First Things First

The year continues to chug along.  Seems like time moves faster nowadays, doesn't it?   I know it does for me.  Seems like only yesterday that I updated the site, and here it is time to update again.  This month, as every month, Vista Drive gets more pictures.  Also, if you didn't already see it, please go to check out the new issue of American Bliss Magazine (updated March 20th) by clicking Bliss on the navigation bar above.  Enjoy.

Afterthoughts : Traffic School

Years ago, on a day trip to Disneyland, I got a ticket for making a turn on a double double yellow line.  The reason was simple, I didn't see the lines on the road.  The sun was directly in front of me, and it was finding it hard to see anything.  I paid the ticket, and then went about taking the infraction off my driving record.  Going to traffic school felt silly to me, because I am a considerate and cautious driver.  However, I had to get that infraction off my driving record.  So off to traffic school I went.

I found this little traffic school in North Hollywood, called them up, and arranged to take a class there.  At the time, I don't know what it is now, it was a mandatory eight hours of classroom instruction.  The place was small, only about 20 feet wide.  The secretary greeted me, took my information, and money, told me to wait for a moment.  She went back to a back room for a few seconds, then came back.  She escorted me to the back room, which was filled with desks.  Like a classroom.  There were a bunch of those posters you find at the DMV pasted on the walls.  Those "Driving drunk can kill," and "Always stop at railroad crossings" posters.

There was no one else in the room, just me and a bunch of empty desks.  I looked at my watch, and noticed that it was around 8 a.m., the time of my appointment.  A few seconds later I heard the secretary coming back.  She had a video tape in her hand.  She put it into a VCR, and turned on the TV.  What came on the screen was not one of those instructional videos you see in junior high, or high school, but rather a Disney cartoon.  If your old enough you can remember the old Wonderful World of Disney show, they would often show cartoons relating things from everyday life.  Like driving.  Goofy was in one of these with him playing the everyday driver coping with the perils of driving.  Well, those cartoons was what I ended up watching for the whole eight hours.  No instructor came to talk to me about driving.  I wasn't given a test at the end of the "class."  I just sat down in front of a TV, and given a certificate of completion after eight hours.

Hey, that was fine by me.  I sure didn't want to have to listen to some driving instructor for eight hours.  The cartoons were quite funny, and I did learn a couple of things.  I learned not to turn on a double double yellow line when the sun is blasting you right in the face.  And never make an illegal turn in front of a cop.  That's what I learned.

Editorial : Erosion and Conversion

Imagine a country where you are not free to say what you wish.  Where you are forced to worship who the government tells you to worship.  Where a small minority has the vast majority of the money.  Where you are told when you can have a child.  Where you are told who you can marry.  Imagine all that.  Now, can you imagine that happening here, in the United States?

This is not some science fiction fantasy, this is real.  It's happening right under your nose.  Because there are those who would impose just such a state in this country.  A theocracy, deriving divine guidance from above.  The so-called "Religious Right" would impose just such a system of government here.  They wave the flag, bake apple pies, wear red white and blue, but really their allegiance is not to the ideals of a democratic state.  If you look at their actions as lawmakers you will see a block of votes that constantly vote to curtail rights.

Abortion is a subject that it brought forth all the time by the religious right.  It is not an easy thing to have an abortion.  It isn't an easy decision.  However, we can not impose someone's morality to someone who is facing that kind of decision.  Nevertheless, religious right lawmakers would make it completely illegal to have an abortion.  Even in extreme cases in which the mother might die, or if the pregnancy is a product of a rape.  They throw out the rights of the mother completely, and elevate the fetus into something more than human.  There has to be a balance.  With a choice the mother isn't automatically going to have an abortion.  With a choice she may still wish to have the child.  However, without a choice, she is forced to carry a child she may not with to have.

Free speech is something we take for granted.  Until we turn around one day and we find that it's not so free.  The right to say what you wish to say is one that is fought against by the religious right in a subversive way.  They vote to curtail this right slowly, as to not arouse suspicion of their ultimate goal.  That goal being free speech only for those who say what they want to hear, or believe.  The right to speak one's mind is being taken way, under the banner of keeping the world safe for children.  Because, I suppose they think, free speech is like a pair of scissors.  Not something a child should run around with.  The reality is, a free society is measured by the freedom to voice one's opinion.  As soon as the right is curtailed, then a democracy's days are numbered.  There is no such thing as profane, or indecent, speech.  Unless you talk to someone from the religious right.  They find anything not in line with their thinking to be profane, and indecent.

We are free to choose a religion, or not to worship at all.  Currently this is true.  But, there are those in the religious right that continue to try to impose their religion on everyone.  They set up monuments of the Ten Commandments in courthouses.  Violating the separation of church and state.  They try to impose moments of silent prayer in schools.  Again, a move to sanction a particular religious belief.  They draft laws that have their basis in religious beliefs, not common sense.  Such as a ban on gay marriage.  They do all these things to impose their beliefs on others.  Ultimately to convert those who do not believe as they do, into their line of thinking.

If you don't think any of this is true, simply look with your own eyes.  Look behind what's shown to you.  See that behind every move to supposedly protect us is a move to erode your basic rights, and to convert you to a religion you didn't choose.  See how you are being told what to do, not asked what should be done.  This is still a democracy, where the people are the ones who tell representatives what to do, not the other way around.  Where a majority rules, but where we preserve the rights of the minority as well.  Because we are all part of both the majority, and the minority.  Don't let a few self-righteous people tell you what you should think, believe, say, or do with your life.

Etcetera : Oscar 2004 Fashions

The Oscars were last month.  The awards weren't all that exciting, since "Lord of the Rings" was going to sweep every award.  The only excitement was on the red carpet before the awards.

Among the Best Dressed was Nicole Kidman, who continues to shine on the red carpet of every award show she shows up to.  Her powder blue dress was a statement in simplicity and style.  It also doesn't hurt that she is gorgeous.  Naomi Watts continues this line of simplicity and style.  It would seem that strapless was in.  Most women can't pull this off, but Kidman and Watts pulled it off like a dream.  Lastly, the big winner of the night Charlize Theron was also simple and stylish.  I'm glad that this year there was a move towards dressing understated, but still extremely elegant.  Charlize's look reminded me of Jean Harlow.  Honorable mention of best dressed goes to Holly Hunter, Patricia Clarkson and Jennifer Gardner.  All of who were wearing beautiful, and understated, dresses.

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Among the Worst Dressed were the usual bunch, including Sally Kirkland.  Sally, I think, now just dressed bad in order to be on every worst dressed list.  However, this year she actually dressed OK.  Not great, mind you, but better than in years past.  Uma Thurman felt the need to lobby to be in the next "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie with her pirate like outfit.  Either that or she was heading to a costume party afterwards.  Lastly the worst dressed was Diane Keaton, who fell into a vintage shop and came out looking like The Little Tramp.  Honorable mention for worst dressed was Faye Dunaway, who thought it was a good idea to wear a tablecloth.  Lainie Kazan thought it was a good idea to make her dress out of her drapes.

All in all people are dressing much better these days.  Perhaps they are watching the red carpet coverage and seeing that those who dress bad are going to be torn appart by commentators.  Let's hope next year there won't be a need for a worst dressed list.  Although, I do enjoy looking out for those who can't dress, as much as seeing those who can.