This is a test

I am testing something for work and you all get to see it. I need a decent amount of text for this test, so here is a spontaneous haiku.

So many are dead
I am cleaning up bodies
Four dead monitors

Also I have a dead computer. These are the things waiting to be picked up by the city. Or rather, people who work for the city, as the town of Spencer does not have hands or drive a car.

I think that's enough text for my test.

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The Twilight Hoopla

I've been wanting to say something about the Twilight saga. Let me preface this with the fact that I HAVE read the series, twice in fact, and did enjoy it. It's a fun read! It's like a PG Rated version of the Underworld series of films, which I enjoyed.

Something bothered me a bit on the first reading, and it bothered me even more the second time, and that was a lot of the relationship between Edward and Bella. I'm not even talking about the whole vampire thing, but their entire codependency thing and Edward being so controlling. Is a relationship where they can't bear to live in a world without the other really a thing to celebrate? Is Bella really a strong female role model for girls? She can't seem to stand on her own two feet, and partakes in risky behavior to get attention.

And what about Edward telling her who she can hang out with, and her trying to sneak around him? What about him having family member spy on her when he is away? Am I the only one that found that a little bit creepy?

Perhaps I am just becoming quite the old fuddy-duddy. While I'm at it, get off my lawn.

Remember this at Christmas Time

> Subject: Remember this at Christmas time .....
>
>
>
>
> REMEMBER THIS AT CHRISTMAS TIME
>
> According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and
> female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, male reindeer drop
> their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to
> mid-December. Female reindeer retain their antlers till after they give
> birth in the spring. Therefore, according to EVERY historical rendition
> depicting Santa's reindeer, EVERY single one of them, from Rudolph to
> Blitzen, had to be a girl. We should've known.... ONLY women would be able
> to drag a fat-ass man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one
> night and not get lost.

Daddy ate my fingers!!!

-something to think about  ;>)

> > DADDY'S GONNA EAT YOUR FINGERS
> >
> > I was packing for my business trip and my three year old daughter was
> > having a wonderful time playing on the bed. At one point she said,
> 'Daddy,
> > look at this' , and stuck out two of her fingers.
> >
> > Trying to keep her entertained, I reached out and stuck her tiny
> fingers
> > in my mouth and said ,
> > 'Daddy's gonna eat your fingers,'
> > pretending to eat them.
> >
> > I went back to packing, looked up again and my daughter was standing
> on
> > the bed staring at her fingers with a devastated look on her face.
> >
> > I said, 'What's wrong, honey?'
> >
> > She replied,
> > 'What happened to my booger?'

Eeeew!!

I got this in a forwarded email called "Pumpkin Pies."
Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

I check my texts and emails while driving!

Yup, you read that right. I do. But before everybody flips out, let me explain.

I normally wouldn't use a blog to hawk a product. I recently discovered an amazing application for my BlackBerry that could save lives. It is called Drivesafe.ly.

Drivesafe.ly reads your text messages and emails aloud. It does a great job, too. I've tried to mess with it by typing in words that might throw a machine for a loop (my maiden name, for example), and overall it is very, very good at getting them correct.

You can get a simple version of this software for free. For $14, you can get a more advanced version that has more options. Both the free and paid versions allow the user to set auto-responders (away messages) for your texts, emails, both, or one or the other. That way you can let your impatient friends and family know that you can't reply at the moment, but that you heard their message. Or, you can shut that off and make them wait. It's up to you.

It comes in handy for things other than just driving. Have you ever been eagerly expecting a reply, and something arrives while you are elbow deep in fixing dinner? You wash up, set things aside, lose your momentum, and excitedly grab your device. But as you open the message, you realize sadly that it is a forwarded email from a relative of kittens wearing hats, instructing you to in turn send it to ten friends or everybody that you care about will lose their right thumbs in a gardening accident.

I do see it's downsides though, too. If you have somebody who likes to send gossipy, snarky, or profanity filled messages, you had better be good at remembering to disable the program when necessary. I could easily see this leading to hurt feelings.

But overall, this really is a really nice program. Sure, the best alternative would be for us to all slow down, and not exist with such an immediate mentality. But, that is where we are, and it is only going to get worse. A program like Drivesafe.ly is a perfect fit for the person that is attached to technology. There is no reason to be reading your text messages while driving when programs like this exist. You can keep your eyes on the road AND keep updated at the same time without killing yourself and others.

Drivesafe.ly is available for BlackBerry, iPhone, Android, and Windows Mobile phones. Soon they will have one that will recognize your voice to send replies. You can go to http://www.drivesafe.ly to get it yourself if you are interested. It really is worth it.