I like Wikipedia.  I really do.

There is something kind of neat about an encyclopedia that the “People” have some control over and can edit.  You might call it a “Leuteenzyklopädie” of sorts, if you will.

This is a tool in which people from all over the world can create, edit or dispute articles and use the provided information in the same way that you would any other encyclopedia.  There is a caveat, however, and that is what I have decided to write this piece about.

The problem lies in the fact that it IS a “open source” encyclopedia.  As such, you should use the information that you get from Wikipedia with the understanding that you should accept it as information that you would want to double-check or verify before accepting it as the gospel truth.

Now… I say that with no malice towards those that run or administer Wiki or Wiki itself.  I say that with the understanding that because of the nature of the system, it is possible for people to get in there and add information that is not quite correct or a flat out lie and this information being distributed before anyone has had the chance to edit, correct or delete it.

I will not go through and list all the examples that I found links to for the various errors that were posted to Wiki over the years.  Most of them Wiki was already made aware of and have corrected.  I will, however, direct you to the official Wikipedia links for how they approach that which I am discussing here.  I will list them at the end of this article.

The main point here is that the old standard applies the same now as it always has.  Verify your sources… do not just rely on one source, such as Wikipedia.

Use it, but do so with the understanding that people just like you and me have the access to go in and add and edit information on that service.  People that may or may not know enough to intelligently write about the topic in question.

Just remember… “Caveat Lector”

Links to Wikipedia’s policies on Reliability and Criticism.

For some, this may not be important.  But this is my 200th article, so I decided to post it on Tax Day, so that I would make something nice out of an otherwise depressing day.

This is as the result of five years of Blogging now, starting from my little Blogger site hosted with Google, to the purchase of my first domain name, which is now pointing to this one.  I never expected that I would keep at it this long, really.  I was expecting that I would have gotten bored with it and then cast it off.

I cannot say that this has been exciting, it really has not been.  There have been several times I have had to motivate myself to write something, then there were other times, like now, when there has been a lot I have wanted to say.  I have no doubt that with the new administration in office now, I will have plenty to write about for some time.

There are some disappointments too… I would hope that after five years, I would have had more than 19 subscribers… and that more of you who do subscribe would interact more with the site.  You see, three quarters of the time spent on this blog are spent trying to draw in readers.  People that might find something that they like here… something in my writing that appeals to them and keeps them coming in.  So the lack of readership can only be attributed to my fault.. not that of the existing readers.

I still have high hopes for the site.  It really does not cost that much to run it per year, and in addition to being my place to talk with you and share my thoughts, dreams and ideas, it is also my window into the world.

I have learned more about politics, science and culture since I started running this blog than I have over the last fifteen years.  So you might say that the process of running this site is a developmental process for me in more ways that just the chatting kind.

I thank you all… my few readers, for your presence here, and I welcome all those that are yet to visit and maybe stay.

Thanks.

I have decided to revert the blog back to a simpler appearance.  While I liked the “Old West” feel of the old theme, it was apparent that this was slowing things down a bit.

So…  in an effort to make the site more appealing to those that may find it… I have opted for simplicity over beauty.

Enjoy…

What is beauty?  What does it mean to be beautiful? What do you consider beauty to be?

More or less I think that too many people attribute beauty to be solely that which is on the outside, beauty of the flesh not of the spirit or the mind, when in reality, regardless of how a person looks, THAT is where the TRUE beauty lies.

Media, today, does nothing to help the matter in that most of what you see on television, movies and magazines are designed, either by intention or happenstance, to shame people who do not appear a certain way, dress a certain way or otherwise fit a certain category.  This is, in turn leading to people hating themselves because they do not like the way they look.

Popular culture is brainwashing us into thinking we all need to look like people like Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Tyra Banks and George Clooney, when in reality there is nothing wrong with looking like who we were to begin with.

People as young as in their early teens and as old as their eighties are going in for surgeries to augment themselves, make themselves look younger, make themselves prettier.  Except in rare cases, there was nothing wrong with them to begin with and they looked just fine.  But because they did not look like a super model or a certain actor or actress, they do it any way.

To be fair and honest, yes… I considered cosmetic surgery for a while.  My reason was because of some discolorations I have under my eyes as a result of some malnutrition issues when I was very young.  But that is it.  I am not looking to liposuction my waist, tighten my butt, make my skin more taught… you see, that is what exercising and diet is all about.  It’s called NOT BEING LAZY.

One last thing I think people need to remember is this.  If you are not happy with the way you look, then all the surgery in the world is not going to correct the issues you may have.  If you were not happy being who you are before, what makes you think a little nip and tuck here and there is going to help you?  Doctors should offer FREE extensive counseling to anyone who comes in for cosmetic surgery, that does not have a need for it other than to look prettier.  Be they would never do that because of the potential lost revenue.

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Hello… I hope that your Christmas, Channukah or Kwaanza was enjoyable.  I wanted to share some changes that I am going to be working on in the coming year.

• Do to the lack of popularity or contribution, I am eliminating the “Guest Writer” program.  I just do not see a future in it.  I do thank the two people whom I tapped on the shoulder for it, but it appears that the interest is just not there.
• I will be investigating the option of starting a Monthly Podcast for my site.  This will be a summary of everything that I have discussed through the month and maybe a little more.
• I promise I will complete the gallery and get it online by March.
• I plan on starting a little campaign to increase my traffic to this site; this may and may not require me to advertise a bit, but I will not resort to pop-ups… I hate those.

Thanks for your readership… those that have stayed on.  There are not many of you, but I thank you anyway.

Good Night.

As I grow older, I have started paying more attention to things that I used to take for granted… and that is making friends.

I have always been very critical of people… all people.  While some might say this is normal, I would go so far as to say my example would almost be to an unhealthy level.

When I meet a person for the first time, I immediately begin dissecting them.  Their mannerisms, movements, tone of speech, eye movements, etc.  I listen to the stories they tell and, in my mind, begin challenging them for potential realism, validity and probability.  All this in a matter of the first few moments that I have met a person.

Hindsight is always more clear than the vision before you at the time something is happening.  Thus, as I look back, I see many situations where I killed potential friendships before they ever started.  This attitude that I have towards people that I am meeting for the first time was and is unfair to them and to myself.

This has brought me to the point of this post.  A lesson learned, so to say.

• Accept people for who and what they are.  People are not always going to be what you want them to be, and sometimes the best friendships can be borne from diversity.
• Listen to what people have to say and take it for what it is worth.  If you do not think that it is the truth, keep that to yourself.  Over time, the truth always comes to the surface.
• Once a friendship starts, just like a plant or any other life, it requires feeding and nurturing.  You need to make it work.  Don’t assume that “I called John this week, it is his turn to call me.”  That does not always work.  Friendship is a two-way street and takes both parties.
• Don’t let little things get in the way, and in the case of good friends, nothing is more important.  With few exceptions, all other considerations are secondary to friends.

Making good friends is, in my opinion, not too much different than relationships with your family.  My closest friends ARE part of my family.  In my life, the few friends I have, and they know who they are, are every bit as much a part of my family as my Mom, Sister, Brothers and Wife.  There is little difference to me here.

Some friends you make will not be as close as others.  You will learn to keep them, without letting them KNOW this, at various distances from you, emotionally.  This is not to be callous or mean, but because there are times when you can feel that a person is responsible enough to handle that level of closeness.

There are times, also, that you need to let them go from your life because they become vexacious to your soul and your family.  There is one case where I have done this and the reason was because the path he had chosen led to the loss of his family and drove his friends away.  Even though it was his own fault, it was one of the harder things I have done in my life.  Telling a person to not be a part of your life when you have known them since high school is difficult.

All this being said, my newest goal is to teach myself to be less critical of people.  To try and make more friends and be a better friend to others.  To stop trying to find a reason to NOT make a person a friend, as I tend to do with my mental dissection of those I meet.  I do not expect this to come to me overnight, but I do want it to happen.

I hope that you appreciated my sharing this with you.  I hope that you have something to add, as your comments are always welcome.

Yes… As you may have noticed, I am trying a new theme.

The maker of the last theme I was using stopped supporting it… in fact, he fell off the face of the earth. SO I am using a new theme…

No… I wish I could say that my studies in PHP has led me to this, but no… this is the work of another.

Let me know what you think.

IMAO – Another satirical look at politics.

La Meu – For when that PC of yours is too silent.

BananaPhone – Who can ever have enough of the BANANAPHONE?

High Tech Pranks – Just when you thought it was not possible to get back at that guy from work.

5 most expensive – Next time you are trying to think of what to do with your riches.

This is something new I am sending out at the end of each month. Sites that I have found that I really like, and would like to share with you. These cover all genre’s… maybe there is something there that you will like.

The Masonic Traveler – News and Commentary from a fellow Mason.

My Radical Blog – Run by Les Scammell, a well done site with well written commentary and opinion.

Andy’s Sand of Hell – Addictive site where you get to play with virtual sand.

The Seeker – A site dedicated to helping you find people.

Just BBQ – Looking for a BBQ joint in the southland?

KIVA: Loans that change lives – Lets you help developing entrepreneurs in other countries.

I am going to hell - If for no other reason, than he shares my hatred of David Caruso

I was not planning a post today, then I ran into something that I had to share.

Through the course of using SumbleUpon I will find many a new and interesting thing. Today was not exception.

I ran into a broadcast on YouTube by an internet personality by the name of Phillip DeFranco. It was regarding the whole “controversy” with Rachel Ray and her scarf… <video posted, until and if I am asked to remove it.>

I encourage you… the few readers I have, to visit his site… and if you can, give to his cause to support his PKD effort for him and his dad.

Not trying to inflate his ego any, but this is the kind of web presence I would love to be!!!

Philip… if you happen to visit, and do not appreciate my post, please let me know I will remove it!