Netflix Is Playing Dirty

Share Video at DropShots.com It appears Netflix is playing dirty. It seems after all, the really loyal customers who rent lots of movies from them are getting the shaft on waiting in line for movies. Click here for full story. Hey, wait a minute...I'm a loyal customer of Netflix. Now that I read this story, I think I'm on their shit list too... I've noticed friends of mine getting movies sooner than I, when I know I've put that movie on my list first. Hmmmm...I smell a possible visit to Blockbuster mail service.

Classmates.com - Blast From The Past

Share Video and Photos at DropShots.com I just received an e-mail from Classmates.com. I signed up on that site years ago when it just started, and was the new rave. However, outside one guy those years ago that dumped me at home due to the “put out or get out rule” (don’t ask me why he bothered an e-mail)… I’ve never heard from anyone. I was recently bored and got an ad-vert from that site and went to “just see”. I saw a few photos of others there (they didn’t used to have that feature), and I posted mine on my old profile. A girl that was in the class above mine and that I really wasn’t that close to in high school just sent me an e-mail. She had seen my photo, and dropped a line to say hello. Guess what? For some reason, that just made my day. It brought back many memories of home (I live SO far away now and HOME is a tiny town in BFE Texas), and it was nice to be fondly remembered some 20+ years later. It’s not that I didn’t have lots of friends in school, or that I haven’t seen some of them listed on the website…I guess we just don’t know what to say, or who to e-mail so many years later. If you haven’t been there, or even if you have and just browse and skip over the names… Classmates.com is really pretty cool I now think. I told her that I am going to go back to the site and maybe shoot an e-mail to one or two just to say hello. That website sends out so much “junk e-mail”, and I’ve not been one to look back and keep in touch too much with those so many years ago from high school, but it was really nice to get an e-mail. Take a trip down memory lane, and “reach out and touch” someone from a long time ago. Don’t use the “oh, I don’t want to be first” excuse I’ve used all these years not to send an e-mail from a website.

BUSTED - Don't Take Good People For Granted

Share Video and Photos at DropShots.com Welcome to the Soap Box. There is only one post tonight, as I am human, and biting my tongue right now to believe in all that I preach. Really sucks too, as this is my first weekend to participate in Michele’s Meet-N-Greet, and I was hoping to make lots of new friends and draw new readers to my blog. Now I have to have a negative post, and may lose readers. Sometimes though, it’s time to call a spade a spade. I posted a morale boosting exercise recently with guaranteed results. I STAND BY THAT POST, AND STILL GUARANTEE THE RESULTS. However, I got a comment that had a karmic feel, and I pursued my feelings and got exactly the proof I thought was there. I will respond personally to any comment that asks a response out of me. I do not even mind people that comment in a negative way, as I believe in each to his own. However, this comment and request for a response may have been more than the “commenter” wished for. I have had some recent low morale in my business, and some shake ups are coming. But it reminded me of the exercise that I HAVE practiced as a manager, and learned it originally as an employee. It does work, and it is amazing. That reminder made me think that it’s about time I used it again in my own company. That thought came full fold with this Anonymous comment I received: “You say it's guaranteed to work. I've noticed you claim to have two businesses (in fact, in a previous blog, you stated yourself to be "business-savvy" - do you, or have you, used this tool in your businesses?” Posted by Anonymous 12:42 PM I was very prepared to respond to this in a positive way, and I will. YES, the exercise DOES work, and I have used it more than once in business practice. But, some people, no matter how much nice you say about them, or do for them, will not, nor cannot accept anything positive. Some people are so negative that they wouldn’t know a good day if it knocked them over. Most people that may comment on a blog will respond on a recent “post”…not “in a previous blog”. Most people do not respond as Anonymous. And most people will comment negative about right wing views, a belief they do not share, or other negative ways…but most people will not challenge a business owner that has claimed to be “business-savvy” in quotations. (Hell, this comment wasn't even really negative...somehow, I just knew. Must be the "mommy" instinct, or the "eyes in the back of mommy's head"). All of these forensic items somehow clued me in to “check out this comment carefully before I responded”. I respect all people, and even respect this one. HOWEVER… Don’t know if you guys all know this or not, but anyone who takes their blog seriously has a “site counter, or site meter”…so do I. The site meters tell you amazing things. It will tell you what area a person on your site comes from. It will tell you at what times people are logged on. It will tell you the domain they use to log on, i.e. AOL, PacBell, Charter, BellSouth, Comcast, Verizon, etc. It will tell you how long they were on, and how many pages they viewed. You can even get details as to the IP address. While all this information is basically useless... you can’t know WHO is on…You CANNOT TAP IN to anyone’s domain…you really don’t know much about the stats, UNLESS YOU ARE THE OWNER OF A BUSINESS, AND THE IP ADDRESS THAT SHOWS UP AT THE TIME OF A COMMENT HAPPENS TO BE YOUR OWN…AND YOUR OWN DOMAIN ADDRESS. Now, that brings a whole new perspective to the picture doesn’t it? And, if you can see that while you are paying a really negative employee a really decent wage to do their job, it doesn’t make you happy to know they were reading the boss’s blog for 32 minutes on your dime. And, when mad, I become really anal, and can log into my 8 surveillance cameras from home…so also when I eliminate a few possibilities…I can narrow down to a single conclusion. I’ve said, and so does my husband…”Do NOT mistake our kindness, or “laid-back-ness” for stupidity. We do check up, and you don’t get much past us”. So, in response to my previous post…here is my comment for this person according to the ABSOLUTE RULE. You have really beautiful eyes. However, I’m not sure this employee will last long enough to see my exercise implemented, and a good idea for this person is to check the RGJ classifieds for a new avenue to use their talents.

Police Investigate Blogs

Share Video and Photos at DropShots.com With numbers climbing towards one billion, blogs are becoming a great place for evidence. David Ludwig who killed his girlfriend Kara Beth Borden's parents in Pennsylvania, and Ben Fawley who is charged with causing the death of Taylor Marie Behl have led investigators to search out their blogs for possible clues, and they are finding them. More than one of these suspicious people had a blog on MySpace.com. Read my (scroll down on archive page) previous post concerning my opinions of the dangers of young people having too much freedom at MySpace.

Craigslist.com Being Sued

Share Video and Photos at DropShots.com Popular web site Craigslist.com is being sued. Boy, just let somebody get something really good going for themselves and somebody's got to try and mess it up. Click here for full story. There is NO WAY on a site that has become that huge that 19 employees can keep up with every post before a few slip through. I really hope this will turn out OK for them. I like the site.

Scorpions: Today's Fun Fact

Share Video and Photos at DropShots.com Did you know that scorpions fluoresce under black light? Even scorpion fossils still fluoresce. It's also said that if you place even a small amount of alcohol on a scorpion, it will instantly go mad and sting itself to death.

Interracial Relationships - My Thoughts - My Experience

Share Video and Photos at DropShots.com My bluff has been called. It is exciting for me when a reader specifically WANTS to know what I think about any particular thing. It also causes apprehensiveness. Be careful what you ask for, I have a fault for being honest. Yesterday’s post Racial Profiling: I May Not Be Talking To You allowed me to show my readers that while extremely “Right Wing”…I am not a “Right Wing Nazi”. I had an interesting response commending the post, but presenting the challenge that most people say what I said, until one of your children brings home someone of a different race. How do I feel about that? How would this reader know that “I’ve been there”. Background information and statement of beliefs first: its common knowledge I’m a Texan Baptist. Also common knowledge…after I left the South, I had 20 years among a vastly different cultural and pretty loose environment. While not a Bible Thumper per-say…I am very spiritual, I prefer karmic in my later years. For me personally, I am not a big proponent of interracial relationships. And, believe it or not…that has NOTHING TO DO WITH PREDJUDICE. My mother used to preach to me, “Be ye not unequally yoked one to another”. The bible verse is basically intended to not unite believers and unbelievers, but my mother carried it to a broader spectrum, i.e. do not match races, do not match drinkers with die-hard T-Totallers…basically if there are too many differences, it will just cause unnecessary problems and challenges, when a “normal” relationship is hard enough over many years. That is NOT to say that I do not thoroughly enjoy and love dearly my friends of color, and they me…but to unite in a marriage or relationship…I do not believe is productive, at least for me. By that same token, I do not judge in the least others that choose that path for themselves. Interracial relationships DO without a doubt cause some inevitable difficulties. I believe when children are produced of these relationships, even more difficulties and just “extra things to explain” come about. I grew up in a place where racism wasn’t a big deal, but all colors seemed to marry within their own, yet many families of color would commonly socialize with each other. That’s the way I think it should be. Now comes to my own experience. My son met a beautiful black girl. She even had a three year old son that was just as adorable. I came from dirt-poor beginnings, raised on a 160 acre cotton farm in West Texas. This young lady also came from meager beginnings to build herself a nice career as a hairdresser in a prominent salon, and had a beautiful apartment with her child. She was a successful single mother. It took him a while to approach me with these facts, but when he did…I was amazed at my own reaction. I took a silent breath for a moment. I pondered all that I came from, and also contemplated everywhere I had been since that time. I explained to him my love for him. I explained that he was now a grown man and that I trusted his judgment for who he was attracted to, and that obviously I would never want his relationship with a woman of his choosing to deter from my relationship with him and our family. He was welcome to bring her over. His relationship continued for some time, and when around me, she was on great behavior and appeared to be an excellent mother. The little boy was a doll baby, and I even enjoyed him. I was willing to accept whatever may have come from that relationship as far as long term. Then…as with any relationship, came a time for a fairly big argument between the two. This argument began while they were driving on a busy freeway with the little boy in the back seat. She all of a sudden changed, and began to beat him with her fist about his face while he was trying to drive, and with her son present and crying in the back seat. Needless to say, this was a BAD DAY in our household. He called me just about crazy, and she had taken his keys and gone away to a girlfriend’s house. He did not know what to do, so I told him, no worries I would intervene. I went to this residence. It was a nice home from the outside, but when the owner opened the door, it was awful. It was a filthy house, the owner was unkept “white trash” in my opinion, with a couple of filthy children, and I did retrieve his keys, but she was horrid to me. She spoke in “gang type” language and acted “so black”. That relationship was over, and sad to say, all my redneck blood came rushing back to me, and I concluded…you can take the girl out of the ghetto, but maybe you cannot take the ghetto out of the girl. I think my son sadly feels that way now too, and I don’t think he would take this avenue again. I would like to think that given a new day and a different person, I would start from point zero and judge the situation fairly based on a new relationship. I’m just not sure. I would like to say though that in my husband’s family…his sister is married to a Vietnamese man, and they have two children. He is wonderful, and we love the adorable children to death. Also, my husband’s cousin that is just like a brother just recently married a beautiful woman from Spain, and she is amazing and they are expecting their first child. We do have a colorful family, and all have a wonderful time together when we are fortunate enough to be together. Thank you to The Intuitive Woman for her comment and challenge. Hopefully I haven’t lost a reader, but gained others. Whatever your beliefs are, stick to them and be happy in whatever you seek in life.

High Morale Exercise - GUARANTEED RESULTS!

Share Video and Photos at DropShots.com Do you have morale problems at work, in your social club, on your ball team, within your family? I have a GUARANTEED solution that is both fun and very rewarding. The best part? It’s free, and only takes a few moments of your time. This exercise should be operated by ONE manager, owner, or designated person within your organization that can be absolutely trusted. Write down each employee’s, or person’s name down on a piece of paper, and provide a return envelope that can be sealed. Underneath each name, leave about three lines of space. Hand out this paper to everyone. One ABSOLUTE Rule: Each person is to look at a person’s name, and write a short sentence that describes their favorite and positive thing about them. It can even be one word, but it must be good. DO NOT SIGN YOUR NAME TO YOUR PAPER. THIS IS A TOTALLY ANNONOYMOUS EXERCISE! The manager of the project will be the ONLY person these papers can be turned in to. That manager then takes each paper from the sealed envelope in privacy and does the following… Using a computer or typewriter, take one piece of paper and put an employees name at the top. Type below each comment that was written about them. Place each person’s paper with the positive comments made about them into an envelope and pass them out to the appropriate owner. It is encouraged that each person reads their paper at a private time… (Inside paychecks is a good place to put them). Using a computer or typewriter prevents small, close groups from being able to “guess the handwriting”. You will be amazed at how high morale will quickly build. You will also be amazed at how touched you will be when you read the positive things others see within you. I’ve seen this in action, I believe I still have my paper wrinkled and preserved somewhere in my “keepsakes”. Please give it a try, and be sure to let me know your results. Remember, I said GUARANTEED! NOTE: I have no idea about the book portrayed in the photo above...I just needed a photo resembling high morale...but who knows...probably a good read :)

Michele Sent Me

Another great blog found! Please visit Michele. She has a site filled with fun and interaction. You will be compelled to visit her blog daily. She is the newest addition to my Links / Blogroll section. Visit her and watch the traffic on your own blog increase :) Her official link: http://www.micheleagnew.com. Be sure to tell her Malinda777 sent you.

Today's Fun Fact

Share Video and Photos at DropShots.com Did you know that the "dot" over the letter i is called a tittle?

Peanuts Turn Into Poor Taste

Share Video and Photos at DropShots.com I cannot believe an ex-president of the United States had the low class to bring politics into Coretta Scott King's funeral. If he wants to bitch about wiretapping, he should use his profits from peanuts and "Billy Beer" to purchase a paid public service announcement against Bush. Then he can exercise his First Amendment rights to free speech on his own dime. The celebration of a great woman's life was certainly not the place. And to think his badly placed sperm Jack Carter is going to run for a senate seat in MY STATE! Excuse my "French"... but perhaps Mrs. Carter should have swallowed this one.

Racial Profiling - I May Not Be Talking To You...

Share Video and Photos at DropShots.com Tonight, I find a difficult post to write. So…as has been before, may be long winded. Difficult in the sense that I REALLY want to portray the “other – softer” side of me. I think my blog is perfectly titled, Blah Blah Blog – The Soap Box. Some posts are blah blah, and sometimes, I really climb on the soap box. I am NOT a Right Wing Nazi. I am definitely right wing, but not Nazi. Believe it or not, I was raised by a family that was die-hard Democrat. I will save that story for another post. Racial profiling or distrust of others unlike us is unfortunately inevitable, no matter which side of the fence we stand on. By most definitions, it is white people somehow against black people unfairly, or, since 9-11, any people against Muslims, or assuming all Asian men have small penises, or thinking everyone raised in Texas or the South is a total redneck. The fact that we all have certain characteristics that make us somehow divisible from others, causes natural stereotyping. I get pretty wound up when discussing the radical Islam terrorist forces. But, I want to go on the record most certainly to say that I do not hate all Middle Eastern people. I don’t hate all blacks. I don’t hate all whites. I HATE ALL SHITTY PEOPLE that cannot follow by the rules set forth by our ancestors and country founders. I hate toothless white trash that cannot accomplish more than a beer and a cigarette hanging from their unbrushed teeth. I hate black gang bangers that scare me and yell out threatening comments when I’m forced to be on a dark street alone. I hate Muslim radicals that try and push their hatred of freedom down my throat. I hate lazy people that continue to have children out of wedlock, or “stump their toe”, get a few stitches and go on disability, and somehow think my tax dollars and my government somehow owe them a living. I hate the idea of anyone that cannot “just get along”. Happiness is a choice, and freedom is the most treasured, invisible thing we will ever hope to have. Success doesn’t come free; wealth is built and comes from diligence and hard work. The twenty years I spent daily in a large casino environment allowed me to meet and spend time talking at length with people from all over the world. I have an immense respect for all people. All people that try. I am amazed by the cultural stories and beliefs that have been shared with me over the years. Good people come in all shapes and sizes, and all colors. The culmination of all I have learned from so many has molded me into a very karmic soul. I can listen for hours to someone telling me of how they live in a place so far away I can only see in a photograph. It’s like I tell my 16 employees when we have a “come to Jesus” meeting at the shop. When I stand and yell about many issues facing the company that I want changed…not all of them pertain to you. If I’m yelling and screaming, and stating an opinion…if you didn’t do it, then don’t tuck your head into your turtle shell. I’m not talking to you. But if I do mention something that you know in your heart you are guilty of…listen up. Make a change that will make the team win. A successful company can only thrive if all people involved work as a team. So goes it with the world. We are a team comprised of billions of people all decorated as an individual unique package. I believe that’s how our founding fathers saw it. United we stand, Divided we fall.

Ketchup - Once A Medicine

Share Video and Photos at DropShots.com TODAY'S FUN FACT: Did you know that Ketchup used to be medicine? In the 1830's it was a patented medicine sold as Dr. Miles Compound Extract Of Tomato.

Coretta Scott King - In Memoriam

Share Video and Photos at DropShots.com Heaven added a touch of class today as we laid Coretta Scott King to rest. My oh my...what it must have been like to have been fortunate enough to sit on the porch and share a glass of iced tea with this amazing woman. Just watching the people who paid their respects to her somehow made me a better woman by sharing their moment. May you forever rest in peace Coretta.

Carl's Bar & Delicatessen - Hutchinson, KS

Share Video and Photos at DropShots.com On the rare chance I have any readers from Hutchinson, KS...listen up. I just found out today that dear friends of mine that moved to Kansas have purchased this bar. Carl's Bar & Deli, established in 1958, is the oldest established bar in Hutchinson. It's located at 22 E. 2nd St. in Hutchinson, KS. Dan Heimerman, and his wife Pam are two of the most awesome people I've ever met. Dan was a trucker for years, running a car-hauling business. They were one of the first, and by far one of the most loyal customers we've ever had at our truck garage. For the longest time, I thought his last name was Walstib. That was the logo on his truck...it said WALSTIB bigger than ever on the door. Well, it turns out 'ole Dan is a loyal Grateful Dead fan, and WALSTIB stands for What A Long Strange Trip It's Been. Picture a robust, kind of loud fellow with a "burr close shaved" haircut with a huge cigar. No matter the situation, whenever I'm around Dan, I do nothing but laugh my ass off. His wife Pam is one of those timeless beauties (God knows how he keeps a woman that gorgeous!) with a figure to die for at our age. He is the PERFECT guy to own a local neighborhood bar. Actually, I do know how Dan caught Pam, but I want you to drive to Hutchinson, KS and hear the story straight from the 'ole horse's mouth. Any story or any tall tale told by Dan Heimerman would be worth the drive to Hutchinson to buy a beer and a sandwich. Be sure you told him that crazy Texan Malinda from Reno sent you.

Stinky Pinky Left - NOW JACK CARTER?

Share Video and Photos at DropShots.com The ONLY good thing about Harry Reid being the Democratic Minority Leader is the fact that he had to move the hell out of Nevada. Can you believe his nickname here in our Silver State is "Stinky Pinky"? It was the laugh of the state on one of his last campaign ads bragging about his hometown charm, and that he still goes into the Nugget Casino to eat (Whoopty-Do!)...and that since he's been a little boy, his nickname has been Stinky Pinky. The shoe does fit though... but at last, we got rid of him and shipped him off to Washington to toot his shrill horn there. Then today...I find out this awful news... Share Video and Photos at DropShots.com Jack Carter...yes the son of the "Billy Beer" ex president Jimmy Carter is running for a Nevada Senate seat. UUGGGGHHHH! No worries Senator Ensign...the good guys will fight long and hard to make sure this moron does not get elected.

Bush Wiretapping NOT Illegal - PROBABLE CAUSE

Share Video and Photos at DropShots.com I am so sick and tired of hearing the blow-hards up on Capitol Hill pontificate about the illegal status of the wire-tapping Bush ordered to listen in on people bound and determined to kill as many Americans as possible. We all know about search warrants...but anyone who's ever been old enough to sneak their first beer, or hide that joint in the car during their wild days, knows that even in Smallsville, USA the cops do NOT NEED A WARRANT if they truly have reason to believe a crime is conceivably in progress. DUH! IT'S CALLED PROBABLE CAUSE! Quit beating this dead horse already. Oh yeah...I forgot...some that are in power didn't inhale. Well, I guess my probable cause theory is out the window! :)

Isabelle Dinoire - First Face Transplant Recipient

Share Video and Photos at DropShots.com "You Go Girl!" I'm very proud of Isabelle Dinoire of Valenciennes, France for coming out on global television to show off her new face and bear her soul to the world. She was mauled by a dog while passed out in November, 2005. She has received the first ever face transplant that may lead to an open door for many disfigured people. I would encourage her as time goes on to show more of her story and before and after photos, so that we can all share her miracle. I wish her the best on continued success with her body accepting the transplanted tissue, and hope for her much success. She has been approached with a very lucrative book / documentary deal. I hope she goes for it, I cannot wait to watch her story unfold. Good Luck Isabelle!

Meet A Brit With A Refreshing Right Wing View

I found another cool blog. Seb's Blog has been added to my "Links / Blogroll" section. Check him out, he has a refreshing British spin on world news. Lot's of humor there too. "Word has it" you might be able to find a link there to the "dastardly" Muslim cartoons that have just about started a new World War.

Terrorists On The Move Again - Violence Sparks

THE TERRORISTS ARE ON THE MOVE AGAIN. I’m pulling out the soap box and climbing on. People, we must be ever diligent right now…it could be us again any day. Share Video and Photos at DropShots.com Thirteen terrorists escaped prison today. Really bad guys, some on death row. One of them, the mastermind of the attack on the USS Cole which killed many US Sailors. This news has prompted a world wide “APB” for these monsters. The whole world is scared to death of where they might be, and “wondering” if they might be “up to something”. HELL YES they are up to something…they are trying to stay low and figure out how to kill you at first chance. KILL YOU…whoever you are, and whatever country you may live in if you are not one of them. That includes their own innocent people that want a different way. Don’t wonder, ACT. However, we remain complacent on the issue, not wanting to spend any more defense money, demanding we bring all our soldiers home and not fight a war, and be gentle with these people and teach them the way to smiles and warm fuzzies. Not possible folks. Sad to say. We must remain diligent and solid in our resolve to root them out and eliminate the terrorist activities. I so wish we could bring all our brave soldiers home, but the sad fact remains, someone has to draw the short straw and make this all happen, and that is our loyal Americans in the military. Share Video and Photos at DropShots.com (Does This Photo Look Eerily Familiar?) While in years just past…some Muslim nations have become “Democratic” societies, but their hard line radical beliefs still prevail. Cartoons published in a Danish newspaper “slamming” Mohammed, have stirred up VERY DRASTIC violence in Beirut. The uproar is so concerning that the Danish government has advised all of their citizens to LEAVE LEBANON AT ONCE. US News sources are reporting this news, but they are “declining” to publish the cartoons in question “out of respect for the Muslim religion”. I appreciate that fact, as it appalls me whenever I see degradation of our flag, or anti-Jesus propaganda, but guess what? That doesn’t stop American media from reporting on atheist movements, or letting legal complaints go all the way to the Supreme Court to remove “In God We Trust” from or money, or removing any Christian symbols from schools, etc. Come on…the media isn’t worried about the Muslim religion…they aren’t worried about my Christian religion either. They are genuinely worried that our country will again get our ass kicked if they don’t remain “Politically Correct” enough in this matter. I’ve seen some horrible cartoons about Jesus in Playboy magazine, and the “Santa Claus vs. Jesus” episode of South Park in which Santa kicked the shit out of Jesus made it to everyone’s e-mail. I hated them, but I did see the sick humor, and the right of those who published them to have their First Amendment rights to publish what they wish to. I just choose not to buy the magazines, or watch the shows. Simple enough. But NO…NO…let’s not wiretap these radical people’s telephones, or offend them by publishing the cartoons that started the massive violence. That might hurt the Devil’s feelings. Let’s just trash Jesus whenever we think we can get a rating on TV, and let our children think there were no REAL PRINCIPALS that founded this country in 1776. Watch your backs America. The wolves are on the prowl, and I’m afraid we will see more tragedy in days to come. Let’s unite as a people to eradicate the violence. We must support our foreign allies and hope for them the strength to fight their part of the fight too.