What is the impact of automation on American culture and lifestyles?

Automation has made our lives easier, or has it? In many ways automation has made our lives easier. We can access information with ease, things that normally took time and labor can now be done for us, we can travel further, we can connect with each other instantly, we have more leisure time, and life is generally easier.

Americans have taken advantage of this automation perhaps more than anyone else. We have created a society of interconnected people with unlimited information and unlimited potential. Have we lost something in the process?

I can't help think of my grandparents. How they worked hard growing their food, how they relied on each other for living, how just having a radio or a book or a meal prepared for them was a highly valued prize. Have we lost our ability to communicate face to face, to appreciate hard labor and the results of that work? Is there a certain boredom that can come with too much leisure time and ease in life? Are we lazy?

With the good comes the bad I suppose. Knowledge, production, communication, and opportunities are advancing at exponential rates. The value and necessity of family, the honor of hard work, and the appreciation for all that we have may be the cost.

Should pornography be restricted by law?

Although this is a tough question for many. I feel pornography should not be restriced by law as it is protected as free speech. However, I am going to parse the question by saying that "access" to pornography should in some cases be restricted. For example I don't think children should be exposed to or have access to it. I don't think that adults who choose not to view it should be forced to. An example of this as argued before the Supreme Court is should someone be able to send you an ad in the mail with pornographic images? The courts ruled no and I agree. I think pornography other than involving children should be available to anyone adult who wishes to view it but should not be forced upon anyone who does not.

Political Cartoon

Sarah Palin rose to promenance in the last election and is, appropriately in my opinion, the subject of a lot of political cartoons. I love when a cartoon pokes fun at a person without that person or their name even being mentioned and yes I would be afraid for us all.

Political Cartoon

Here is another political cartoon which points out the toxic environment of the tea party. If your views differ so be it. This is America and the Constitution doesn't belong to you alone. Isn't freedom of speech great ;)

Political Cartoon

I love this political cartoon. It speaks for itself better than any words I could put here.

Political Cartoon

This is one of the first political cartoons in the U.S. It was by Benjamin Franklin and illustrated that the states could could survive together or die separately. This was at a time in our history when there was a great debate about a strong federal government or weak federal government with individual states having the power.

Smoking Kid From Indonesia

How sad is this? This kid from Indonesia is addicted to cigarettes and smokes 40 a day. This would clearly be considered child abuse in our Country. Since he obviously can't obtain cigarettes on his own there are some adults that are helping (hurting) him. To me that is pretty unacceptible. The photo is shocking to me.

Ted Williams Link

Man With the Golden Voice

We all love an American rags to riches story. We all want that to be Ted Williams story. Ted was a homeless man who was "discovered" in a youtube video to have an amazing made for radio voice. It turns out he worked in radio before he fell on bad times. He had some issues in his past which lead him on a downhill spiral out of society. His new found notariety may be his ticket back. The reunion with his mother was extremely touching. You could see the love they had for each other. She told him to not disappoint her and he assured her he wouldn't. Unfortunately, he has already had trouble with the law since. As a new celebrity he is under a lot of stress. The recent manipulation by major television networks for the exclusive have highlighted this. Nonetheless, I think all of America is pulling for him.

MLK

Hope everyone enjoyed their holiday and had a chance to reflect on the words and deeds of Dr. King. Many lessons for us all still today.

New Blog

This is my first posting for the new blog.