t worn it, go ahead and let it go. Or, if you have a tendency to drunk dial and want to rid your chances completely of an embarrassing, maudlin call, delete them. It's self-protection really.

It’s sometimes a tough decision, though. I often have feelings of regret after that phone deletion. I think; wait -- maybe I would want to call him in the future. Like clothes you know you aren’t ever going to wear again, but just can’t bring yourself to give away, because what IF they came back in style, and you wanted to wear them.

It's also possible that later you will want to make this contact part of the recycled goods list – the ones you tossed out, but then around the holidays think "well, they weren't THAT bad," and give them a call. (It's only once you acquiesce and go out with them again, you realize they were THAT bad.) Another reason for keeping someone in your phone contacts is so you will know it’s them in case they ever call you again. Likely the latter will not happen, but I like to keep it as a my purported reason even if it is really the former.

We tend to delete the ones who’ve harmed us. It’s like having a souvenir of your time with them, plugged into the one thing you carry around with you wherever you go. Whenever I scroll past the name, I don’t want to think of them, or worse, in a moment of weakness, slip up and dial impusively.

I’ll admit in my time I have deleted several numbers, one of which, I had such torn feelings about, I actually wrote his number down separately on a piece of paper and stuffed it in a drawer before deleting him from my phone. Thankfully, when my nostalgic reminiscing got the better of me, that piece of paper could not be found. Must have gotten lost in the shuffle between moves. Phew.

Well here we go again!

This time it does hit home Sanger, Texas (Denton County) 10/08/08

A 13 year old female student at Sanger Middle School sent a nude photo of herself to several male students. One of these poor guys has been singled out by authorities and was arrested and sent to a juvenile detention center for Possession of Child Pornography.

The boy is now, as I understand it, under house arrest. The other boys that received the photo have not been charged as of yet.

WFAA Channel 8 posted on their web site, "He's a 13-year-old child. He's in middle school. He's supposed to be out there having fun, hanging out and playing football, which he loves to do. Instead, he's having to sit at home with mom and dad," said his mother.

Bethany Mitchell, a classmate said "I know some girl was taking pictures of herself and sending it to multiple guys. Obviously, they've still got their picture on their phone because they are now getting in trouble."

OK now that you got the story, or at least what I found, here is my two cents!

If you are going to charge the boy with Possession of Child Porn, you need to charge the girl with making Child Porn. Next if the only charge is Possession of... get the records of the girls cell phone and charge everyone she sent the photo too, it's only fair to the poor kid that was charged.

BUT WAIT! Don't go getting all in a tither at me just yet.

First can they prove that the boy requested the photo? If not then it was unsolicited and how can you charge him for that, you should charge the girl with, not only making it but distributing it.

Next, for God sakes he's 13, is he old enough to even know about the laws regarding Child Porn? For that matter, do you the reader know what Child Porn is? Here is a recap of my research on the matter from Last year!

Federal Statutes:

Title 18 of the United States Code governs child pornography. Chapter 110, Sexual Exploitation and Other Abuse of Children. 18 U.S.C. § 2256 defines “Child pornography” as:

“any visual depiction, including any photograph, film, video, picture, or computer or computer-generated image or picture, whether made or produced by electronic, mechanical, or other means, of sexually explicit conduct, where -

(A) the production of such visual depiction involves the use of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct;
(B) such visual depiction is, or appears to be, of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct;
(C) such visual depiction has been created, adapted, or modified to appear that an identifiable minor is engaging in sexually explicit conduct; or
(D) such visual depiction is advertised, promoted, presented, described, or distributed in such a manner that conveys the impression that the material is or contains a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct . . .”

Sexually Explicit Conduct:

18 U.S.C. § 2252 prohibits the production, transportation, or knowing receipt or distribution of any visual depiction “of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.” For the purposes of Title 18, 18 U.S.C. § 2256 defines a “minor” as any person under the age of eighteen years, and “sexually explicit conduct” as actual or simulated:

…….(E) lascivious exhibition of the genitals or pubic area of any person

Section (E) prohibits images of “lascivious exhibition of the genitals or pubic area.” Courts that have interpreted this section have done so broadly - “as used in the child pornography statute, the ordinary meaning of the phrase “lascivious exhibition” means a depiction which displays or brings forth to view in order to attract notice to the genitals or pubic area of children, in order to excite lustfulness or sexual stimulation in the viewer.”

Dictionary.Com defines Lascivious as:

las·civ·i·ous

Pronunciation[luh-siv-ee-uhs]

–adjective
1.    inclined to lustfulness; wanton; lewd: a lascivious, girl-chasing old man.
2.    arousing sexual desire: lascivious photographs.
3.    indicating sexual interest or expressive of lust or lewdness: a lascivious gesture.

Texas Penal Code Section 33.021 defines "Minor" as:

(A) an individual who represents himself or herself to be younger than 17 years of age; or
(B) an individual whom the actor believes to be younger than 17 years of age.

*********************************************************************************

OK all that being said, let me state for the record CHILD PORN IS WRONG! Also there is a difference between Porn and (Nude) Art. This line does get fuzzy I admit. Some Examples:

Venus de Milo (Art or Porn)

PersianKitty.Com (Art or Porn)

Ok Those are easy! Right? What about a little more on the fuzzy side Jock Sturges and David Hamilton. Both are acclaimed photographers (of art) but both have done work with nude minors. Both have been arrested and accused of child porn, both were cleared of charges, citing their work was that of Art ond not intended for sexual arousal.

Now my last thought on this particular story is WTF are 13 year olds doing with cell phones, let alone at school?!?!?

*********************************************************************************

In a related story to this and a close relation to my story from a year ago, lets go back to Ohio. Newark, Ohio thios time. Just this past week Fox News reported a story of a 15 year old girl, from Newark Licking Valley, accused of taking nude cell phone photos of herself and sending them to high school classmates.

The girl entered a denial of juvenile charges of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material and possession of criminal tools.

A spokeswoman for the Ohio attorney general's office says an adult convicted of the child pornography charge would have to register as a sexual offender, but a judge would have flexibility on the matter with a convicted juvenile.

OK, in this case the girl IS facing felony charges. Fox News also mentioned that local prosecutors are concidering charging those who recieved the photos. Again I think that charge is bullshit unless they can prove the receptants asked for the photos.

Maybe we should send nude photos to the authorities phones and then accuse them of invasion of our privacy!

*********************************************************************************

Well that is my two cents what is yours? Leave a comment!

And I think I'll pay for that new phone in cash, or at least debit. I'm about ready to throw my credit cards away after I saw my latest interest charge. The credit crisis has gone global. Iceland is practically bankrupt, Canada can hardly get loans, the Yen keeps slipping and the government is debating taking partial ownership in US banks. Oy. Whats up with Wall Street today? Nothing, hahaha. Bad joke, but seriously stocks fell again this Thursday. The DOW has been fluctuating all morning, along with the SP500 and NASDAQ.

I always like to see where sentiment lies for these major indexes every day. I find it so interesting how bullish investors can be about a particular index when everything in the market seems to be flailing. Lately, the bears have been dominating the bulls however. Checking the font page of PredictWallStreet, I can see sentiment for the SP500, NASDAQ and DJIA are all bearish, while the DJIA and SP500 are extremely bearish. This isn't too surprising after seeing and reading about the fears the credit crunch has sparked.

Harnessing the collective intelligence of the community, PredictWallStreet has published a bunch of forecasts today. Because of the accuracy of the forecasts (they outperform major indexes like the SP500), the more the better!

There are a few banks forecasted today, which seems appropriate given the recent headlines. Out of the four I'm looking at, only one is forecasted to close up and that bank is Bank of America (BAC).  In my opinion, this makes sense. Through all the dramarama regarding banks lately, Bank of America seems to have been the only one unscathed for the most part, staying out of the headlines and away from the eery B's-bankruptcy, bailout, buyout. This is not to say BAC isn't struggling, but maybe it's struggling less. Citigroup (C) is forecasted to close down, along with Morgan Stanley (MS) and Wachovia (WB). Sentiment for C, MS, and WB is all bearish. Looks like Wells Fargo and C can't save Wachovia right now. There down almost 17% right now at 4.21. This love triangle is more o no no, than o la la.

Apple (AAPL) has been seeing some gains the past few days, after a bit of struggling. AAPL is forecasted to close up today. Looks like Research in Motion's new Blackberry Storm did little to move King iPhone. Apple is also reported to be selling there new MacBooks under the scary $1,000.00 price tag; a good move in my opinion. Deals and steals are gonna be what consumers are mainly looking for now. Apple is up 2.5% to about 92.00. When I look at sentiment, I can see that it has been dragging slowly out of its down position and is becoming more bullish.

Wal-Mart (WMT) has been forecasted to close up today. This seems odd to me considering there has been a decrease in consumer confidence and thus a decrease in consumer spending. But I am led to the conclusion that consumers are turning to bargain super stores like Wal-Mart to save wherever they can. Looking at 1 month sentiment and overlaying the price quote, I can see that even when the price dropped for Wal-Mart, sentiment remained relativley strong. Right now sentiment has fallen along with the price but I expect both to be up soon as holiday shopping is right around the corner and is always a time of giant spending.

Ay, I'm off to buy a new cell phone :(

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