Who's really responsible for spreading stories, the media or people?

I would say that they go hand in hand; they both need each other to add fuel to the story.

People will often exaggerate a story they've heard on the news and leave out details enough to twist a story around and make it unrecognizable from the original.

Media tends to pick on people's fears and use the buzz around the city to dig deeper into stories and report on them. Whether that report also gets twisted or fabricated is tough to make out.

Take, for example, the recent gas hike scare. I heard murmurs around the office about how all the gas stations were plotting to increase gas prices to up to $2.50 a litre overnight. I guess I wasn't the only one who heard those rumours, because gas stations across the GTA were packed to the limit from mid-afternoon to late night with people trying to fill up every car tank, gas jar and gas-fillable-container they had.

It didn't help matters that throughout television, radio and print news all that was contained in the headlines was the possible gas hike. Where and how these rumours started is completely unknown.

So I guess it's like the chicken and the egg fiasco...which comes first? Medica speculation and reporting, or people speculating and "reporting".

I blame people. There's no other way around it. I mean in some cases media has no way of lying about a situation, like the reports on Hurricaine Katrina (however, their speculation on the death toll apparently was grossly over-estimated). But people do have control on their own minds.

They can use common sense to weed out the truth from within the lies. And with a resource like the Internet, there's no excuse not to. You have access to the world at your fingertips (old saying, but true). If you want to read an African newspaper, you can go to http://www.mg.co.za/ and read Africa's first online newspaper to find out the story from the perspective of someone across the globe. Or, go to www.nst.com.my to read Malaysia's New Straits Times.

People, the nasty people of the world will indefintely attempt to screw with you. And please don't try to rationalize your points by telling me you watch CNN....ugh...don't get me started.

It's up to you, and only you, to find out the real story.

Otherwise, what's the point of you knowing anything, if it's not really something?

Putting religion aside, if possible, do you sincerely believe in destiny?

For many the belief in destiny relates directly to their religious beliefs (or lack of), but some, while keeping in mind the obligations and details of their faith, opt not to believe that all of our actions and occurences are pre-determined and inevitable.

The whole concept of destiny, fate and the 'meant-to-be' has roots in different cultures as well as religion. Destiny is the irresistible power or agency that is conceived of as determining the future, whether in general or of an individual. Greek mythology described destiny and fortune as neither good nor bad, but that it is simply in due proportion to each according to his deserts. Sounds fair - you get what you deserve.

But there's got to be more than that. I don't believe that patterns of actions that lead to a certain event are the result of chance, coincidence or luck. The world has too much order and not enough serendipity for that to occure. I think our paths, and all the little occurences within, are planned out for us for the better good, as long as we choose to take that path. Choose the immoral and wrong path, then you end up getting your just desserts, like the Greeks sorta said.

You may not know it at the time, but meeting random people on the street or just a mundane experience may have all been for a specific purpose. That's not to say that every trip to the grocery store or the bank will eventually lead to some momentous experience.

Making choices and believing in destiny is a little contradictory, now that I think about it. But we do have free will to make decisions, and we face the consequences of our decisions. It could just be that when it comes to decision-making involving morality, we're on our own; when it involves more life-altering happenings, there's a Divine interception.

The decisions we make also effect our destiny. In 1985 my parents and I had planned to go to India to visit family there. Our original flight was planned for June 23rd, but two weeks before that date my mom suddenly found out that she was able to get an extra week off of work, so we changed our flight to leave exactly a week earlier on June 16th. I don't believe this was a chance happening - God definitely made this happen.

On June 23rd 1985, Flight 182 from Montreal (where we supposed to fly to from Toronto) to London, Delhi then finally Bombay, exploded off the coast of Ireland and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, killing all passengers and crew on board. The explosion was caused by a bomb placed in checked baggage was the single largest terrorist attack before those of Sept. 11th, and the largest mass murder in Canadian history. This infamous case has gone on 20 years and was finally closed this past February.

My mom and I were going to travel alone on the flight, my dad was going to join us a few days later. I don't know who is more provoked by that thought, him or us, that we would've been on that flight. But I guess I can say that our own destiny was to live longer, and that we just weren't meant to be on that flight in the end of it all.

More recently, I went to a baby shower for a friend and ended up giving a ride home to the mommy-to-be's cousin. Now being a shy person by nature, I was racking my brain to figure out what to say this stranger on the somewhat long ride home, and wondering to myself how long I could carry on small talk. It ended up being a really inspiring conversation, because she was really open and talkative and told me a lot about herself that I was able to reflect on for myself. I actually made a few decisions about my life based on that conversation.

And here I thought that all I'd get out of the evening was a couple laughs with friends, and some food! I wasn't even supposed to have my car that day because my brother was going to take it to school and I wouldn't have been able to go to the party after I got off work.

So what exactly do we have control over? I have no freakin clue. I would like to at least think I have control over the mindless and meaningless actions of each day, but when you look at the big picture, I don’t. No one does. You may think and believe you’re on your way to work, but an accident, bad storm, chance meeting, literally anything can change all of that in an instant because it just wasn’t meant for you that day.

But in the end, it's how we get to our end that makes all the difference.

Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved. - William Jennings Bryan

so I found a background and layout (picture is taken by me ;) )....just not so sure if I like it...

I think I get bored way too easily. Could mean a mild case of ADD or just a healthy sense of curiosity and exploration for newer things (I tend to go with the second one).

Take this very blog space. I can't seem to be satisfied with one layout or background so keep changing it to what I hope is better (I'm searching/working on another one so this blogger-provided one is temporary).

But as I put more deeper thought into the matter, I don't think I'm alone. It seems these days we're less satisfied with different aspects of our lives. That's why technology changes and "improves" every day; divorce rates climb as people are less satisfied with their spouses; and we clamber to find a new event to momentarily brighten our lives. No sooner did they come out with 60 gig hard drives, that 100 gigs are starting to become the norm (I'm still running on 36GB so don't complain about your macked out 60GB hard drive to me).

It could just be that the growing availability of options and choices allows us to be jaded by our surroundings enough that when any novel idea shows up, we tend to leap at it for fear it'll be gone if we blink. Like those damn iPods. Every iPod owner will swear it's the swankiest (I've been searching for a chance to use that word...I think it could be made cool again...no? Think it over) most life changing device to fall into their hands. Well if I laid down a hard-earned $300-$400 for the over-hyped (all the Apple-lovers are likely clenching their teeth...ha!) and not-so-swanky (need more time to think about that one?) device, I'd probably duct tape it to my arm.

But I found a great MP3 player for a fraction of the price that does all the things the iPod Mini does. Which doesn't say that I'm safe from bad decisions or bright, shiny gadgets or over-the-top sales pitches (still pinching myself over spending all that money on those shammies at the CNE! - The man was selling them for $20 and said they were made in Germany and called me a member of Destiny's Child, what the hell was I supposed to do!?)

Being constantly enticed by new choices causes us to question the ones we've already made. Which may have an up side to an extent. But as we question our trivial choices, doubt tends to slip in and cause confusion and many times we end up going for the choice that seems to be more promising.

We shouldn't have to settle for anything if we're able to take a more positive step. But on the same note, I think people are tangled with the "grass is greener on the other side" notion, so constantly strive to hop the fence to see if the other side is as lush as their minds have conjured it to be.

I'm also struggling to rid my mind of this whole idea. I don't want to be discomforted when I'm presented with a new product or choice or even an image of a person. I think part of growing up means you have to learn to be comfortable in your own skin while learning what 'your own skin' really means.

Swanky idea eh?

edit: After posting this at 12:18 AM, I came back to add that as of now, 12:24AM I am now moving on from trying out the word 'swanky'. How about jaunty?....Yeah didn't think so either....

Friends,

There is much to be said and done about the manmade annihilation of New Orleans, caused NOT by a hurricane but by the very specific decisions made by the Bush administration in the past four and a half years. Do not listen to anyone who says we can discuss all this later. No, we can't. Our country is in an immediate state of vulnerability. More hurricanes, wars, and other disasters are on the way, and a lazy bunch of self-satisfied lunatics are still running the show.

So, in the next few days, I will write to you about what must be done about Bush and Co.

But today I want you to join with me in bypassing the colossally inept and incompetent Bush administration and get help DIRECTLY to the people of the New Orleans area -- right now.

A lot of you have written me to ask what you can do. Many don't know who to trust. Many want to do more than write a check. You are right to think that writing checks to relief agencies will not get water and aid to people in the next 48 hours. Checks will be needed later and can be written later.

I have a way, though, for each and every one of us to do something today that can affect people's lives TODAY.
For the past few days I've been working with a group that, I guarantee you, will get direct aid to the people who need it most.

Cindy Sheehan, the brave woman who dared to challenge Mr. Bush at his summer home, has now sent her Camp Casey from in front of Bush's ranch to the outskirts of New Orleans. The Veterans for Peace have taken all the equipment and staff of volunteers and set up camp in Covington, Louisiana, on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain. They are accepting materials and personally distributing them to those in need.
This is where we come in. We need to ship supplies to them immediately. Today they need the following:

Paper plates, paper towels, toilet paper, baby diapers, baby wipes, baby formula, Pedialyte, baby items in general, powder, lotion, handy wipes, sterile gloves, electrolytes, LARGE cans of veggies, school supplies, and anything else to lift people's spirits.

You can ship these items by following the instructions on VFPRoadTrips.org. Or you can deliver them there in person. The roads to Covington are open. Here's how to get there. You can drop them off or you can stay and participate (if you stay, you'll be camping so bring your own tent and gear and mosquito spray).

If you can't ship these items or go there in person, then go to VFPRoadTrips.org and make an immediate donation through PayPal. Camp Casey-Covington will have immediate access to this cash and can buy the items themselves from stores that are open in Louisiana (all donations to Veterans for Peace, are tax deductible).
Each day I will post up-to-the minute information as to what is needed and the progress Camp Casey is making. Please visit MichaelMoore.com often and do what you can to help.

Many other groups are also doing good work. MoveOn.org has set up a system for people to offer rooms in their homes to the survivors.

There is no time to waste. People are suffering and dying. Each of us can do something. There is no other alternative.

Thank you in advance for your help. Tomorrow, we will take care of the other work we need to do about the ideologically hamstrung incompetents in charge.

Yours,
Michael Moore
Mike@MichaelMoore.com
MichaelMoore.com

So it's about 4am, and despite my every attempt to fall asleep for the last 3 hours, I'm still wide awake and frustrated. I tried reading, music, games, and even tried counting the number of cars that passed our house just by listening to the sounds made (in the last half hour I think it's been about 20 or so...where are all these people going at 4am???).

Then I got on my computer and started roaming the world of blogs. Any time I stumble across an interesting looking blog, I bookmark it for future readings (for a night like this, or possibly to steal ideas from for my own blog entries muahaha...I've yet to do that though, really!). I find more blogs as I click on links that people have put up of their friend's own blogs and find more interesting people and learn tidbits about their lives. I then came to realize how amazing this blogging phenomenon really is. You could be reading something airy and light about someone's weekend, then the next blog you click on, you find a person's most inner thoughts and confessions laid out to make peace with on the internet.

The best, and maybe worst, part about blogging is that you may never meet the person you become so fascinated with even though you may both be in the same city.

Best, because not knowing who your readers are may allow you to confide more thoughts and opinions without worrying about having to face these people the next day at the office.

Worst, because so many times you may feel you have something in common with the blogger, but dont have any form of communication with them other than through the comments on their blog.

My fear is that one night in the midst of an insomnia spell I blog about some deep, dark secret and don't realize it until the next day. Though it may not be so bad to have others find out more about you, since I really do think people are not honest enough about the true them, it's still a scary thought.

Maybe it's the constant sound of tapping on the keyboard, or the white glow of my computer screen...or just that it's 4:10am...but now I'm getting sleepy....

Good night =) [and pls forgive the nonsensical sentences and typos...did I mention it's 4am?]

Here's a letter from Michale Moore to President Bush regarding Hurricaine Katrina...maybe it's just me, but I think he's being sarcastic?

Within the unimaginable destruction of Hurricaine Katrina, somehow politics and social issues seem to sneak through. It seems impossible that in a country such as the U.S. that there is this magnitude of chaos in one of the counties most popular cities.

The former Mayor of New Orleans summed up their condition as being like an "animal". And though no one could stop a natural disaster such as this from occurring, what could have been prevented is the number of people who are suffering.

Government officials must have anticipated that despite giving evacuation orders for Louisiana residents, there would be thousands who would not be able to leave because they have no means to leave their home, or nowhere to go. What I don't understand is why action wasn't taken before the hurricane hit cities like New Orleans. Why didn't the countless buses that are now making their way to Houston with survivors arrive before hand. Why wasn't the National Guard brought in before to rescue people who would essentially have no where to go to escape the flooding, but the roofs of their homes.

And why, of all things, is the majority of the desperate survivors Black?

Many say that this is why aid has been so slow in getting to the troubles cities; that if the people were wealthy White people, there wouldn't have been time to herd people into a stadium, because the arrangements to have them leave the area would have already been put in place.

That could be true. In fact I believe it's likely to be true. But since those people had the means to escape the wrath of Katrina, there is no possibility of finding an answer to that.

The other side to the story is that the majority of the New Orleans populations consists of Blacks, so it may not be a deliberate, but still it makes no sense.

Every news channel I flipped to, every time I opened up my Internet homepage, I was updated on the conditions of the survivors and given more grisly details about stories. About families having lost a parent, or having to put all their worldly possessions into one garbage bag while their only home was drowned.
How is it possible for this to happen in a place where billions of dollars are spent trying to save a sacred freedom in another country, while that same funding seems to lack, or be inexplicably delayed in their own homeland. So much for "Homeland Security".

I guess it'd be easy to blame Bush, but what exactly do you blame him for? I'm sure there are tons of other people below his position who are in charge of disaster relief and are able to make decisions that allowed buses, helicopters and other aid to be deployed earlier.

At the moment, and probably in the future, there'll be no resolution to this. In the meantime we're forced to idly sit by and watch the anarchy and chaos with our heads shaking in sympathy. I believe right now the only organization accepting donations is The Canadian Red Cross.