The McNewspaper

Let There Be Light

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:03:00 +0000

Ever take a picture which you were convinced not even the most extensive editing process could fix?

I thought for sure that would be the case with one of my most popular photos(and a personal favorite of mine). During my last visit to New York City nearly 5 years ago, I took a picture of a shady Times Square at sunset during Friday rush hour. I was hopeful for how it would turn out, particularly since I had a good angle from my vantage point in the middle of Broadway and 42nd. Let it never be said that I don't risk my life for my art!

When I got back to Columbia and went through my many pictures from the trip, this one was one of the darkest. Since it was my favorite view of Times Square out of the photos I took, the result was rather disappointing. The other photos I took of the area, while brighter, just weren't the same. This photo quickly became an afterthought.

Fast forward four years. After having learned the ins and outs of Photoshop CS4, I decided to revisit the photo just to see what I could do with it, though I can't honestly say I was very hopeful. Fortunately, I was in for a surprise: with just a little brightening, color saturation, and tilt-shifting, it became an entirely new photograph.

I love the effect that resulted in the finished product, titled "At the Crossroads" (referencing Times Square's nickname: "Crossroads of the World"). Times square is often photographed at night, but you don't often see the lights stand out when there is still some daylight, as in this picture. Also, the only area I left in focus is the bottom part of the picture, which emphasizes the woman approaching the square from the bottom-left, while the slight blur gives Times Square a timeless effect while also suggesting, rightly so, that she is wandering into an expansive wonderland full of sensory overload.

For the sake of comparison, the original photo can be seen below. It's amazing what a few simple edits can do!

No Fair

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:34:00 +0000

Before a recent trip to Myrtle Beach, I had plenty of things in mind that I wanted to photograph. Throughout the trip, I took lots of pictures at some of the Grand Strand's most famous hotspots. However, it was what wasn't there that I most wanted to capture.

Growing up, a trip to the beach just wasn't complete without a trip to the Myrtle Beach Pavilion. Though I'm well into adulthood, you can imagine my disappointment and that of so many others when it was taken down several years ago due to budget reasons. To this day, there is only a vast, empty lawn in its place.

As a kid, I loved visiting the Pavilion; this time, I visited its ghost. Of all the pictures I took during this trip to Myrtle Beach, this is the one that most resonates with me on a personal level: "The Fair That Wasn't There."

Post-Apocalypse

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:01:00 +0000

I had the privilege of attending the 2009 Air and Ground Expo at McEntire Joint National Guard Base in Eastover, SC, a few weeks ago. Even before I went, I knew there would be plenty of good photo-ops, but I had no idea of what I was in store for. It was the show of a lifetime, and while I indeed walked away with a ton of great pictures, the particular one seen above perfectly captured the thrill of the experience (I was fortunate to get that shot since the fire had turned to black smoke just a moment later).

Entitled "Apocalypse Wow", it was the first photo I published on Flickr after starting a photography business recently. I've loved photography for many years and decided it was finally time to do something with it. Thanks to this photo, I was able to start my business with a bang! Also, I'm pleased to announce that the business now has an official Web site of which this blog will be a part, as I will use it at times to document my photographic adventures.

Take a look around the site, order a print or two, and have a great time!

Coldplay Takes Charlotte

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Several years ago, Prince came to Columbia while on tour at the time. Unfortunately, I didn't make it to the show and I've regretted it since. From that point on I was going to make it a point to do whatever I can to go see my favorite artists when they come somewhere nearby. I don't go to many concerts, so I want to see the people I like especially since you just don't know if or when they'll be back.

Last year's Nine Inch Nails performance in Georgia was my first concert since college, and last night's Coldplay performance at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Charlotte, NC, was the second. Coldplay has been a favorite of mine for years, and there was no way I would have missed it.

I was so looking forward to the show that I decided to make a day of it; I took the day off from work and spent the afternoon in Charlotte before the show. After starting off at SouthPark Mall and checking out IKEA for the first time, I made my way to the amphitheater about half an hour before the doors opened at 7:00...big mistake. I waited as traffic inched along for almost an hour.

I finally got to my seat around 8:00,.and while I wasn't as close to the stage as I'd hoped I would be, I wasn't on the lawn either. Plus, I liked the fact that I was close to the middle, which makes for good pictures. The opening act was a band from Manchester called Elbow, whose music is just as soulful as the band they were opening for. In fact, the lead singer sounded to me almost exactly like Chris Martin.

Coldplay finally took the stage around 9:00, and performed almost all of their biggest hits, and there were a few surprises:

- A performance of "Billie Jean" as a tribute to Michael Jackson:

- An explosion of butterfly confetti:

- Some false starts on a couple of songs prompted a few playful "f-bombs" from Chris Martin, who went on to say, "this better not show up on YouTube!". That was easily the comedic highlight of the night.

It was an amazing concert experience, and I didn't leave empty-handed: I bought a tour program and also picked up some of the confetti on the ground. On our way out, we were all handed free copies of their new live CD, LeftRightLeftRightLeft. They certainly know how to treat their fans with respect, and last night's concert was an unforgettable performance from a world-class band.

Many more photos from the show can be seen here. My next show: U2 in Raleigh, NC, in October. Stay tuned!

Scenes from Roanoke

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:22:00 +0000

I went to visit family in Roanoke, Virginia (a.k.a. the "Star City of the South") this past weekend to celebrate the 4th, and suffice it to say that it is one of my all-time favorite cities. Compared to Columbia, the landscape and architecture are both top-notch. It helps that Roanoke has mountains, whereas Columbia is far too flat! Here are some of the better pictures I took over the last few days.

Mill Mountain, featuring the world's tallest manmade free-standing star (over 88' tall):

Roanoke City Market:

The Wachovia Tower, Roanoke's tallest:

Taubman Museum of Art:

Norfolk and Western Building:

Someone loves their Bedazzler:

Scenery:

Sitting area in...you guessed it...a McDonald's!

Roanoke sunset:

Happy 4th!

Gone Too Soon

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:04:00 +0000

It was last August when I posted about Michael Jackson's 50th birthday, revisiting what his music had meant to me when I was a young teenager. I have long since moved on from being a big fan of his, but I continued to keep up with him in passing and always wished him success. After all, he was a legend in our time who, so it seemed, would be around for a long time to come, and who would make a "comeback" (though he never went away), and he had only weeks to go before starting a series of record-sellout concerts at London's O2 Arena.

It was unconscionable to all of us that his death was imminent (though rumors had circulated for years about the state of his health). To the surprise of everyone, it came to pass yesterday; he was nearly two months shy of his 51st birthday. I had just returned home from work around 5:00PM EST and had seen on CNN.com that he had been taken to UCLA after suffering cardiac arrest, and soon enough, details (and plenty of speculation) started to emerge. Soon enough, the truth came out: he was pronounced dead around 5:30PM EST.

As someone who had been such an admirer of his artistry, I was shocked and saddened like everyone else, fan or otherwise. Naturally, one can't help but to feel sorry for his family and friends. However, we then come to the sad realization that there will never be another album, another video, another tour. Think what you will about Michael Jackson as a person, but his impact on popular culture and his success in shattering racial barriers in entertainment will continue to reverberate. Those are just a few ways his legacy will endure.

Last night, my friends and I communicated on social networks while following the news on television. We shared memories, posted our favorite videos, and tried to encourage each other. His fans came together in the real world as well; crowds of fans gathered outside UCLA and at the Apollo Theater in Harlem to mourn, but also to celebrate; they joined together in song and in rousing chants of "Michael!". Similar scenes played out all over the world, showing just how far his reach truly was. I was a teenager all over again.

I wasn't alive when Elvis died in 1977, but I can't imagine his death being any more momentous than the death of Michael Jackson. Unfortunately, it was sometimes hard to focus only on Jackson's genius and look beyond the controversy that always seemed to swirl around him and which he never could weather, try as he did. Still, I think he will be remembered as one of the most talented yet tragic figures in cultural history. To the man who never had a childhood yet who had a profound impact on mine: thanks for the memories and the music.

Pet Smart

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Sun, 31 May 2009 21:15:00 +0000

Unlike most of my friends, I don't currently own a pet. That wasn't always the case, though; I grew up in a family of cat lovers, and we always had at least two cats in our house when I was growing up. I've only had one dog in my life so far: Casey (pictured above), a black-and-white teacup Chihuahua who was perhaps my favorite pet; we even had her litterbox-trained! Casey is now 9 years old and is currently living with a chihuahua collector, to whom Casey is her favorite.

Why, you might wonder, do I not do myself the favor of once again owning a pet? I still think about it sometimes, but it seems like, for now, there are more reasons against than for. I live in an apartment at the moment, and I would need to pay more per month if I have a pet. Also, while I could easily handle the responsibilities of a dog or cat, I've seen far too many clothes and pieces of furniture ruined over the years due to claws and "accidents". Not in a hurry for a repeat!

Don't get me wrong: I'm indeed an animal lover, and my friends could tell you just how much I dote on their beloved dogs and cats as though they were my own. I suppose it's just a trade-off that one has to decide is worth it, and perhaps when I become a homeowner I may be more inclined to get one since I do like the idea of coming home to a pet. Maybe it would even add a year or two to my life! In the meantime, I have plenty of surrogate pets currently stealing my heart, such as...

Max the Corgi:

Bandit the Pug:

Woofie the Poodle:

As someone who has no pets, I sure have a lot of pets!

Touching the Sound

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Sun, 17 May 2009 20:04:00 +0000

One of the biggest gifts I received in the Christmas of 1992 was a Sony boombox. I was 12 years old at the time, and it was especially exciting to me because it was the first CD player I had ever owned (my first CD was the soundtrack to The Jacksons: An American Dream miniseries). Actually (and I almost hate to admit this), before I got that boombox, I had been using an old Fisher Price cassette player that I had used since I was four or five years old. Since that Christmas, I went on to amass a CD collection numbering well over 1,000.

Fast forward to 2009. I rarely buy CDs anymore thanks to the ease of finding music via the Internet. However, I went with a friend to Best Buy yesterday and ended up purchasing Green Day's new album, 21st Century Breakdown after having heard some songs beforehand. The album, like so many others these days, is also available to download if you know how and where to look online, but in this case, I decided to get my music the old-fashioned way (I got the $24 special edition of the album, though it was on sale for $16 at the time).

It's a great concept album, and the 52-page hardback booklet is nifty. However, the main reason I bought it instead of getting it for free online was to show support for a talented band making meaningful music that I connect with. Buying music in a physical form has become obsolete (retailers and the music industry would agree). While it is certainly convenient to download music, there's nothing quite like holding a CD in your hand with its artwork and liner notes. Many people often miss out on that experience, and it's a shame.

'21st Century Breakdown', indeed.

Myrtle Beach in the Spring

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:08:00 +0000

A week ago from right now, I had just finished parasailing for the first time in my life. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision that was made while I was eating at Damon's on the waterfront, and there just happened to be a water sports business right next to the restaurant. That was easily the highlight of my most recent trip back to the beach (along with watching U2:3D on IMAX), and it was only days before one of the worst wildfires in our state's history struck the beach. Here are some mobile photos I took from the trip.

Our hotel, the Landmark:

The beach:

My first parasailing experience:

Peace:

Family Kingdom:

Fountain at Market Common:

Sitting area at Market Common:

Street at Market Common:

Another Market Common Fountain:

IMAX 3D Theater:

Fireworks over the beach:

Coastal Grand Mall food court:

Site of the former Pavilion:

Governor's Mansion Tour

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 00:52:00 +0000

Last August, I posted some pictures from a visit to the S.C. Governor's Mansion during which I had the opportunity to see the house from the outside along with its well-manicured yard. After visiting the gift shop last week and learning that tours of the mansion are free, I decided to book one, and yesterday I finally saw the inside (the first floor, anyway). While I didn't have my digital camera handy, I did have my Chocolate, and the pictures turned out not half-bad!

Fountain at center of estate.

Fountain in front of the mansion.

Front of the mansion. When the state flag is raised, the governor is in residence.

The main staircase is one of the highest straight home staircases in South Carolina.

View of the Large Drawing Room. One of the pictures in this room is of Governor Sanford with President Bush (who autographed the photo) aboard Air Force One.

One of the oldest artifacts in the mansion, this is one of two chairs in the Large Drawing Room that once belonged to King George.

The State Dining Room, featuring 22 deerfoot armchairs and a mahogany table that extends over 20 feet.

Battleship Silver as seen in the State Dining Room. It came from the USS South Carolina and its custodians are the South Carolina Daughters of the American Revolution.

The Palmetto Dining Room, with American landscapes such as Niagara Falls and New York Harbor depicted on the wallpaper.

Portrait of Governor Sanford in the Library. One of the smaller pictures below it shows Jenny Sanford with Michelle Obama and Jill Biden.

Old is the New Young

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:59:00 +0000

As I've mentioned here before, I often have trouble sleeping. More specifically, my problem is usually getting back to sleep if I wake up, say, a couple of hours earlier than the time that my alarm is set to go off. When that happens, rather than try in vain to get back to sleep, I go ahead and get ready for the day (always making sure to first put a few drops of Visine in my eyes so that I look and feel less like a zombie), stop at the gas station to pick up a USA Today, and head over to Hardee's for breakfast; something I only do when I can't sleep.

Since I'm still waking up by the time I get there, I enjoy the relaxed ambiance of Hardee's at that early hour, often before the sun has risen. I eat a couple of their delicious and well-priced breakfast biscuits while catching up on the news. Playing softly in the background is music from an oldies station (which I prefer over most of today's music any day of the week). Every time I go to Hardee's, without fail, I see a group of about five elderly gentlemen sitting together. They sip on coffee while talk about the good old days, or just nothing at all.

This groip is one of my favorite aspects of breakfast at this particular Hardee's. There's something bittersweet about seeing these men reminiscing while listening to the music they used to love when they were younger. Maybe it's the quiet knowledge that society today tends to favor youthful and more destructive trends rather than the solid advice these men could impart. You almost envy them for having lived in less complicated times! One wonders: how much better off would we all be if we placed a greater value on the wisdom of our elders?

Scenes from Charleston

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:28:00 +0000

Charleston, South Carolina, never gets old no matter how many times you visit. I hadn't been in almost two years, but I had the pleasure of spending the weekend there visiting relatives and taking in some familiar sights. Charleston is one of the quintessential cities of the South and overflows with charm; my camera soaked it all up (click for higher resolution)!

Waterfront Park:

Fort Sumter:

Norwegian Majesty:

USS Yorktown:

Bike Taxi:

Historic cobblestone alley:

Courtyard at Lodge Alley Inn:

Charleston Place:

The Market:

Ravenel Bridge:

Fountain at Indigo Inn:

Meeting St. Shops:

Churches:

A Welcome 'Visitor'

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:35:00 +0000

This past weekend, I had planned to watch a movie I had received from Netflix. It turned out that the DVD was scratched to the point of being nearly unplayable (this happens only once in a while, but when it does they will send a replacement along with your next scheduled movie), so I was out of luck with that particular movie. Fortunately, thanks to the Netflix Instant Watch service on their Web site, I found a worthy alternative: The Visitor.

If it sounds familiar, it may be because its star, Richard Jenkins, was nominated for a Best Actor trophy at this year's Oscars (he lost to Sean Penn in Milk) for his marvelously understated performance. Jenkins plays Walter Vale, a widowed Connecticut college professor whose life holds meaning again after he forges an unlikely friendship with an immigrant couple he discovers has been squatting in his rarely-used Manhattan apartment.

The Visitor is one of those movies that has the ability to surprise you even when you think you know where it's headed, and the ending isn't quite wrapped up in a nice red bow. Among the movie's many strengths (the excellent supporting cast deserves honorable mention along with Jenkins) is its examination of immigration issues in post-9/11 New York City and how they relate to the enduring hope of prosperity in America.

Madoff with $65 Billion

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:22:00 +0000

Yesterday in Manhattan federal court, disgraced financier Bernie Madoff pled guilty to cheating investors out of nearly $65 billion in one of the biggest Ponzi schemes in history. When he is sentenced in June, the 70-year-old Madoff will face up to 150 years in federal prison. His victims include high-profile celebrities such as Steven Spielberg and Kevin Bacon, and many charities and foundations are now bankrupt or on the verge of bankruptcy.

So far, two people have committed suicide after losing everything they had as a result of Madoff's greed. Yet, he and his wife, Ruth, are fighting to hold on to $62 million and keep their $7 million penthouse apartment in Manhattan. The devastating effects of their actions will be felt by many for the rest of their lives, and the cheers that followed the announcement of his jailing will unfortunately do little to console those who have lost so much.

In this worsening economy, where every day seems to bring with it new headlines of scandalous excesses by corporate CEOs and Wall Street big-shots, Madoff's actions have further undermined the public's confidence in the market. I have to wonder how in the world investors can have any trust in a system which continually hammers them. What with the arrogance of Madoff and others like him, I think it will be a long time before that happens.

New Car Bug

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 03:51:00 +0000

Funny how the bad always comes with the good!

On Thursday, I took my black '06 Corolla CE to the dealership for some maintenance work. I waited for about an hour and a half for the car to be ready, and just before I was going to leave, I happened to notice a Toyota salesperson standing nearby. I asked him if the person who originally sold me the '06 Corolla still worked at Toyota. It turned out he doesn't, but several hours later, I ended up leaving with a white '09 Corolla LE and the salesman left a very happy man!

The new car is great, and in three days, I've put over 150 miles on it. Unfortunately, over the weekend I picked up the bug that everyone seems to be getting lately. I had managed not to get sick in almost four years, so my time has finally come. I stocked up on some good medicine at CVS today, and I'm taking the day off tomorrow in the hopes that the bug will be gone by Tuesday. If it is, I can continue enjoying my new car without being sick and popping cough drops!

U2's New 'Horizon'

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 22:52:00 +0000

After you've won 22 Grammys, what do you do from there? Try to win even more, naturally!

With yesterday's release of U2's new album, No Line On The Horizon, expect the band to sweep the Grammys next year. Produced by Daniel Lanois, Brian Eno, and Steve Lillywhite, Horizon is more experimental than their previous albums, but the sound is unmistakably U2. As with all of their albums, each track is infused with their trademark passion.

Leave it to U2 to launch the album with plenty of fanfare. Yesterday, part of West 53rd Street in New York City was temporarily renamed U2 Way. Also, every night this week, they are performing on the Late Show with David Letterman. Here is Monday night's performance of "Breathe", a new track from the album and already one of my favorite songs:

Return of the Donald

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 20:16:00 +0000

For several decades, Donald Trump has been a major business and real estate force in New York City and around the world. He (and his wives) frequently made the tabloids, and he had written several bestselling books. However, when he teamed with Survivor producer Mark Burnett in 2004 to create The Apprentice (a reality show in which Trump hires a qualified candidate to work in his organization after he or she proves themselves through a myriad of business tasks), his celebrity status reached unprecedented heights and the show became a major hit and the first of its kind.

The first episode of the 8th season airs tonight at 9 on NBC, and this is the second season of Celebrity Apprentice (in which the players compete for charity). Contestants this season include Andrew Dice Clay, Brian McKnight, Dennis Rodman, Joan Rivers, and Tom Green. As engaging as the diverse tasks and the contestants' dynamics always are, I watch the show primarily for its biggest star: New York City itself. When the Apprentice moved to Los Angeles several years ago, the ratings suffered, and I can certainly understand why: New York is where it belongs!

Trump has said that he always strives to merge the disparate worlds of real estate and Hollywood. Tonight, he reminds us once again that, regardless of our opinions of him, no one does it better.

Scenes from New York

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:20:00 +0000

If you have the good fortune of being a New Yorker, then you probably know just how special your city is and are too cool to care! For tourists, there's just nothing like it. Since my first visit at age 9 (which was complete with a Donald Trump sighting and a visit to the erstwhile World Trade Center), I've had an ongoing love affair with the city despite having only been three times.

I was last there in September, 2005, and only for one day (I left Columbia around 4 in the morning and returned around midnight), but I saw just about everything a tourist could hope to see, and then some. The photos I took have been gathering dust on my hard drive, so it's time to air them out. They all make for excellent desktop wallpaper (click photos for larger sizes)!

Statue of Liberty
Perhaps my favorite icon of the city and a worldwide symbol of hope for over 120 years.

Front:

Side:

With Lower Manhattan skyline:

From the Water

Ellis Island:

World Financial Center:

Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge:

World Trade Center
In a few years, the new complex will consist of five office towers, a museum, and a memorial. For now, though...

Iconic cross at site:

7 World Trade Center, the last building to fall and the first to rise again:

"Thank You, America":

Other Landmarks

Looking up at the Empire State Building (notice the bird on the left):

Ed Sullivan Theater, current home of David Letterman's Late Show:

Hearst Tower, NYC's first "green" building:

Main Concourse at Grand Central Terminal:

New York Stock Exchange:

Rockefeller Center:

Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle:

Trump Tower

Looking up:

7-story waterfall in lobby:

"You're Fired.":

Cityscapes

Times Square:

Lower Manhattan:

Midtown from Empire State Building:

Another view of Midtown:

Lower Manhattan from Empire State Building:

Night falls on Manhattan:

Not bad for one day! Despite the many landmarks I had to forgo that day, I was completely satisfied when I left. One moment (among many) that stands out from this trip was the sunset as seen from atop the Empire State Building: immediately after the sun disappeared below the horizon, a number of people spontaneously applauded. It was a sublime and celebratory moment I will never forget.

Oscar Time

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 19:56:00 +0000

Out of this year's Best Picture nominees, I've only seen one: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. It seems that this year in particular, there is a discrepancy between the major nominees and the box office blockbusters (though this is often the case at the Oscars). Most people haven't yet seen the other four contenders: Slumdog Millionaire, The Reader, Milk, and Frost/Nixon. That's not to say they aren't good, but it's interesting how the tastes of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the movie-going public are often at odds with each other.

Most people predict that Slumdog Millionaire will win Best Picture, and I happen to agree (though I do have a backup; if it's not Slumdog, it's Benjamin Button!). Also, I'm looking forward to the performance of "Down To Earth", Peter Gabriel's contribution to the Wall-E soundtrack. I've heard that, for the sake of time, that song and the other Best Original Song contenders will be performed together in a brief melody, which is a bit disappointing. Since the show is so long anyway, the producers might as well allow each song to be performed in their entirety!

I plan to watch the Oscars even if the show does last until well into the early morning hours, which would surprise no one. I don't expecting the ratings to be great this year, but it's always fun to tune in for all of the memorable (if melodramatic) speeches and impromptu moments. Plus, the red carpet appearances are always a fun precursor to the actual ceremony, especially for the fashionistas. One drawback to this year's Academy Awards: Jack Nicholson is not expected to attend the ceremony. You can't have the Oscars without Jack; it's just not right!

Babies Making Babies

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 18:14:00 +0000

The age of 13 was a very exciting and tumultuous period in my life. As a young teenager in eighth grade, I would say I was like other kids my age for the most part: care-free, headstrong, awkward at times, and (mostly) innocent. Being a father at that age would have been unfathomable to me; after all, I was still in the middle of my first crush back then! Yet, teen pregnancy has increasingly become a serious issue, both here in America and around the world. Some recent examples:

- Last June, Britney Spears' 17-year-old sister, Jamie Lynn, gave birth to a girl. Nickelodeon, the network which airs her popular show Zoey 101, stood by her despite protests from many parents whose children looked to her as a role model.

- In September, it came to light that Bristol Palin, the 17-year old daughter of former Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, was pregnant. In a recent interview, Bristol Palin opined that abstinence among teens is "not realistic".

- Perhaps the most disturbing example: Britain's Alfie Patten is now a 13-year-old father of a baby born to Chantelle Steadman, who is 15. When asked about how he plans to support the baby financially, Alfie asked, "what's 'financially'?"

These are just a few high-profile examples from the past year. There are even stories of high school girls planning to get pregnant all at the same time! Often, children who engage in sexual activity are either unsupervised (perhaps their parents are working or they just don't care) or are surrounded by people who instill negative values. While these teenage parents should not be condemned, their actions should set an example to other teens on what to avoid and why.

This epidemic seems to stem from the disturbing mentality among many teens that having a baby is cool; a status symbol of sorts. Granted, sex will always have appeal to hormonal adolescents in the throes of puberty, but these examples are stark reminders that society no longer sets moral boundaries for bad behavior. As a result, the choices these children make can rob them of their childhood and affect the life of an innocent human being, which ultimately affects all of us.

Laughs and Gaffes

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 19:49:00 +0000

When Joaquin Phoenix announced several months ago that he was retiring from acting to focus on music, it took everyone by surprise since he is a very talented and successful actor who is quitting while at the top of his game. By now, you may have heard about or even seen his appearance last Wednesday night on the Late Show with David Letterman. He sported sunglasses and a full beard, and gave mostly one-word answers to all of Dave's questions. While many fans of Phoenix believe that it was all an act and cite his behavior as an example of his mastery of acting, the interview certainly raised some eyebrows.

TIME Magazine has put together a YouTube list (with commentary) of Top 10 Disastrous Letterman Interviews dating back to 1982, when Letterman began hosting Late Night at NBC (he moved to CBS in 1993 to host the Late Show and has been there since). It makes one wonder why Letterman is a magnet for awkward interviews periodically. Dave and the audience's reactions to the guests are almost funnier than the guests themselves (see Farrah Fawcett clip below). Plus, you have to love how, after a guest's awkward comment or behavior, Dave will sometimes give the audience a perplexed look as if to ask: "Can you believe this?"

(The interview continues with Part 2 and Part 3)

Pride (In the Name of Health)

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:53:00 +0000

There is always room for improvement when it comes to our eating and exercise habits. Even though we are well into the new year, I'm finally going to make good on one of my New Year's resolutions. You can probably guess which one it is since it's the same one almost everyone makes almost every year! While my health and physique are both in decent shape and could be much worse, I've decided to start making it a point to exercise and watch what I eat like I never have before. I mean it this year. No, really!

Why should this year be any different, you might ask? Self-respect. I believe that it, along with willpower and discipline, will assist me in this endeavor. Granted, you may want to check with me in a year to see if it worked for me, but this time, I truly believe it will. I've decided to start treating unhealthy lifestyle habits as though they are personally offensive to me, and I will keep reminding myself that I deserve better. When it comes to food and exercise, here are some of the steps I have taken already that may help you as well.

Food
Challenging though it can be, I'm trying to use a "mind over matter" approach with food. Take sugar, for example: I plan to erase it completely from my diet (aside from occasional fruit, I suppose). As tasty as it is, I try not to forget that it can cause cancer, diabetes, and food allergies. Besides, who really wants to go to the dentist to get a cavity filled? Also, though I tend to drink a lot of Diet Coke thinking I'm doing well by avoiding sugar content, I should drink less carbonated beverages because of their acidity.

Exercise
As for exercise, I've started back with walking during the day (I don't recommend jogging only because of the strain it puts on the knees over time). When I have a few minutes to spare, a co-worker and I will go out and take a brisk walk. It's a great form of exercise, especially with a partner. That way, we can each hold the other accountable. As for stationary exercises, all I really need is a good hard floor. When I get home, I spend about 20 minutes doing sit-ups, crunches, leg raises, and other repetition exercises.

Cars, Computers, and Chaos

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 19:01:00 +0000

Most of us use a car to get to our jobs, and most of our jobs involve the use of a computer to some extent. They both tend to operate without any major problems 95 percent of the time. However, since we have become so reliant on cars and computers to support our modern lifestyle, any problems that may arise with either can be very unnerving indeed (see video above).

I took my car to the dealership last week for its 40,000-mile service. I wasn't surprised to find out that I also needed to get the tires rotated, new spark plugs, and a host of other services that would add hundreds of dollars to the cost. Of course, I told them I would need to come back for those services at a later date! As long as I can keep my car running in the meantime, I was happy.

As for computers, I know all too well as an IT consultant how reliant we are on them, both at home and at our jobs. We are fortunate to live in such an information and technological age, but like cars, computers will drain your wallet over time, if not with repairs then certainly by keeping them up to date. To many techies like myself, these costs are frustrating but are a necessity.

If there's one thing that cars and computers have in common, it's that both are integral to our daily routines. I find it fascinating (and a bit scary) to consider just how crippled we as a society would be without them. We benefit so much from these machines yet find ourselves so incredibly beholden to them at the same time. Perhaps The Matrix is more realistic than we care to think!

It's Your Fault

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:21:00 +0000

That's one attitude we are far too quick to take. Whenever we make a mistake, the blame always lay with someone other than ourselves; at least, that's what we want people to think. Even if we have enough sense to know when we've done wrong, we will often blame someone else in the hopes of hiding our guilt. It's as though we go out of our way to avoid humility at all costs.

With our politicians and celebrities assuming so little personal responsibility for their words and actions, it should come as no surprise that this attitude has become as prevalent as it is now. Scarily enough, there are even people who truly don't believe anything could possibly be their fault. They will never apologize regardless of what kind of suffering they've caused others.

While surfing the Net recently, I came across this Judge Judy clip that shows this harmful mindset in action and speaks volumes about our society in which this behavior is epidemic these days. To actually see it play out is nothing short of disgusting, but it can certainly be informative. The irritation of Judge Judy and her audience is palpable, but fortunately in this case, justice prevails!

Phelpsgate

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 12:55:00 +0000

For all its merits, it seems as though my hometown of Columbia hasn't received much positive press in the national media lately. Over the last couple of years, the University of South Carolina (my alma mater) seems to get the worst of it. Not too long ago, a minor scandal erupted when footage of some USC students was used without permission (so the students claim) in the popular Borat film. This past weekend, the school was in the spotlight once again, and for another bad reason.

Last August, the world watched as Michael Phelps dominated the Water Cube at the Beijing Olympics, winning a record total of 8 gold medals (he had won 6 already from the 2004 Olympics in Athens). Phelps rocketed into sports superstardom and secured sponsorships with Speedo, Visa, Omega, and PowerBar. However, his crown has been somewhat tarnished with the release last weekend of a picture taken at a November party that took place on or around the USC campus. In it, Phelps is smoking a pot pipe.

Needless to say, it was a surprising and disappointing moment for those who supported him, and also for the many who looked to him as a role model (he also received a DUI in 2004). Repercussions will surely follow, and the threat of lost sponsorships looms. While his impressive achievements are undiminished, he will take some hard lessons from this ordeal. I give him credit for being upfront and honest, and I will continue to cheer him on. We all make mistakes and deserve a shot at redemption.