DeeEl's Mo Chroí Scríofa

Here’s A Clue

Hoax.  Duped.  Taken for  a ride.  I believe all of these apply to the Heene family who are in the news a great deal these days.  The media must be feeling a bit singed now that it has been released that the “Balloon Boy” was a total fabrication to get the Heene family back into the spotlight.

I watched part of Entertainment Tonight last night as they attempted to knock on the Heene’s door for an interview.  You could see the media lined up across the street watching as ET knocked without getting a response.  Although I didn’t see the initial broadcasts regarding “Balloon Boy”, I have followed things since the balloon landed finding no one on board.  I did not know at the time who Mr. Heene was nor that he had been on a reality television show.  I really don’t care about reality television as it is as far away from reality as Snow White. 

As I watched the various segments of the news which covered this story, things didn’t seem right to me.  I believe the first time my head didn’t seem to wrap around this properly was hearing what seemed two different locations the seven-year-old was hiding in.  The first I heard, Falcon was found hiding behind some boxes in the family garage.  Than there was a turn around and it was reported that he was hiding up in the attack.  It seems that each time the news story airs, there is something new, a different twist to what has happened and why.  Friends and former colleagues of Mr. Heene stating they believed from the very first news cast that this was a hoax and just another attempt of Mr. Heene to get into the news.

I had heard about the segment of NBC’s Today show where young Falcon vomited.  I pulled the video on-line and watched it.  I was totally appalled that the child sat there vomiting and his father just made faces like he didn’t want to be anywhere near the vomit and was grossed out from the ordeal.  This, in my opinion, is not how a caring, loving father should react when his young son gets ill.  Had he suggested stopping the interview to see to the child, then I, perhaps, would have had second thoughts about his current situation.

The “question box” for the media was yet another mind-boggling event.  It seemed Mr. Heene was doing everything he could to be on camera as he could.  And the entire time, the media fed his cravings.  They gave him exactly what he wanted.  They gave him air time to show he is still around and will be back in the spot-light when ever he wants.

Here’s a clue people, leave his front door.  Let the authorities deal with him.  He will be charged, misdemeanors, but still he will be charged.  If you continue to feed his unbalanced cravings to be on camera in even the smallest way, he WINS.  Pack up and move out.  Yes, this post is about Mr. Heene, but I will not add his name to my tags which would inadvertently bring him even more publicity.  I really do believe that the media is the biggest problem now, GO AWAY and LEAVE HIM ALONE!!!

Getting Inside

As long as I can remember, I have loved to do research. In my college psych classes, having the same prof was at times an advantage. He asked the same question in each of the classes “Who would rather write a 20 page research paper in lieu of taking an exam?” My hand was usually the first one up. My final class with this laid-back intelligent Jewish man was Adolescent Psychology which I took as an independent study. He looked at me during one of my orals with him and reminded me of this question in the other classes. He said that in all the years he had been teaching and of all the students he asked that question of, I was probably the only one who answered honestly. His reason for this question was in asking students who had test anxiety. Yes, I do.

To me, research is as natural as breathing. You don’t learn if you don’t seek and ask questions. Since being thrust into a life of freelance writing I have learned something new about myself and about research. Generally, I look at research as a way to learn about something that interests me. Now I see it as something so much deeper. When I wrote my book, Through God’s Mercy, I just sat and wrote. The research I conducted was first of all finding an empty spot in the ocean to place my island country. The rest of the research was using French/English, Spanish/English and Portuguese/English dictionaries to create some words for usage in this country. My newest book has taken me into the research of the history of Ireland as well as watching Irish movies and seeking out those who live in Ireland to get a better grasp on the verbiage and speech to use.

I still don’t consider this outrageous research. It isn’t even rating near the kind of research I may do to find out about doctors and lawyers I decide to hire. However, I have been doing some research lately that has taken me to a whole new level. I embedded so much of myself in TGM that at times when I read it I have to stop and shake myself off because I am so attached to the dept of it. I am currently working on some research that has given me the same feel. I love history and museums. I determined that as a freelance writer I would write about museums and historical events. Now the fun begins.

I wasn’t interested in writing the usual things that the whole world already knows. I wanted to find the hidden treasures. The little nuances that are not widely known. I knew that The Crockett Tavern Museum would be my first. I used to live just a couple miles from this museum and had visited there before. Then in July just past, I learned a hidden gem about Mr. Crockett and was given permission to use it and create from that. I knew I would be doing research, but I did not know then, how deep this would take me. I have begun to feel an almost intimate bond with an American legend that is bigger then the state he gave his life for. And yet, I know that even as I read his words and examine his prized rifle, I am hardly scratching the surface of who he really was. But this research has shown me that until I get inside the heart, mind and very essence of the one I am researching (much like I got into the minds of the adolescents I used to counsel) my research will be utterly incomplete. If the research is incomplete, the story cannot be told in a satiating manner to fully fill those who read.

Debt

There are more ads on television today then I care to even count.  Advertisements promising to help lower or even eliminate your tax debt to the IRS.  Others help you eliminate your credit card debt, which, according to them, may not even be your fault.  Where should the blame be placed for the indebtedness of this country?

If the debt Americans have accrued with credit cards and other forms of credit was combined, I do believe it would resemble the National debt.  Everyday people make decisions and sign for yet another credit card or sign a piece of paper to buy on credit.  It is, after all, the American way.

I pay my taxes, local and federal.  I have my tax returns prepared and submitted by April 15 every year.  this is NOT a new thing in the United States, paying taxes.  So why is it so difficult for people to plan and prepare to make sure and make sure everything is in order by April 15?  Are they waiting and hoping that the government will change its mind about paying taxes or perhaps make special allowances just for them?  If every person in the United States who lives and works here (including those here illegally or on visa) would pay the proper taxes we could greatly diminish the national debt.

Credit!  The other part of the United States financial problems.  However, I am not talking about the United States national debt here.  That is a whole different ballgame I may address at a later time.  it makes me angry every time I see those ads telling people that their credit card debt may not be their fault.  Well, just whose fault is it?  You signed the papers accepting responsibility for any debt you incur using the card.  Yes, there are fees that go along with this.  You know that as it is in the fine print you were supposed to read before signing.  You then sign to purchase what you want on credit.  So, why is this debt NOT your fault?

There once was a time that folks believed in only purchasing things they could afford.  Now the norm is to rack up as much credit debt as possible and then go to an organization to have them make it go away or simply file for bankruptcy.  I say, “WAKE UP YOU IDIOTS!!!”  It is possible to live without amassing deep debt.

When I opened my bank accounts I was very adamant that I did not want any kind of a bank card.  They kept trying to sell me on the credit card or an ATM card.  I continued to decline.  I had no desire to be tempted with what could get me into trouble. It may be less convenient for me to go to the bank during banking hours to make a withdrawal, but I don’t have ATM fees to pay.

Yes, I have one credit card.  It is actually a pre-paid credit card.  I recently took a four day trip to New York City.  I paid for as much as possible before the trip.  then I applied money to my credit card and took very little cash.  What I got from this was a trip that forced me to live within my means and not accrue any added debt.

WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!  If you don’t, what will be your legacy to your children?  DEBT!!

Ratings Push Or Slap In the Face

Upon rising in the mornings I generally turn no the news (CBS), turn on my computer and then fetch the newspaper from the front deck.  After getting dressed and finding breakfast I retire to the couch to read the paper, watch the news and eat breakfast before I begin writing for the morning.  Yes, I am creature of habit, but then again, so are most people.  Last Friday, CBS Morning Show started a series called Dave Price, No Way Home.  I thought this would be in interesting stunt to boost ratings and could quite possibly produce some humor for me to begin my day with.

Apparently they were dropping Mr. Price off on the west coast and he was to make his way east and return home in a week.  He was only to have $50 and could not use any credit cards nor accept large gifts such as airline tickets home or hotel accommodations.  He was to “work” his way home.  When this began I thought it would be intriguing to see what kinds of odd jobs he would do to earn some cash and help him get back to NYC.  As of Tuesday morning all was going well and seemed to be educational as well.

This morning I turned the news on and as I ate breakfast I watched the next chapter in Mr. Price’s trek home.  However, the more the segments ran, the angrier I found myself.  Yes, it was fascinating that he spent the night in a frat house and earned $20 for cleaning the bathroom.  However, the job he is doing right now making $12 an hour made me sick.  I am one of thousands who lost my regular $10 an hour job when the recession was hitting a year ago.  I am still out of work and opting instead to be a freelance writer.  There are so many people who would have gone to companies such as Omaha Steaks (where Mr. Price is working this morning) and applied for jobs.   These people are turned down because of the lack of funding to be able to pay them.  In fact, many of them would probably be willing to work for minimum wage just to be able to have some kind of an income.

In an economic recession, I find it a slap in the face to the many unemployed folks like myself that CBS would televise how easy it is for one of their employees who already has a well paying job to be able to walk in and get a job in a company making an hourly wage that makes me and others like me drool with desire and longing to have any kind of a job.  What qualifies Mr. Price to work in a company such as Omaha Steaks besides his celebrity status and wanting to boost his networks ratings irregardless of what it might do to the mindset of those who would watch and thereby boost those ratings?

Irresponsibility in boosting ratings.  It is possible to help those who are unemployed due to the recession while boosting ratings and in fact, may boost those network ratings even more.  If Mr. Price must obtain jobs in nationally know companies or major organizations or any kind, then use it to benefit those who could use the boost to their economy.  If these places are willing to hire a man who has no qualifications, besides celebrity, for a few hours to get national recognition for their company, let them go a step further and use it to find qualified workers to hire on a permanent basis to further ensure the longevity of the company.

Take odd jobs if you will, like cleaning bathrooms in a frat house, but if you choose to work in a major company, help fill that kind of a job with someone who truly needs and deserves it.  As for Omaha Steaks, I have ordered from them in the past.  However, I am very reluctant to order from them unless they use this opportunity to help those who want and need jobs to obtain jobs in their company.  Being a celebrity making a great salary and then throwing it in the faces of those who helped make you a celebrity by frivolously getting jobs they would love to have just to work for an hour or two is, in my opinion, just plain wrong.