Not Before Coffee via @Gayla

While visiting one of my favorite, social hangouts earlier today, I came across the question: Why do conservatives think they own Christianity?

I’ve wondered that sometimes myself – although my version isn’t painted with such a wide brush. No one should categorize “all conservatives” or “all Christians” in to such small boxes.

I thought about the question for a bit… my thoughts are:

I’ve often joked, calling myself an "extreme moderate" because I easily fit, quite definitively into each side, with staunch beliefs, easily defined by either sides.

When it comes to politics, I do try to leave my religion out of it.

I don’t think it takes a good Christian to be a good CEO, doctor, fireman, policeman, etc. Why should that factor into a person’s ability to run a country?

Oh, I wouldn’t want a person with a heart filled with hate, or someone who lacks spirituality at all, running the country.

I think having morals, values and beliefs that weigh on the side of goodness, kindness, peacefulness and prosperity are a MUST; whether or not a person is a Christian should not play into whether a person would be a good leader.

I consider myself to be a Christian. God has been very good to me. I have been blessed many times over. My family has experienced miracles that are beyond medical explanation. I believe, in my heart of hearts, God has always provided me with the proof I need to know I’m doing what he would have me do.

I have 2 signs that hang in my house. I appreciate when visitors read them and understand the clear message I wish to convey with them. They do have a purpose!

Sign 1 – Remember How Blessed You Are (I don’t need anyone force-feeding their beliefs on me to make sure I make it to the front of the "Been Blessed" line.

Sign 2 – You can preach a better sermon with your life than with your lips – I believe in leading by example not cramming what I believe down the throats of others.

My Bible commands me to love my neighbors, brothers and sisters – it commands me not to judge – it gives me comfort in letting me know it’s up to me to find my own salvation.

I believe every Christian has their own convictions (that little voice inside that tells you when something is wrong). Aside from the obvious commandments of not killing, stealing, etc. – I believe with all that I am, when a Christian strays from their own convictions, yes it’s wrong and it would be a sin.

I have a relative who thinks wearing jeans, makeup and cutting hair is a sin. I believe it would be, for HER. For me it is not. God did not put that conviction in my heart and I feel no guilt or shame when I throw on a pair of jeans, cut my hair or apply my makeup. That lack of guilt is what tells me I’m good with God!

This relative is quite vocal in letting me know she doesn’t think she’ll see me in Heaven because of this -  I on the other hand told her I’d save her a seat.

There is a HUGE difference between preaching/teaching the gospel and imposing your own set of convictions on others. I think that’s where a lot of Christian’s get confused.

Spreading the gospel is about spreading love, peace and all that is good. Not once, throughout the Bible, do you read of how Jesus force-fed his beliefs to another. He lead a righteous life. He would teach. He would answer questions. He would embrace others. 

Jesus NEVER flew off in a fit of emotional rage, as if to somehow seize control over the mind of another and shift their belief to align perfectly with his.

Have something to add? Leave a comment – I’d love for you to share your thoughts.

77% of girls think they’re ugly.

52% of girls think they’re fat.

100% of society should stop judging a girl based on appearance it only serves as fuel to a matter that’s already out of control

First let’s flashback to 2009 – Gilberto Sanchez, the 49-year-old New York man who uploaded a copy of Twentieth Century Fox’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine to MegaUpload in March 2009, did so a full month before it hit theaters. Sanchez — was sentenced December 19, to a year in federal prison. Sanchez went on to promote the digital upload on other websites.

Personally, I think he should have gotten much more time.

Now, consider, for just a moment, what impact this single act had.

Hollywood is Not So Glamorous

If you’ve never been on a movie set during filming or observed what it takes to make a half-hour weekly sitcom, I can assure you, it’s not all glitz and glamour.

In 2002, I had the opportunity to attend a taping of Just Shoot Me staring David Spade, Laura San Giacomo, George Segal, Wendie Malick, and Enrico Colantoni

Going in, thought I’d be there a couple of hours; would see the glamour of Hollywood firsthand, leave and grab some lunch. Quite the contrary. What I encountered was hours, upon hours of take after take. NINE hours to be exact.

That day I developed a new level of respect for entertainers and what they go through to deliver their products to us week after week, film after film. I would imagine other forms of entertainment are somewhat similar, and not quite as glamorous as the world would think.

Who Does Piracy Really Hurt?

The next time you watch a movie or sitcom; the next time you pick up a music CD, take a few minutes to observe the credits. The names and businesses you see listed are the hardworking people who rely on the sales of that product to support their families. It’s not just the big named stars you see walking the Red Carpet, it’s the personal assistants, the gophers, the stagehands, set builders, and so many more who are paid a working wage we could more easily relate to. Take a quick look at the full cast and credits of Slumdog Millionaire, you’ll see what I’m talking about.

Pirating, as far as I’m concerned, can easily be compared to a single act of hacking the bank accounts and stealing the paychecks of all those responsible for developing the product that’s been illegally copied. While on the surface the act of copying and sharing may seem small; but under the surface the destruction spreads like a cancer.  This clown shared tips on how to get a MegaUpload and Rapidshare premium membership for free.

Ironically, he was telling how to pirate from the pirate. Funny, but it’s still not right.

I’ve not one ounce of respect or sympathy for MegaUpload founder Kim Schlitz (aka Kim Dotcom) – Anyone placing vanity plates on their ultra expensive, luxury cars that read: ‘MAFIA’, ‘HACKER’, ‘STONED’, ‘V’ (for Vendetta?), ‘KIM COM’, ‘CEO’ and ‘POLICE’ – well, to me that just oozes of “I know I’m up to no good.”

Protecting Copyrights & Trademarks – Whose Job is it Anyway?

I believe companies, brands and individuals have every right to protect their trademark, copyright and services. They also have every right to file suit against those who purposely, intentionally and willfully steal and distribute their protected materials.  I would think it’s FAR easier for the owner of a copyright or trademark.

Don’t we all get monthly bank statements? Isn’t it our place to make sure our accounts are in order and report stolen debit cards or unauthorized transactions? If companies are losing so much money to piracy – it seems it would be in their best interest to pay a handful of employees or freelancing Internet professionals to serve as gatekeepers or watchdogs to their brand. Kind of like monitoring a bank account.

Mass Internet Censorship

The recent uproar over SOPA and PIPA have captured the eyes and ears of people who hadn’t paid much attention to piracy and it’s impact, and likely wouldn’t have, had the anti-SOPA campaign not made such an “in your face” statement on Wednesday when the Internet went black.

By exposing the potential threats of sites like YouTube, Facebook and Twitter being shut down; the threat SOPA and PIPA posed was delivered to the front doorstep of all internet users. It became clear that every internet user, big and small, would somehow be affected by Internet Censorship. People listened; the world responded.

Piracy is a Problem Just Like Anything Else

Fact is, piracy is a problem. There are a few high profile websites that cater and pander piracy crimes. Those sites are making big waves, creating choppy waters the rest of us are left to deal with. However, I believe it’s the obligation of our government and the officials WE voted for to protect the voters first, not corporations, publishers, record labels, or brands.

More on the Takedown of MegaUpload

I’ve been caught up in reading the endless stream of news surrounding the MegaUpload takedown. I thought I’d save you time by sharing what I’ve found most interesting.

Megaupload.com Gets Hit by Mega Piracy Indictment; Hackers Attack Feds, Entertainment Industry

Downfall: Photos Of MegaUpload Founder’s Valuable Cars Getting Seized – Notice the giraffe’s shown in the second photo – toward the upper left. Seriously! smh

The Mega empire: Details of the MegaUpload indictment

Alleged Crimes: criminal copyright infringement and racketeering. The full indictment posted online.

Images and story behind renowned German hacker, playboy, Megavideo titan Kim Schlitz, a.k.a. Kimble, Kim Dotcom – known to the moral world as Sleaze ball Extraordinaire. Grab a barf-bag, you’ll want one handy.

More on the history of Kim Schlitz, previous crimes, and a lovely picture of his chubby face and middle finger to boot.

Got an opinion on MegaUpload? SOPA? Piracy? Leave a comment, I’d love to hear what you have to say.

In a Livorno port authority recording, Francesco Schettino, 52, stated he was trying to coordinate the evacuation from the safety of a lifeboat. Apparently he’d tripped and fallen into the vessel and was unaware that some of his passengers had lost their lives.

I mean absolutely no disrespect to the passengers who’ve been traumatized and certainly not to those who lost their lives and their families. But…

When I heard this cockamamie excuse, my immediate thought was…

A captain of a wrecked cruise ship saying he abandoned ship by accident having slipped and fallen safely into a lifeboat is almost as believable as a husband saying he cheated by accident when he slipped and fell on a naked woman.

I would think his odds would have been greater for hitting 2 or 3 national lotteries simultaneously than it would be for him to fall safely into a lifeboat. Where are the witnesses who can verify his claims? What’s next? The lifeboat was the only one empty at the time of his fall?

I dun think so Lucy!

Simply put, absolutely.

Not only can older dogs still learn new tricks, it is imperative to their health and quality life that they continue to be stimulated. Just like people, as we age we tend to slow down a little. Our metabolism slows down, our energy levels drop and even our physical and mental abilities slow if we do not create consistent stimulation. Dogs are the exact same. Owners may follow their aging dog’s lead by exercising and playing less since their natural tendency may be to lounge around and sleep more often, but this is not in their best interest. By continually challenging your dog with physical exercise and mental stimulation you are helping your dog continue living life to the fullest and experience a better quality of life.

Physical Activity

If your dog is already in a rut of sleeping all day, it is not too late. You will want to gradually bring your dog back to speed by incorporating exercise and mental stimulation. Rather than jumping into a half-day hike up the mountain, try a 15 minute walk around the neighborhood instead. As you increase his exercise, pay close attention to your dog’s cues. If he needs to rest, let him. After an extended period of not exercising, muscles are not as strong and conditioned as they once were. It can be difficult for your dog to get back to a physical routine. As well, while dogs age, they may begin to develop arthritis and joint problems.

Mental Stimulation

It is also important to mentally stimulate your senior dog’s mind daily. This is easily done by providing mentally challenging play, like putting treats or food in a Buster Cube and letting your dog figure out how to get the food out. You could try teaching your dog new tricks. Keep in mind that, like a puppy, your senior dog will have a shorter attention span, so short intervals in teaching your dog new tricks are better. With lots of repetition your dog can master new tricks.

Avoid Depression

By implementing brain teasers and new information for your dog to learn daily, you are helping keep his mind sharp and giving him purpose. When older dogs are left alone to sleep all day they can develop depression. You can help give your senior dog the best life possible by incorporating these simple steps back into your daily routines. Not only will you see your dog get a little more skip in his step, you’ll be providing him the best life possible. It’s perfect for the two of you to continue your relationship and bonding as you work together learning new ticks and playing games while getting some much needed physical activity.

No one likes to see their loved ones age. Do your part in helping your dog age gracefully by providing the necessary stimulation he needs to stay young at heart, both physically and mentally!

Dr. Susan Wright DMV has been a practicing veterinarian more than 10 years. Susan is the staff dog bark collar expert for Dog Fence DIY.