My Desktop

Choc Mint Girl tagged me for this meme. It's pretty simple, show a picture of my desktop. I'm afraid my desktop isn't very interesting.



See, I haven't changed it much since I bought this computer from Dell! Well, hopefully some of the folks that I tag will have more interesting desktops.

Here are the rules:

Upon receiving this tag, immediately perform a screen capture of your desktop. It is best that no icons be deleted before the screen capture so as to add to the element of fun. Here’s how you can do a screen capture:

1. Go to your desktop and press the Print Scrn key (located on the right side of the F12 key).
2. Open a graphics program (like Picture Manager, Paint, or Photoshop) and doing a Paste (CTRL + V). If you wish, you can “edit” the image before saving it.
3. Post the picture on your blog. You can also give a short explanation on the look of your desktop if you want. You can explain why you prefer such a look or why it is full of icons. Things like that.
4. Tag five of your friends and ask them to give you a Free View of their desktops as well.
5. Add your name to this list of Free Viewers with a link pointing directly to your Desktop Free View post to promote it to succeeding participants.

People who have already pimped their desktop:
Francine of La Place de Cherie Chez Francine Bloggishi Unchained Melody LadyJava’s Lounge Mariuca Revellian Dot ComDesktop Emila’s Illustrated Blog Spiff, The Spaceman Rolando Brown Baron The Kat HouseMAX Choc Mint Girl Self Delusions of Angela May add yours here after doing this tag

I tag the following great bloggers:
Victorya Chase Goes to Therapy
Mel's Got An Idea
JenuArt - Soul Energy Rising
Kathleen's Invisible Keepsakes
Flavors of Italy

Blogging Against Abuse

Well, I wasn't planning on posting today. However, I took a moment to visit some of my favorite blogs and noticed a badge on Victorya's blog for the Blogging Against Abuse Day sponsored by the Blog Catalog site. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to participate and support a cause that I care a lot about.



I am particularly passionate about stopping child abuse because I feel that abusing a child is among the worst crimes/sins that can be committed. I agree wholeheartedly with the verse in Luke (17:2) "It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones."

When I traveled in South East Asia, I was horrified to learn how many children in those countries are sold as sex slaves. The biggest customers are Western tourists. The statistics regarding abuse in America is staggering as well. If it weren't way past my bedtime (I need my 8 hours), I would spend some time to track down the most recent statistics. I think I'll follow-up with that information in another post.

Another note as well. Since I have recently extracted myself from a difficult job with a horrible work environment, I acknowledge that abuse comes in many forms. Anyone who has had a tyranical boss knows what I'm talking about. It is abusing to use power to manipulate and control people. Also, we abuse someone anytime we treat them disrespectfully or put ourselves above others.

I think sometimes I am guilty of this as well. I can be very disdainful of my former boss and her cronies who have inflicted so much unhappiness on so many people. I want to believe that is just "righteous indignation". Is it really or is that just an excuse?

To quote the bible once again in John 13:34 it says: "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." Can you imagine what the world would be like if everyone loved everyone else the way that Christ loved? I want to experience a world like that!

Check out all the blogs that participated. Most of them are much better written than my little post. Bloggers Unite & Make a Difference

Just for Fun

Look, I'm actually posting twice in one week!! This is an accomplishment for me because I have been so busy. There are two reasons I'm posting unexpectedly.

First, I have gotten a few comments on my last post from my blogger friends. I just wanted to let everyone know that you don't need to feel bad about the Lyric Contest. The fun thing about blogging is that you can try something new out. Sometimes it will work and sometimes it doesn't. It's all good, because this is how we learn to be better bloggers and better people too!

So, now for the second reason. I'm nearing the end of this do or die project at work and for the first time in 6 weeks I haven't had to work overtime for two days in a row. The web application that I built from scratch in 6 weeks (I'm very proud of myself), has been approved to be released!! With that obstacle behind me, this little picture that I received from a friend is all the more appropriate!



Today, I was also admiring Zhu's new blog and thinking that my blog could use some work. Ever hear the adage that the shoe makers children never have shoes? Well, it applies to programmers too. The stuff I build for myself is never as nice as the stuff I do at work. I'm too tired by the time I get home!! Anyway, Zhu's blog is looking beutiful as always!

It's a Flop

The Lyric Contest that is. Yes, it was abysmally unsuccessful. I had a couple of encouraging comments but no entries in the contest. I am attempting to write some lyrics myself but my rhyming capabilities seem to be limited to words with four letters or less. For instance:

My contest was a flop
but I will not stop
until I am on top

It rhymes but it also stinks. So, I will continue to welcome any suggestions.

I realize that some of my difficultly is a result of being mentally drained after working so much lately. As I am writing this post, I am actually more interested in visiting blogs than I am writing. Visiting requires less thought.

Old Things under the Sun has some interesting thoughts on immigration.

Hobo Teacher is making me rethink my desire to have children. Teaching high school has got to be the worst job ever.

Well, I'm going end this post on what I would call a high note. The evil boss character in the "Another Day in Paradise" musical is based on an actual person who was formerly my boss. I escaped some time ago. I just received word that this person has been fired. Although it might seem very unchristian like, I couldn't help but join in enthusiasm that has overtaken my friends who had remained.

I actually received an email with a dancing leprechaun and the music "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead".

Lyrics Writing Contest

Well, work has been particularly brutal the last few weeks and I'm expecting more of the same through September. This is what happens when my boss makes great promises and like a dope I agree that it can be done. So now I'm getting it done by any means possible, which at the moment is working lots of overtime and on occasion praying to the great computer gods that miraculously it will all just work.

So, this Sunday instead of writing the second scene of Another Day in Paradise I am enlisting the help of all Bloggers. In the first scene, there is a song that I just threw together some lyrics and I received the comment that the lyrics need some work. I agree. However, I'm not really good at it and lately my brain has been completely fried by the time I come home. The end result is that I have nothing in the way of new and better lyrics.

I am going to have a Lyrics Writing Contest and the winner of this contest will get their lyrics posted on this blog and will get the adorable emblem below that they can post on their blog.



If that isn't enough incentive to participate in the contest, how about doing it just because it will be fun?

All of us have at one time experienced a boss who seems more like a dictator, a sadist or fill in the blank with any description that you've used for a horrible boss. This is an opportunity to express your feeling about those horrible bosses in an amusing way! Take a look at the original post: Another Day in Paradise - The Musical and see if you can capture the spirit of the scene in the lyrics. Keep in mind that this musical is supposed to be very satirical. This particular scene is introducing the boss and the boss' croonies who are quite happy with their lives and really enjoy tormenting their employees. They really don't care about actual success, they just like the fancy title and looking good to all their friends.

So, the rules are:
1. Entries must be submitted through the comments by September 20, 2007 and I will announce the winner some time before October 1, 2007. It all depends on how many entries I get and how much time I have to evaluate the entries.
2. Comments containing entries will not be published on this blog until a winner is decided. I will periodically post comments confirming receipt of entries.
3. Any entries that are inappropriate (as decided by me because after all this is my blog and my contest) will be disqualified and immediately deleted. If you are wondering what would be considered inappropriate, keep in mind that I'd like to keep a "PG" rating for my blog.

Any questions, just leave a comment and I will respond. Have fun all you creative bloggers! I can't wait to see what y'all cook up on this one!