Brian Dugan's confession not enough to spare his life

Chicago newspapers are buzzing with the news that Brian Dugan finally confessed to the 1983 killing of Naperville's Jeanine Nicarico, a big-eyed, dimple-smiled fifth grader who had a lifetime ahead of her. At 10-years old, she was brutally raped and murdered. Dugan is finally admitting to the crime in an effort to save his own skin. He is presently serving two life sentences for the death of 27-year-old Donna Schnorr of Geneva and 7-year-old Melissa Ackerman of Somonauk. If anyone ever deserves the death penalty, it is Brian Dugan.

The Nicarico case was haunting, on so many levels. I remember when the story broke. I was a young mother with two small children. I once lived in a neighboring town to Naperville where the Nacarico's lived. I knew the area. Knowing that I drove the same streets where this monster committed this heinous act caused me to feel personally violated.

In general, were were all more innocent then -- as a society we weren't yet desensitized to the taking of a human life. The murder of the child just punctuated the hideous nature of murder.

This case couldn't help but invoke anguish and empathy for everyone involved. The mere mention of Jeanine Nicarico's name is enough to bring back all those feelings. What must the last moments of her life been like? Losing a child evokes the worst loss, but how have her parents been able to cope?

Unimaginable suffering has been experienced by family, friends, neighbors, an entire community, as well as all of society.

Following the initial incident and so many court appearances, charges were wrongly brought by an overzealous prosecutor. Two men faced the death penalty but were later cleared, revealing major flaws in the criminal justice system. Bad politics became entangled in this case resulting in a moratorium on the death penalty evoked by an ex-governor whose home address is now that of a federal penitentiary. It is nearly impossible to count the tragedies associated with this case in its 26 year duration. And the worst case of all, is that few lessons have been learned as yet.

Hummingbirds

I never knew hummingbirds were so territorial or that watching them might be hazardous. The latter might be a bit of an exaggeration, but I believe it is just a matter of time before I get smacked in the side of the head from one or more of them as I sit on the front porch enjoying the show.

I used to think that such activities were peaceful and quiet, but hummingbirds are neither. I admit it is the kind of 'noise' I relish however. These tiny birds that aren't much bigger than some insects with a much louder buzz, are amazing little critters. Rarely do they sit still, although I have seen that at times. They either sit on the perch of the feeder or on a shrub next to the porch as they wait their turn to imbibe. Sometimes they chase one another to an awaiting tree branch where they become invisible behind an oak leaf.

I make my own food for them; I must be a great cook. They love that colorless sugar water. I swear I've even seen one or two smacking their lips (beaks). With two feeders on the front porch, it is nearly impossible to count how many birds are buzzing around at one time. They swarm the feeders and are very picky about which spot they occupy. They are pretty picky about who they dine with as well. The males are pretty mean to the females and especially to the other males. I haven't been watching long enough to know if their behavior changes as the season progresses. That may be a nice activity for the future. I think I could get into hummingbird behavioral studies. Perhaps I can apply for a government grant. It seems like everybody else gets them. It would be nice to be paid to sit on the front porch, birdwatching. ;-)

Journalism trends

Journalism as we know it is changing, rapidly. But is the trend toward linking and collaborating one which will stand the test of time? And what does it all mean to the notion of making a living?

Since I stopped working for a weekly newspaper which resulted in the loss of my weekly paycheck, I have been exploring the potential for writing on the Internet. My study has led me to believe that it is easy to write on-line. In fact, anyone can do it. One thing is certain, there are no short-cuts. And the down side is that not everyone can make a living at it.

While I remain in the throes of the learning process, I have concluded that making a living as a writer on the Internet may be doable, but it will take not only talent, but lots of hard work, and perhaps a little luck. The pool is large and growing as journalism schools graduate new students and established newspapers present pink slips to longtime reporters.

The new trends: link and collaborative journalism, encouragement of citizen journalists, and a steady influx of new bloggers is producing a glut of sources to fill our 24-hour news shows.

I have to wonder how much of this new found information is paid for? Does CNN pay citizen journalists to send in photographs of planes landing in the river or forest fires threatening neighborhoods? Are bloggers paid when they provide information that goes on the air?

It seems to me that news organizations, which are scrambling to save themselves are doing it at the expense of the innocence of some hard-working would-be journalists eager to see their work displayed in the mainstream. Even the newspaper I worked for begged for digital photographs to be contributed to help provide community news. There was no talk of compensation, but there was an offer of a byline.

Getting a byline is a great thing. I happen to think a byline stands for something special. It should not be tossed out like candy at a parade. I also believe that if work is good enough to earn a byline, it is good enough to deserve compensation.

It seems that along with journalim trends, there is a growing practice to try to coerce free services from journalists in return for nothing more than a pat on the back. Trouble is a pat on the back won't feed the family. I hope the journalism trend does not include FREEdom of the press.

I happen to believe that this freebie trend will peak and then subside as the laws of nature dictate. Once people realize how hard they are working for nothing or for very little, we will begin to see survival of the fittest.

Racial inequality deserves an Act of Congress

Solving racism, once and for all should start with an Act of Congress.

Isn't it time we, who are guaranteed equality by the law of the land, make our decisions based on the human experience rather than through a black or white perspective. Isn't it time to punctuate any perceived differences among us with a period -- end of story?

It seems as though the answer to our personal black and white dilemma lies in education. We must all learn to see a picture that is bigger than just our own mirror image. We must realize that we are all members of the human race. What we do to each other we do to ourselves. Why is this such a difficult concept to grasp?

I was outraged by the Henry Louis Gates, Jr., arrest, on so many levels.

Perhaps I am still reeling from Jesse Jackson/Al Sharpton overload, but what I heard was another black victim accusing a white police officer of racial profiling. I admit being a bit skeptical. Something in Gates' tone failed to show me a scholar who wants to rise above and even solve the racial divide. I saw a man who wants to use it to his advantage.

Was this a rogue cop as Gates suggests? Was it a case of racial profiling?

In an interview with USA Today, the arresting officer Sgt. James Crowley claims he is not a racist. He refuses to apologize to Gates for arresting him for disorderly conduct. Crowley claims that initially Gates refused to identify himself. Was Gates overly defiant, disorderly?

Gates has one perspective -- that of a suppressed black man. Crowley has nother perspective -- that of a police officer who was investigating a suspicious activity involving black men seemingly breaking into a house.

We need to know the real truth here, rather than these black and white perspectives.

It is time we stop treating people differently -- any people. There are laws on the books that say black and whites are equal. But it seems to me that blacks will continue to be treated differently as long as they insist on acting as if they are different.

The first step to bridge the differences is to do away with the Congressional Black Caucus, a black group of lawmers in the very House where laws of equality were written. Shouldn't this be the first place we see change? This would set a good example by the U.S. Congress.

If a crime was committed against Gates, it needs to be investigated. If Crowley acted inappropriately, he needs to be reprimanded. But rather than just a black or white perspective, this incident like all others should be investigated from a human perspective.

Bird feeding chores

This morning while enjoying a fresh cup of coffee on the deck, marveling at another beautiful Ozarks morning, I had an epiphany.

I had already changed sheets and made the bed, preparing for a load of laundry. It was only 6:30 a.m.

A chorus of birds were singing their favorite songs as they flitted from tree to tree. I watched a Nuthatch land on a bird feeder below me in the back yard. I realized it was empty, or nearly so. Then I remembered, my husband John took the feeders in at night -- a new practice he'd begun since raccoons decided to enjoy a nightly feast, at ours and the birds' expense. When I was finished putting out the three feeders and filling the fourth, I sat back on the deck with second cup of coffee.

It really felt good to have completed this little task. Then it came to me. This was what people meant when they referred to "doing their chores." I never related to that phrase. My parents never taught me to "do chores."

Oh my mother would yell at me now and then, "Make your bed!" or "clean your room!" but there was never an organized routine involved. It was just random yelling, which I usually ignored. She never pushed it, just kept on yelling. So, no cause and effect -- never a lesson to be learned. Hmm, I never taught that to my kids either.

Fortunately my husband had a much different upbringing. He has always been very regimented. I've always marveled at how he does things every day like clockwork, even now that he is retired. I'm grateful that our children learned from his behavior.

I've always been a free spirit. If I had to do chores every day, when would I have time to write in my blog, work on a quilt, pick up my knitting or crocheting, write a letter, call a friend on the phone, create an oil painting, bake cupcakes, read a book, write one, or any of the other things I do (ir)regularly? Sometimes I augment these activities with the mundane ones -- vacuuming, cleaning or actually finishing the laundry. I certainly don't have a routine though.

When people come by for a visit, they probably will not see my house neatly picked up, unless I know they are coming. But I figure they come to see me, not my house. If their visit is a surprise, and I really like those, there may be projects strewn about in various stages of completion.

Now that I know this about chores, I have to decide if I want to give in to what I've learned. That's easy; the answer is absolutely not. I like having the freedom to do whatever I want when I want, even if it means having some dishes in the sink or a floor that needs to be scrubbed. Those things will get done when I get around it. The feeling of accomplishment that comes with doing those things only lasts for a minute before it needs to be done again. Yet, the feeling that comes with hanging a newly-painted canvas or admiring a handmade quilt is a much better and longer lasting.

New Blog about NASCAR

I've started a new blog -- all about NASCAR. It is one of the many things I enjoy writing about. CH on track contains a few stories that I've written. Hopefully I can keep it updated as the racing season progresses.

My favorite driver is Ryan Newman, so there will likely be a disproportionate number of posts related to Newman. However, while Newman will remain my favorite, the more I learn about NASCAR, the more I am interested in racing in general as well as individual drivers.

Pat Quinn, just like all the rest

Illinois Governor proves to be no different than predecessors

With the signing of the State of Illinois' $31 billion "Illinois Jobs Now" bill Wednesday, Gov. Pat Quinn just rewound the clock on a project for which time should have long ago run out. The bill steers another $110.5 million toward the third airport project.

Billed as a jobs creator, that money will go toward buying the remainder of the land the state has been unable to obtain from folks who have vowed to fight to keep their land, homes, and farms -- unwilling sellers. How does that create jobs?

The only possible explanation for throwing good money after bad for a forty-year old project void of forward progress, is that Quinn is continuing similar practices of his predecessors -- jobs for favorite supporters: lawyers who will try to push eminent domain on innocent families; consultants who will to try to hide the project's lack of need; public relations specialists who will explore every angle in an effort to paint a rosy picture of the project; and of course investors who also contribute to public officials' campaigns for promise of a piece of the action when an airport is built, if it ever is. Perhaps some of those professionals are part of the 10.3 percent of Illinois' unemployed.

Many believed Pat Quinn would be different than his predecessors -- one who is serving time in a federal penetentiary and another who awaits his day in court. It looks like nothing has changed except the names.

Drugs are everywhere

Is everybody on drugs?

If there is any good to emerge from the hype surrounding Michael Jackson's death, it is my hope that it could cause people to wake up about drugs. I don't mean illegal drugs. That is another discussion altogether. I refer to prescription drugs. How many pills do you take every day? And do you really need them? Do they interact with other pills you take, which could cause more harm than good? How many times do you visit a doctor and walk out with a new prescription? How many times have you asked your physician about a drug you saw on television?

Isn't it time to start looking into our own medicine cabinets and kitchen cabinets? Maybe we should consider whether our doctors care more about pushing pills and masking our symptoms than curing what ails us. If there is more of an interest to satisfy the bottom line of pharmaceutical companies which also enriches the doctor at our expense, isn't it time to find a new physician?

If Michael Jackson's death wasn't a wake-up call, how about the reports that our oceans and lakes and streams are being polluted by discarded pharmaceuticals. Read one of many examples here. Or what about the potential for a worldwide pandemic spread by birds that could build an immunity to the influenza-fighting Tamiflu, found in river water? Read story here.

It seems to me the pervasiveness of drugs in today's culture is conducive to addiction and worse. Drugs are meant to cure our ills, but how many of us are becoming ill because of them? And how many of us are exposed to them even if we don't physically put them into our bodies?

Drug pushers used to be identifiable as thugs and unsavory characters hanging around street corners. Now drug pushers are attractive actors and actresses who sell everything from a cure for male sexual dysfunction, altering a female's reproductive cycle, and mood-enhancement. Their message fills our television and computer screens on a regular basis, one after another with their almost subliminal messages. Frankly I'm sick of it. This stuff needs to be taken off the air. Congress is considering a bill to tax the drug ads, but it is being fought by TV networks. Read more.

What is happening today is far different from the 60-second Alka-Seltzer commercials decades ago where Speedy, a cute little character, advertised a substance to make our tummies feel better. That commercial was helpful. Today, the commercials can be harmful as people attempt to self-medicate when they have no idea what they are doing. Have you noticed that during the lengthy commercials, there are a few seconds devoted to potential side effects? Those few seconds are tantamount to reading the fine print. It is there, but who notices?

Just to be fair, I will provide full disclosure of my bias. When I was a small child, my mother and father tried to get me to take a daily multi-vitamin. I refused. Taking the tiny round, candy-coated pill was probably good for me, but I wanted no part of it. I remember it was quite a struggle, for which I finally succumbed. I now take them only occasionally. I still hate taking pills.

To get a much less biased view, check out and weigh into this informational link for the non-profit organization http://prescriptiondrugs.procon.org/

Newspapers and truth

When Developers get too close, an editorial about Will County corruption which elaborates on Kristen McQueary's very poignant column yesterday, see Kudos for good journalism below, is often lacking in the newspaper business. Had there been more of this sort of thing, perhaps newspapers would not be in danger of failing altogether. And what a tragedy that would be.

Newspapers blame the Internet for their demise. But that is only a part of the equation. The newspaper was supposed to stand for truth, given every effort to see and report all angles of a story. A wise editor once told me that if you think you have both sides of the story, you probably don't have the whole story.

Newsrooms used to be peppered with highly-principled curmudgeons who served as role models for young reporters. Fighting for the little guy was business as usual. In those days public places were filled with seemingly headless people whose faces were buried in the outstretched double pages of their daily newspaper. Folks read the news with the unshakable belief that what they read was the unvarnished truth. They believed what they read because newspapers had a reputation.

Today people read a newspaper to get the latest sports scores. They want to see television listings. They rarely care about the news. While that isn't entirely the fault of the newspaper, the industry simply gave in, doing little to maintain what it used to stand for. It lowered the bar instead of challenging its readers. It caved into the capitalist model to make money at all cost, despite the fact that the Fourth Estate should have risen above that used by other businesses. Perhaps if the news had been written with a perspective the public could relate to, in a world where the little guy was being tormented by its own government, they would have kept reading. Yet how many times have stories been reported that take the side of the politically correct which is far from correct? All too often stories originate from sugar-coated press releases. Most papers fail to employ investigative reporters at a time when they are most needed. And how often has the view of advertisers colored the view of the news we read?

Kudos to the Southtown Star for remembering its humble beginnings as the Southtown Economist covering the south side of Chicago a generation ago. And to Kristen McQueary who has proven to be a peoples' reporter. Keep up the good work.

Kudos for good journalism

With job cutbacks and workplace attrition, it is refreshing to know that Will County, Illinois still has a credible journalist who continues to seek the truth and isn't afraid to tell it. Kristen McQueary, the political columnist for the Southtown Star, has written a column in today's paper (July 12, 2009) entitled, How to grease the skids in Will County, that highlights an issue so pervasive in Illinois that it is often glossed over. Thank goodness Kristen has not been desensitized to the political games played at the local level where leadership is often coerced into bad policy and poor-decision making.

If it can happen in Green Garden Township, it can happen anywhere in the country. Green Garden Township was once a small, farming community that has now been overrun with new developments and urban sprawl. Townships have the most basic political structure. Illinois townships like Green Garden have virtually no power, don't make any money, and are sometimes considered to be the proving ground for political wannabes to learn the ropes on their way up governments' ladder. But when these small communities work in conjunction with county government, which has plenty of power and lots of money, not to mention political ties to a corrupt system, the situation can be dire. The two things that can thwart total and absolute degradation of a region are active members of the community coupled with a strong and fearless newspaper. Good investigative journalists are necessary additives to the mix.

Kudos to Kristen McQueary.

Homesick just isn't quite right

Chicagoland Speedway in the rain
-- courtesy of Chris Henrichs

Opening my desk drawer to retrieve a nail file, I happened to catch a glimpse of an old press badge. Judging from the name of the newspaper displayed on the yellowed, plastic card with a much younger version of my face on it, I imagine it to be from before 1999.

That badge predated the completion of the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, where I would be right now, if it were possible. I'd love to be at the NASCAR races this weekend. I've never been to a race, though that doesn't detract from my status as an avid fan, even if I must settle for television coverage.

I watched them build the Chicagoland track. It was miles from where I used to live. I even took a picture of the work in progress as the local reporter in a nearby town back then. I remember thinking that it was massive; it rose like a monolith on the flat, fertile land. In those days I didn't understand. I had very limited knowledge of racing. I knew nothing about NASCAR or drivers' personalities, or the speeds at which the cars are driven. I had no idea that this huge endeavor would add to the billion-dollar industry that is NASCAR. I had heard names like Richard Petty and Davey Allison, but knew nothing of who they were.

I recall meeting one of the track promoters at a local gathering, though I can't remember her name. She was very interested to learn that I worked for a newspaper, as she was obviously trying to publicize the track's activities. She offered to show me around the completed race track. And she said to call her if I was interested in press credentials, or if there was anything else she could do for me.

My how things have changed. Somewhere around 2004, I had my NASCAR awakening. My son, Chris introduced me to the sport and to Ryan Newman, his favorite driver. My adoration may have even surpassed that of my son. It didn't take long before I was completely obsessed, like so many others who worship at the oval altar of concrete and asphalt, banked turns, three-wide racing and photo finishes nearly every weekend. Friends and family know not to call me on race day.

Retired now, home is in Arkansas, not Illinois. I love living here, in the beautiful 'Natural State.' I'm not homesick for Illinois, but it sure would be nice to be there, if just for the weekend.

Top 10 - Peotone Airport obsession isn't so bad

For more than 20 years, I have been obsessed with the State of Illinois' proposal to build a new airport far south of the City of Chicago near a cute little farm town called Peotone. I've been writing about it so long that even I find it amazing that this wasn't the topic of my first post in this blog. I'm sure others are shocked as well. But overall, I think my obsession with the Peotone project has been a good thing. With deference to David Letterman, I have devised a top 10 list of why my Peotone Airport obsession isn't so bad.

10 There is always a subject to talk/write about
9 Whenever I see a chalkboard, there is always something to draw (no airport symbols)
8 I've made plenty of friends, not to mention enemies
7 I've learned a lot along the way: political cynicism; judging character; and recognizing lies
6 No airport symbols makes me happy
5 There is always something to look for in a google search
4 It is nice to be an expert about something
3 I have earned new titles; some might consider it name-calling
2 Thinking about the airport keeps my blood pressure up - I know I'm alive
1 I've learned the real meaning of manure - airport 'studies'

A Congressman named King, the King of Pop, and Truth

The latest Michael Jackson blather comes from Congressman Pete King, R-NY. King recorded a video where he criticizes the media circus surrounding the pop star's recent death and soon-to-be memorial service. He stepped way beyond the boundaries as he calls Jackson a pedophile and pervert. He was highly critical of the media coverage that he said should instead be focused on members of the military who have died in service to our country. He made the statement on the Fourth of July amid a backdrop of flags waving as he stands in front of his Wantagh, NY American Legion post.

Now, while there may be some value to King's questioning the excessive media coverage of Michael Jackson's death, I can't help but wonder about his motives. Whenever I hear a Republican spewing the 'hurrah for the troops' rhetoric, especially in full view of the high-flying stars and stripes and in the shadow of the American Legion, I can't help but be a little suspicious.

There is a funny thing about rhetoric. There is usually some grain of truth buried inside the huge nugget of grandiosity. In my opinion, the media coverage has been over-the-top. It went beyond the "developments" in the case stemming from drugs being found, potential child custody issues, and other newsworthy events.

Unfortunately, King's remarks about celebrating the service of police, firefighters, and members of the military was lost by his name-calling. A lawmaker should know better than anyone that Michael Jackson was not convicted of any wrongdoing. This is the land of law where a man is innocent until proven guilty.

Does this mean I believe Jackson was beyond suspicion, despite his own admission that he slept with little children? Do I think he lied about his relationships with children even at the same time he swore he never had any kind of plastic surgery on his face or that his appearance changed naturally as he grew from a cute little black child to a ghastly-looking white man?

Herein lies the most concrete observation I came away with after years as a journalist. It seems that truth lies in the eye of the beholder. Even though we all grew up believing truth was black and white, we also believed in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. Perspective colors the truth. And it is only after establishing the shade of gray that determines truth, can there be belief.

Fourth of July

This had to be my most memorable 4th of July - 2004 - when Barack Obama was running for the U.S. Senate. As the local reporter covering the parade which passed my house annually, I was in a prime location when Obama and a contingent of local Democrats marched by. Who would have ever thought at that point that this tall, lean, man with a smile even bigger than mine, would become the 44th President of the United States?

This year's 4th of July paled in comparison. No longer living in Illinois where my chance encounter with Obama took place, I now live in Arkansas; no complaints here though. I love those typical, non-eventful days where the birds sing, the cats play, and the dog lazes around on the porch. The day was like any other, except for the tearful beginning -- a reminder of what the day is really all about.

Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar was a guest on Good Morning America to report that the statue of Liberty crown, high above New York Harbor on Ellis Island would re-open to visitors for the first time since Sept. 11, 2001. The New York Daily News held an essay contest for youngsters as reported on Good Morning America, where some of the entrants read portions of the essays they wrote. These young writers explained well that this day is not just about fireworks displays, eating and drinking too much, or parades through the street. Those are simply ways folks celebrate the real meaning of America's birthday, which is all too often forgotten.

If the words of youngsters aren't enough to bring a tear to your eye, check out the videos about the history of Ellis Island. If ever this great country is taken for granted, revisit this link.

The 4th of July always brings melancholy feelings at our house. Those old days along the parade route were filled with friends, family, and food, topped off by an afternoon dip in the backyard pool. Since moving, the change has been dramatic. But, that's OK. We still talk to family, there are new friends as well as the long-enduring ones. Cooking out is still an option. And the lake is just 10 minutes away for that afternoon dip.

But this year, we opted out of embracing the heat and humidity just to mingle with hoards of other people to watch fireworks displays. Besides, I am much more frugal these days and consider the thousands of celebrations across the country to be a bit of an unneeded, costly excess, especially in these economic times. I can't believe the occasional oohs and aahs are worth the excessive cost and potential environmental harm by hundreds of thousands of explosions, not to mention safety concerns that this tradition brings.

Count me out of the entertainment when it trumps the real meaning behind what this day is supposed to represent.

I'm a writer - sold my first story

I just sold my first story. Woohoo! I guess that officially makes me an Arkansas writer.

Writing was my intention when my husband and I moved to Arkansas, more than four years ago. I had intended to continue writing to supplement our income. My path to success continues to be as hilly and curvy as Arkansas' roads. But that makes for fun travel and beautiful scenery along the way.

Mine is a meager success, but nonetheless will serve as the impetus for future progress.

Getting established as an Arkansas writer, instead of an Illinois reporter, began with hours of reading about writing. That was helpful, even if not very productive. With no desire to work full time for a daily newspaper again, I settled for a little correspondent work for our local paper, the Baxter Bulletin. It resulted, unbeknownst to me, in an award from the Arkansas Press Association.

After living here about six months, I was invited to resume writing for the papers in Peotone, IL where I used to work. It was comfortable to write for the audience I knew about the issues of which I was so familiar. Interestingly, many readers were unaware that my work now originated from 600 miles away. But due to financial concerns, I was cut to just one story per month. I decided it was time to move on -- thus my first blog post, (see below New blog launched).

I continue reading about writing. And although I plan to pursue more traditional avenues, I am pleased with my first success in on-line writing.

I have tried several writing sites, just to get a feel for what is available. I settled on one -- Helium.com. This is probably one of the best sites I've found, in terms of earnings. My first story was sold to the 'marketplace,' a feature of Helium that allows publishers to buy stories from Helium's thousands of writers of all skill levels. My stories there can be viewed here. The support from staff is excellent. There are wonderful people there. And Helium offers the potential to earn money based on a complex set of criteria. While the potential for earnings for this type of writing pales in comparison to direct contact with publishers, I would certainly recommend it as taking those first steps when crawling will no longer will suffice.

Good to be a computer geek

I have come to the realization that I simply love my computer. I don't know if I would or could be a writer without it. It has allowing me to make a living over the last 20 years. I cannot imagine trying to hand-write a story or type one on a typewriter. I think 'cut, copy, and paste' has revolutionized writing. The ability to move thoughts from paragraph to paragraph makes writing so easy, allowing for concentration on the story instead of writing mechanics. Of course typing is a must, but I learned that years ago.

I love the social networking sites. It has been fun to meet up again with old friends on Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter. Just this week, I re-connected with an old friend I hadn't seen in years. We live miles apart now, both having moved away from the old neighborhood where we used to talk on the sidewalk, literally for hours. Our young children played together. Now, we are grandparents. And we can share pictures. That is one of the best parts about today's technology. I wouldn't think of going anywhere without my camera. My job as a reporter got me into the habit of carrying a camera, and I continue the practice even when not covering a story. Recording moments in time is now second nature, evidenced by the thousands of images that clog my hard drive.

Yesterday, I watched a movie on Hulu.com. Who would have ever thought you could use this little box on the desk for such activities? I admit to having wasted hours and hours on computer games. I was addicted to Mahjongg for a time. It was the ultimate self-competition until my daughter got involved. With her youthful agility, she beat my score by fractions of seconds. And her winning record will just have to stand. Now I love word games. I don't know that it has helped my vocabulary at all, but it does offer great competition. I love Upwards, and Scrabble too. One of my favorite games is Mind Your Marbles, but that is strictly for relaxation purposes.

I wouldn't be without technology, even though it certainly can be infuriating sometimes. Over the years, I cannot imagine all the hours I've spent trying to solve computer problems, although that was the best way to learn. Trying to solve a computer problem can be annoying, frustrating, aggravating, and time-consuming, but never futile. There is no better feeling than conquering the little box that thinks it knows everything. It is easier to solve problems these days, since typing in the problem into Google will usually yield thousands of people with the same problem. And they tell how they solved it. Thank goodness for a world full of computer pioneers, always anxious to help.

But the best part about today's technology is the ability to communicate. It is fast, easy, and satisfying to connect with others, to share information, and to inspire learning. And then there is blogging ...

Today's farming has changed

Check out this video about a beautiful, but giant dairy farm. It looks like some good things are happening down on the farm. I used to live not too far from this place, but never heard of it. If I'm ever back in the area, I'd like to visit. I can't help but wonder if this highly-mechanized method of farming really is the best way? I like the fact that the humongous herd is kept in a controlled environment to ensure protection for both the animals and the consumer. And kudos for opening the farm to the public for inspection and education purposes. That is the best part. A working farm is a marvelous education tool.

Maybe this wave-of-the-future-farming is a good thing, but I just can't help longing for the good ole days when farms were small, run by families, and passed down through generations. The motive was not profit, but that certainly did enter the equation. And it was that bottom line that profit or lack thereof is a major factor in the near-demise of the family farm.

It also bothers me to think of living animals as little more than manufacturers. I can't quite make that leap. Shouldn't cattle be free to wander, and graze in the grass, and be happy. Wouldn't the milk taste better if it came from happy cows? Or am I just an old fool who remembers the Bordens commercials that featured Elsie, the contented cow? The best beverage I ever tasted was milk produced in the morning and chilled until supper.

I refuse to apologize for my idealistic views, born in me while growing up at what I think was the best time of our country's history.

I'm just not convinced that "bigger is better." I detest what urban sprawl has done to the farming community. It has been my experience that growth of cities into suburbs and suburbs into rural areas has been abysmal for all involved. The loss of individuality, the stomping on people's property rights for growth's sake, and so many other ills have been absolutely the wrong way to go. So much more can be said, but I'll save that rant for another time.

One more thing that I really miss -- milk bottles. I wish we could readily and affordably buy milk in glass bottles. I'm sick of plastic. Yes, jars can break, but plastic affects the flavor of the product inside. Plastic lives forever in landfills, and who knows what the leaching of the chemicals into our food does to our health? Glass is recyclable. I don't ever remember seeing glass bottles strewn along roadways. I say, bring back glass.