Why Is Killing So Easy?

Why is it that human life means nothing to some people? 

An innocent taxi driver was shot in the head, than robbed of the few dollars he had in his pocket. An innocent bartender was killed and robbed. A woman going for a morning jog was shot in the back, but wasn't robbed. Three people were killed in a movie theater. A mother suffocated her one year old son, brought him back to life using CPR and then suffocated him again until he died, then buried his body at a playground.

Two Georgia Tech students were shot and robbed, but luckily they survived to tell their stories. A mother picking up her son was allegedly shot by her mother-in-law. A doctor who was selling her condo invited the wrong person in to look at her home and was shot to death and robbed.

All day everyday killing is indeed a fact of life. It's something that's guaranteed to happen whether we want it to or not. It's a constant routine, much like us waking up every morning and brushing our teeth is routine. No one knows how to stop it and there are never enough eyes to properly protect people from harm. Everyday you walk out the door you have no clue if it will be your last day on earth. All you can do is hope and pray for the best.

Most people assume that killers are cold-hearted individuals either born crazy or raised evil. 

But what happened to these people that caused them to snap? What pushed their buttons to the point of no return? Does no feeling of empathy reside within them, from the moment they point the gun to the moment they pull the trigger, releasing death in a capsule and ending a life that had no right to be taken? 

I wish weapons weren't so easy to purchase. There should be restrictions put in place and thorough background checks issued. Like comedian Chris Rock once said, "Charge $5000 dollars for one bullet, that way there won't be anymore innocent bystanders." 

That sure makes sense doesn't it?

The Things That Make You Go Hmmmm...

2009 LA

Why Are Certain Men Praised Like God?

I have an honest question. I'm not trying to offend anyone or be disrespectful. This question is out of sheer curiosity. 

For those that believe in God we all know that God is love, God is perfect, God is the creator, and ruler of all things. No one can compare to God because God is the highest of the high; are you with me so far?

If you agree with the latter, then why do we praise the Pope as if he's God? The Pope is a mortal man just like any other man, so what is it about the Pope that makes him holier than others? I'm not comparing the Pope to pastors, ministers, rabbi's, or reverends, but many of these same "holy people" have proven themselves to not be as holy as we thought.

I've seen priests and pastors on the news pleading guilty to child molestation charges, fornication, and even the siphoning of church funds for their own personal gain. And only when they're caught do they cry out that they're "only human," and human beings make mistakes when most of them lived as if they were above all men. And as we all know, God doesn't make mistakes.

All I'm saying is we need to be mindful of who we put on pedestals, and make sure not to confuse men with the creator of all. We also need to take more responsibility in seeking truths that are kept from us, other wise we stand to be brainwashed forever.

The Things That Make You Go Hmmmm...

2009 LA

Where Do Drugs Go After Confiscation?

When drug dealers are busted by police or the FBI, after everything is confiscated where do the drugs go?

If drugs are illegal and harmful why would the government want to hold on to illegal and harmful products? Why not take pictures of the evidence as well as the perpetrators for proof, and then discard the goods by burning them? 

Where are the drugs stored after confiscation and what happens to it afterwards? Does it just sit in storage forever? Or is there some kind of corrupt activity involved that takes place within the government to redistribute the drugs for a price?

The Things That Make You Go Hmmmm...

2009 LA

Where Do Movies Come From?

Have you ever had a dream and woke up saying to yourself, "Damn that would've been a great movie!?"

I believe great movies come from real life situations and weird dreams. Only in your dreams can you imagine the impossible happening.

When you look at films such as 'I Am Legend' by Will Smith, or 'Kill Bill' by Quentin Tarantino, there had to be some kind of twisted dreaming going on for these guys to even think of writing stories such as these. Or maybe they took from real life situations as "art" usually imitates "life."

If you find yourself having a "movie dream," it may help to keep a pad and pen by your bedside so you can jump up and write down what you saw before it goes away. 

For a screenwriter dreams could be the next big thing. You could literally make your dreams a reality!

The Things That Make You Go Hmmmm...

 2009 LA

CEO Paul Levy Takes an "Obama" Approach

CEO Paul Levy (seen above) of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts, has recently stepped up to the plate.

Understanding the repercussions of the failing economy Levy realized his low wage workers, would be hit the hardest which prompted him to try a new idea. He gathered all his employees in the medical center auditorium and said, "I want to run an idea by you that I think is important, and I'd like to get your reaction to it," Levy began. 

"I'd like to do what we can to protect the lower-wage earners, the transporters, the housekeepers, the food service people. A lot of these people work really hard, and I don't want to put an additional burden on them. Now, if we protect these workers, it means the rest of us will have to make a bigger sacrifice, he continued. "It means that others will have to give up more of their salary or benefits." 

Mr. Levy had barely gotten the words out of his mouth, when Sherman Auditorium erupted in applause. Thunderous and heartfelt applause.

This is the kind of heartfelt and generous approach that President Obama speaks of, and with so many arguments taking place about Obama wanting to redistribute the wealth to help the less fortunate, when you think about it -- what Obama wants to do is no different from what Paul Levy is doing. 

Those who are more fortunate should help thy neighbor; it's called having a heart. I commend Mr. Levy for his actions, and if more CEO's and other fortunate people did more of the same thing the world would be a better place to live in.

The Things That Make You Go Hmmmm...

  2009 LA

To read more on Paul Levy click here.

Japanese Scientist Creates First Teacher Robot

This is the type of thing I've only seen in movies, but apparently the movies is playing out across the world!

It took Japanese scientists fifteen years of research to develop a woman robot that speaks different languages, organizes tasks, disciplines students, and makes several facial expressions. The robot was designed to replace office workers in order to cut costs.

I think these creations are pretty cool however, I don't agree with robots replacing humans when it comes to the classroom. I feel strongly about children having someone they can relate to, and you can't relate to a robot. 

If robots are going to replace human beings in the work place, then where does that leave humans? Unemployed indefinitely?

Robots can be created to do other things useful like building machines but in the end, robots simply can not offer what a human being can offer; a heart.

The Things That Make You Go Hmmmm...

2009 LA

New Japanese Video Game Rapes Women

Have you heard of Japan's newest video game called, RapeLay?
  
A simulation video which was created by Japan-based company 'Illusion', invented this new video game that teaches people how to prey on females and rape them. Amazon and eBay have already banned the sale of RapeLay.

The game starts with a man standing on a subway platform stalking a girl in a blue sundress. On the platform you can click "prayer", to summon a wind that lifts her skirt and she blushes. Once she's on the train the assault begins. Inside the subway car you can use the mouse to grope your victim, as you stand within a crowd of mute and translucent commuters. 

Eventually, your character corners the victim in a station bathroom, or in a park with the help of male friends, and a series of interactive rape scenes begin. Aside from the “gang rape” aspect of the game, the goal is to make women sex slaves without getting them pregnant and if a player fails, he must force the woman to have an abortion or risk being thrown under a train and killed!

Personally, I feel this game is disgusting, offensive, demented, and the person that created it must be a rapist. Who else would think to make such a game but a person that has either experienced the situations, or has fantasized about them!? 

This game is poison to our society and should be permanently banned everywhere. If it doesn't make money then it can't exist, right? Thanks but no thanks Japan, our crime rate doesn't need to be increased because some kid who played your game wanted to turn their actions into reality.

Moreover, I believe this game was also created as a form of medicine for rapists who have impulses to rape, or to those who have considered trying it. Maybe this game is a way to curve the insatiable rape appetite? 

If by playing this game it decreases rape crimes that's a positive thing, but the fact that a person has to play such a game in order to feed this thrill is unnerving. Because let's face it the video game isn't fixing the problem that rapists have, it's just helping them get off in a different way. 

Can you imagine dating someone, going to their home, and seeing this game on their DVD stand?! What would you do? Would you stay or would you leave immediately? If your first reaction is a negative one than that's just proof that this kind of game should be non-existent. What are your thoughts?

The Things That Make You Go Hmmmm...

  2009 LA

Are Hospitals Overcharging?

Are hospitals overcharging patients? 

After my experience with one I'd say yes! Last month I needed to visit a hospital in the state of Georgia due to having excruciating chest pains, and I'm going to give you a play-by-play of what exactly happened. 

I entered the Emergency room and spoke with woman #1 who gave me paperwork and a pen to write down my information, the information was then entered into the computer. This woman then directed me to woman #2 who sat me in a small room and asked me more questions and I'm thinking, "Okay going good so far." 

Then woman #2 lead me to a bed area where I met woman #3, who asked me the same questions that woman #2 asked me. So now I'm thinking, "Couldn't she just pull it up on the computer, because I was just asked these questions?" 

Then woman #4 came in to ask me the same questions again but this time -- with three new questions thrown in. No tests were done on me as yet, just notes taken on paper.

After still being confused over my symptoms the final decision was to give me Maalox, and keep in mind that a bottle of Maalox from the store costs between $5.50 cents and $15.50 cents.

When woman #4 left the room I thought to myself, "How many different faces will I see today?" 

Then the familiar face of woman #3 came back in to give me the Maalox while she added more data to the computer. When woman #3 finished adding her data she stepped out of the room. Woman #5 came into the room with a cart and computer atop it and proceeded to ask me the same questions that I thought had died almost forty-five minutes prior, UGH! 

Then woman #5 left and woman #6 walked in smiling with a pad and pen in her hand and for some reason, I felt this conversation was about to turn my smile upside down.

Woman #6 greeted me with a "hello" and calmly asked me, "How will you pay your bill, in full or monthly payments?" While mulling this over in my head she interrupted my thoughts and asked, "How much money do you gross a month?" After I gave the information to woman #6, she then gave me a price tag of $500 dollars and more paperwork to sign my name on. 

My initial response to woman #6 was, "Whoooaaaa! Five hundred dollars?! For what?!" 

I walked into the ER myself, saw six different people that asked me redundant questions, and I never even saw the doctor whose name is printed on my paperwork. I also received two prescriptions that would run me another $20-$30 dollars.

Woman #3 appeared back in the room and walked over to enter more information in the computer. Apparently, woman #3 was annoyed by my question of, "Why is my bill $500 dollars?" 

She knew she had to give me an answer so she proceeded to explain that emergency room prices, are different from regular admittance prices in which the care is different. 

But I never received a straight answer for a diagnosis because whenever I asked it was always, "I don't know but if the pain comes back, come back and see us." 

Oh yea I'm so sure, I'll come back so I can give more of my money for no answers to my problem?! 

And how can they write prescriptions if they don't even know what's wrong with me? My point is, talking to six different people about the same thing and drinking Maalox shouldn't cost an individual five hundred dollars! With that amount of money my prescription should've been free, I mean hook a sista up! 

Surprisingly, when my hospital bill was mailed to me it wasn't for five hundred dollars, but instead three hundred and seventy-three dollars. I thought to myself, "Why the change in price?" 

Was it because I questioned woman #3 about the bill and it made her nervous? Or was it because I told them that I'm a writer which I'm sure made them even more nervous (smiles). Lucky for them I decided against using the hospital and staff names in this article, and although I still think $373 dollars is a bit to much to pay for a few conversations and Maalox, I'm still glad the price was lowered. 

By the way, the name of the medical billing company is, 'Plantation Billing Center'. I hate that name.

The Things That Make You Go Hmmmm...
 

UPDATE 2/10/08: It turns out I WAS in fact charged more than $373 dollars! I received another bill in the mail for $230 dollars! So all together I have to pay $603 dollars for receiving over the counter Maalox from the emergency room! WHAT A RIP-OFF! This is WAR! 

 

Maybe if there weren't so many people doing the same jobs, it could save the hospital more money as well as the patients.

 

 2009 LA