Back to the web design; One project which sort of came to me all at once and wasn’t planned previously, is complete as I moved the Web Design page to it’s own subdomain at http://webdesign.dmlabadie.com.

I’m still working on SHPD.org and hope to make some progress on that soon. Its shifting from a total redesign to more of a touch up job. Will have to wait and see if that changes again, though.

Related articles by Zemanta

• iPad can run all iPhone apps unmodified, new iPhone SDK out today lets developers tweak apps for iPad use (engadget.com)
• The Complete Apple iPad in 60 Seconds! (therawfeed.com)
• Apple announces e-book store (crunchgear.com)

• Two men get into an argument
• Later that day, Man #1 drives up next to Man #2, gets out of his car and points a gun at Man #2
• Man #2 tries to drive off, but Man #1 opens fire, striking the back window of the car and hitting the 4 year old son of Man #2, in the leg.
• The father and brother of Man #1 attempt to bribe Man #2 to not cooperate with the police, so the charges will be dropped.
• Man #2 contacts police and the father and brother of Man #1 are later arrested for bribery.

Just for a moment, I’ll put myself in their shoes. Worry for my son? Of course. Wishing there was something I could do to fix the situation? No doubt. But, I’d tell my kid how stupid he was for thinking up an idea like that in the first place, let alone, following through with it! I sure as hell wouldn’t be trying to bribe the shooting victims father. If your son was shot, would you want to help make sure the person responsible doesn’t have to pay for what he did? Of course not!

You can protect you children from a lot of things. But, when your children become adults, they’re responsible for their own stupidity. Find a good lawyer and hope for the best. I’m sorry, but that is about the extent of what a parent can do.

It seems right that Chicago would be ranked so highly in traffic. The only more fitting tribute would be to our road construction, when the usual traffic becomes just simply, a parking lot. Or, maybe the excessive amount of hot air emanating from City Hall. ‘Windy City’ can have so many meanings.

At the very least, it’s better than placing 24th Smartest of the 55 largest US cities and tied with St. Louis.

Go Traffic!

Just make sure you give to legitimate causes. Natural disasters like this always bring out the con artists and scammers. Below, you’ll see a series of links to some reputable charities and organizations.

May God be with the people of Haiti, their families around the world and the wonderful men and women either on their way to Haiti or already there assisting in the relief efforts. And, Thank You, to everyone who has made even the smallest of contributions. It’s a small price to pay to do our part, monetarily, even if we can’t be there to do something physically.

• American Red Cross
• Americares
• CARE: Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere
• Doctors Without Borders
• Haiti Health Foundation
• Hope For Haiti
• Partners in Health: Stand with Haiti
• World Food Program

This is not meant to be an all inclusive list, but merely a starting point, if you feel others need to be added, please send me a message using the contact form or the comments to this post and I will update the list.

Otherwise, you may also visit Charity Navigator for a list of charities working directly with the Haiti Relief Effort.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Making Children Safe Needs To Be Top Priority in Haiti (newswire.ca)
• Be Wary of Possible Scams Linked to Haiti Earthquake Relief (gloucestercitynews.net)
• In pictures and words, the truth (timesunion.com)
• In Haiti, little separates life and death (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• How to help Haiti earthquake victims (timeoutny.com)
• JPMorgan Chase Reaches Out to Aid Victims of Haitian Earthquake (eon.businesswire.com)
• General Mills Foundation Pledges $250,000 to Earthquake Relief in Haiti (eon.businesswire.com)
• How and Where to Donate to Haiti (and Avoid Scams) [Relief] (lifehacker.com)
• Sandra Bullock gives $1 million to Haiti relief (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• NFL, union pledge $1M to Haiti relief (cbssports.com)

Image via Wikipedia

Late last night, I read this article from the New York Post. At first, I was quite disturbed that it seems like this was a “how-to” on shooting heroin. After seeing the 16 page pamphlet, I’m still somewhat disturbed, but I can see their point. In issuing the pamphlet it seems the objective of the New York Dept of Health is to educate heroin users on how not to infect themselves with disease and in turn, that the education could lead to less cost by the government in treating abusers who would otherwise become infected.

The part that hits me wrong is that in doing so, you make it quite easy for those easily influenced to try it out at a perceived lack of consequence, which could then turn them into regular users. This is related directly to Tip #6, the same that seems to have alot of people in a complete uproar. Now when I say the “easily influenced”, I’m referring to kids/teens, mainly. Peer pressure can be unbearable for kids. Those that fight it well, could come across this little pamphlet and think that if they get their hands on some heroin, that following this tip will make it “OK” to give it a try and in turn, they may do it again, and again.

The cost of this education, monetarily, was quite low at $32,000 for 70,000 pamphlets. If this information only reaches the intended audience, then great, it certainly won’t make anything worse. But, if it reaches elsewhere, who knows. What ifs may be annoying to think about, but unfortunately, that seems to be how things go, do something without thinking of all repercussions and then try to clean up the mess afterward, if there is one. A website would have made so much more sense. Chances are, little Johnny isn’t going to be cruising the Dept of Health web site anytime soon, and if he is, well, I don’t think we have to worry about little Johnny. But little Jimmy and little Cindy, maybe we should.

That’s my opinion, most likely I’m guilty of over thinking or to some, not thinking enough. Have a look at the article or articles out there and then take a look at the pamphlet and see what you think, and let me know.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Guide to shooting smack published by City of New York (boingboing.net)
• NYC-funded handout called how-to for heroin users (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• NYC prosecutor blasts ‘how-to’ drug pamphlet (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• ‘How To’ Shoot Heroin? Government Booklet Offers Tips (abcnews.go.com)

A sample:

• “You’re gonna run into jerk offs. But remember, it’s not the size of the asshole you worry about, it’s how much shit comes out of it.”

It’s nice to know that in the current economic downturn or whatever the hell they decide to call it now, that someone who was displaced from his job because of it, has found an outlet and a way to turn a bad situation into a good one.

In some small way, it gives me a little more hope that eventually, I’ll end up back in the work force, too. Obviously, the chances of coming up with a unique spin on things like Justin has, and turning it into a moneymaker are quite slim. The hope is still there though, that as the calendar starts over, I will become a productive member of my household again, sooner, rather than later.

PasteMagazine.com Article about Justin Halpern and ShitMyDadSays

There is also a facebook page displaying all of the his tweets, find it here.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Guy gets sitcom deal from tweets on his dad’s ‘words of wisdom’ (timesunion.com)
• Sh-t My Dad Says: Coming to a Tv Near You (dailymarauder.com)

Oh well, may as well just stay awake. If I sleep now, I wouldn’t wake up until late afternoon at best and then my whole sleep pattern is skewed. Back to job searching, Facebook games and looking for silly crap to blog about next.

Be warned, if something extremely weird shows up here, blame it on the lack of sleep, or just my warped sense of humor. One or the other, but most likely, both.

I was in Las Vegas, part of my 18 month sabbatical from Chicago. I didn’t feel like getting drunk that night, so I stayed home. Either that, or I was flat broke, which is most likely the actual reason. Watching every nutjob in Sin City get blitzed outta their minds waiting for Y2K to bring the city of lights to a crashing, dark halt. Never happened of course, but it was still fun watching some drunken dunce climb a traffic light pole over the intersection of Tropicana Ave and the Las Vegas Strip only to fall into a sea of other drunken dunces, not one of which tried to help in any way. Saw it right on the news too, gotta love it.

Now that I think about it, I was out of work then, just like now. The more things change, the more they stay the same, I guess. Though, I’d trade Vegas some of our weather, for some of theirs. I’ll take how 36 degrees feels out there compared to our 9 degrees and how it feels, any day.

Lets flash back to February. Cubs fans everywhere, myself included, couldn’t wait for the season to start. Spring Training was upon us and we were going to run away with the NL Central Division and maybe, just MAYBE, sniff the possibility of a World Series. Then, quicker than a Milton Bradley media session, that blew up in our faces. Mark Buehrle did throw a perfect game for the White Sox, kudos to him for that, DeWayne Wise will be on his Christmas card list, permanently.

Then, the spirits rise again as the Blackhawks make a triumphant return to the postseason and nearly make the Stanley Cup Finals. Joy in Chitown! At least we have one team still giving us something to cheer about as they keep the puck rolling in the right direction this season, 16-6-3, 35 pts and leading the Central Division.

Lost in the minutia of baseballs opening weeks and the hockey playoffs, we also have the Bulls taking the Celtics to Game 7 in a great series, if only because Kevin Garnett was injured and not playing. And now, they’re 6-9, and lost 5 straight.

There was something else, as well. Oh, yeah! Jay Cutler, the latest Chicago Bears savior. Well, at least we have a QB that can throw for 300 yds, I just wish he wouldn’t wrap it so neatly in 5 interceptions.

So, tomorrow, I’ll be sitting in front of the TV, watching the Hawks in their nifty new alternate uniforms, at the United Center against Nashville, then turning away to watch the season finale of Sons of Anarchy. Only an NCIS rerun tomorrow so no worries of missing anything.

Just to hold the slimest of holiday connections between this and my previous two posts, lets not forget that Jay Cutler is from Santa Claus, IN.

Ho, Ho, Ho … Go Hawks!

Is Spring Training here yet?

A quick note: You may or may not have noticed that I disappeared for about a month. I really haven’t had much to say. I’ve still in job search mode and have had a few leads, but nothing has panned out as of yet. My 31st birthday just passed over the weekend.

Like everybody else in my house, I’m just hoping for a belated birthdaypresent. I’d go sit on Santa‘s lap at the mall and ask him to bring me a job for Christmas, but something tells me old St. Nick from the local Santa’s union wouldn’t be too happy with me.

As is evident by the never ending load of crap the world lays out in the daily paper and all over the internet, I should be back regularly with more stupid crap to waste your time and mine with. Oh,and Happy Holidays!