I found this Science Daily adaptation of a news release issued by the NIH...

Scientists are using a virtual-reality, three-dimensional video game that challenges spatial memory as a new tool for assessing the link between depression and the hippocampus, the brain's memory hub. Spatial memory is the memory of how things are oriented in space and how to get to them. Researchers found that depressed people performed poorly on the video game compared with nondepressed people, suggesting that their hippocampi were not working properly.

So, it is all in my head?

A Christmas wreath in the shape of a peace sign apparently offends Colorado's Loma Lynda Homeowners Association president Bob Kearns.

  When Kearns ordered the association's architectural control committee to require Jensen to remove the wreath, they refused. Jack Lilly, chairman of the group, said it decided it was merely a seasonal symbol that didn't say anything. Lilly also said he had received no complaints from homeowners. Kearns fired all five members of the architectural control committee.
  Kearns said the association will fine Jensen $25 a day for everyday it remains up. She calculates that will cost her about $1,000, although she said she doubts they will be able to make her pay.

Apparently, this person believes that the peace symbol is not appropriate because there are HOA members that have children in Iraq AND that the "peace symbol" is actually a satanic symbol.  I just want to say for the record that my HOA has not bothered me once since I moved in three years ago.  Then again, I don't pray to Satan for peace on earth.

On a related topic, does anyone you know need a Holiday Wreath?  I am currently taking orders now for our very popular Lucifer Loves my HOA Holiday wreath.  Only $46.66 each!  (Limit 2 per customer)

 Here is a book I thought my readers might enjoy...

"Mommy Has A Tattoo," is Phil Padwe's first book. A graphic designer and art director in New York City, Padwe was inspired to write a book for children on a subject that hadn't been approached at that level before.

    My mom has a tattoo on her upper arm that she had covered with another tattoo of a dark comic rain cloud with rain and lighting.  I thought it was so mysterious.  I have no idea what the topic was of the original tat underneath, but I could guess it was in regard to some guy other than my dad.  A hint to her earlier life.  One thing I learned from my mom is that you can start over.  Respawn with another life.  Her tattoo was a symbol of that.

    When I was in the Navy during the First Gulf War, I came close to getting one, but remarkably, I am one of the few sailors who didn't have a tattoo when he received his honorable discharge.  I know what you are thinking, and yes I am a wussy. -- But, no longer!  Thanks to Amazon.com where I can get a hold of one of these!  Yes it is a toy.  Yes it isn't permanent.  Yes I am still a wussy.  :)

 

I have to type quickly before my wife scoops me, so here it is...

George Takei is going to play the role of Hiro's father on the TV show Heros.

Unfortunately, I have to admit that I read it here.

"Hiro's father is this big honcho who shows up in America with his bodyguard. He has this whole elaborate scheme to kidnap his son and take him back to Japan."

His first appearance on the show will be after the New Year.

I didn't realize that there were so many children's books written by "celebrities."  I am not the only one who thinks that this is not a very good way to choose what to read to your child, but I get the appeal.

"Celebrity-written children's books are the worst kind of disconnect between a parent -- who is attached to a book written by a celebrity they like -- and a child, for whom that celebrity is totally meaningless," contends Anita Silvey, a noted children's book expert and author of "The 100 Best Books for Children."

I also stumbled upon a blog of fictitious children's books.  Here are links to my two favorites...

The Beastie Boys and a retelling of the Good Dog, Carl. 

According to the ACLU,

A federal court today ruled that the Bush administration’s program to monitor the phone calls and e-mails of Americans without warrants is unconstitutional and must be stopped.

    How long has our government been doing this?  According to the ACLU,

Beginning in 2001, President Bush secretly authorized the National Security Agency to conduct electronic surveillance of people within the United States, including U.S. citizens, without a warrant. The ongoing surveillance program has been in direct violation of FISA, which requires the executive branch to obtain a warrant before engaging in electronic surveillance of Americans.

    Well, it is about time that someone came to rescue the people of the United States of America.  Thanks go out to Judge Taylor and Jimmy Carter who appointed her back in 1979.

I found this update on Ain't It Cool News:

According to Variety, Christopher Walken has signed on to the film adaptation of the Broadway musical adaptation of John Waters' HAIRSPRAY.

 Harry didn't mention what part Walken would play, but it sounds like a great addition to an all ready star studded cast.  I wonder what the all-star casting might be for the film adaptation of the Broadway musical adaptation of the propaganda film Reefer Madness.  Cheech and Chong as Jesus?  Lyle Lovett as Jack Stone?  By the way, Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical (2005) does not count, because 1. Yawn, it is just a movie musical based on the Broadway musical and 2. It didn't have an ALL-STAR cast.

“Elvis Presley's death deprives our country of a part of itself. He was unique and irreplaceable. His music and his personality, fusing the styles of white country and black rhythm and blues, permanently changed the face of American popular culture. His following was immense and he was a symbol to people the world over, of the vitality, rebelliousness, and good humor of his country.” - Jimmy Carter

If you want to learn more about this American icon, check out the 638 pages collected by our FBI.

TRIVIA: Who currently has control over Elvis Presley's name and likeness in the U.S.?

ANSWER: Robert Sillerman, owner of the TV show American Idol, who bought an 85% stake in Elvis Presley Enterprises in 2005 for $114 million.

Free Press and the Center for Media and Democracy filed a complaint with the FCC accusing Sinclair Broadcast Group, Fox Television Stations, Clear Channel Communications, Tribune Co. and Viacom/CBS of failing to "clearly disclose to members of their audience the nature, source and sponsorship of the material that they are viewing."

"The public is misled by individuals who present themselves to be independent, unbiased experts or reporters but are actually shills promoting a prepackaged corporate agenda.”

“The public has a legal right to know who seeks to persuade them so they can make up their own minds about the credibility of the information presented. Shoddy practices make it difficult for viewers to tell the difference between news and propaganda." - FCC commissioner Jonathan Adelstein

    I checked my backyard and found that a San Angelo, Texas television station and an affiliate of the CBS television network, KLST-8 is on the list of Fake News providers. Back on Valentine’s Day, this station disguised a video news release produced by Medialink Worldwide for Flower MD as their own without citing the source of their story. Basically, it was an infomercial disguised as local news.

Bongo's Queso Blanco

1 Gallon of Milk
4 Limes

~ Line a colander with fine cheesecloth.
~ Heat milk to 180˚F while stirring constantly.
~ Mix with a whisk as you slowly add lime juice until the milk begins to curdle.
~ Stir for 15 minutes.
~ Pour the curds into a colander and let them cool for 20 minutes.
~ Tie the corners of the cheese cloth together and hang it to dry.

    Try it with limes from the backyard.  It takes 7 hours, so wake up early.

Bongo's Queso Blanco Coleslaw

    Melt some White American cheese with some Queso Blanco, a shake of chilli powder, and a dash of cumin.

Mix in the following:

a head of cabbage; finely shredded
a carrot, grated
a red bell pepper, julienne
some green onions, chopped

Silly Billy Crystal will not play Tracy's dad.  According to Variety,

New Line has completed casting for "Hairspray," signing Jim Broadbent to play Wilbur Turnblad, the father of lead character Tracy Turnblad.

    The evolution of this John Waters classic from quirky movie to inspired broadway musical back to mainstream movie parallels the evolution of The Producers.  Hopefully it fares far better and it should with John Travolta as Edna turnbald, Queen Latifah as Motormouth Maybelle and Michelle Pheiffer as Velma Von Tussle.  Although the true Water's fan does not want to see this abomination fail, they sure don't expect it succeed, because:

A.) Toronto is not an exceptable substitute for Baltimore.
2.) Why remake it in the first place?
iii.) Quirk does not exist in a vaccum.

One of my favorite video games growing up was Castlevania. As the main character whips and jumps his way through each level, a dynamic musical score creates a subliminal storyteller that taps your toes and chills your spine. Now someone has “ported” this experience to the symphony.

PLAY! A Video Game Symphony is the world's first and only symphony concert world tour, featuring live music performed by full orchestra and choir. Outstanding graphics on large screens above the orchestra accompany the scores, highlighting memorable moments from the catalogue of blockbuster video games.

It looks like the last chance to see it this season is in Toronto, but I am sure it will make it back to the states soon enough. I’m not sure why Tetris^® is missing, but here is a partial list of those titles that did make it on the program:

FINAL FANTASY^®
SUPER MARIO BROS.^®
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG^TM
WORLD OF WARCRAFT^®
BATTLEFIELD 1942^TM

KYL (AND BRYAN) AMENDMENT NO. 3266 (Senate - July 22, 1998)

Mr. KYL (for himself and Mr. Bryan) proposed an amendment to the bill, S. 2260, supra; as follows: At the appropriate place, insert the following:

SEC. XX. PROHIBITION ON INTERNET GAMBLING.

(a) Short Title: This section may be cited as the `Internet Gambling Prohibition Act of 1998'.

(b) Definitions: Section 1081 of title 18, United States Code, is amended--

(1) in the matter immediately following the colon, by designating the first 5 undesignated paragraphs as paragraphs (1) through (5), respectively, and indenting each paragraph 2 ems to the right; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

`(6) Bets or wagers: The term `bets or wagers'--

`(A) means the staking or risking by any person of something of value upon the outcome of a contest of others, sporting event of others, or of any game of chance, upon an agreement or understanding that the person or another person will receive something of value based on that outcome;

`(B) includes the purchase of a chance or opportunity to win a lottery or other prize (which opportunity to win is predominantly subject to chance);

`(C) includes any scheme of a type described in section 3702 of title 28, United States Code; and

`(D) does not include--

`(i) a bona fide business transaction governed by the securities laws (as that term is defined in section 3(a)(47) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(47))) for the purchase or sale at a future date of securities (as that term is defined in section 3(a)(10) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(10)));

`(ii) a transaction on or subject to the rules of a contract market designated pursuant to section 5 of the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 7);

`(iii) a contract of indemnity or guarantee; or

`(iv) a contract for life, health, or accident insurance.

`(7) Foreign jurisdiction: The term `foreign jurisdiction' means a jurisdiction of a foreign country or political subdivision thereof.

`(8) Information assisting in the placing of a bet or wager: The term `information assisting in the placing of a bet or wager'--

`(A) means information that is intended by the sender or recipient to be used by a person engaged in the business of betting or wagering to accept or place a bet or wager; and

`(B) does not include--

`(i) information concerning parimutuel pools that is exchanged between or among 1 or more racetracks or other parimutuel wagering facilities licensed by the State or approved by the foreign jurisdiction in which the facility is located, and 1 or more parimutuel wagering facilities licensed by the State or approved by the foreign jurisdiction in which the facility is located, if that information is used only to conduct common pool parimutuel pooling under applicable law;

`(ii) information exchanged between or among 1 or more racetracks or other parimutuel wagering facilities licensed by the State or approved by the foreign jurisdiction in which the facility is located, and a support service located in another State or foreign jurisdiction, if the information is used only for processing bets or wagers made with that facility under applicable law;

`(iii) information exchanged between or among 1 or more wagering facilities that are located within a single State and are licensed and regulated by that State, and any support service, wherever located, if the information is used only for the pooling or processing of bets or wagers made by or with the facility or facilities under applicable State law;

`(iv) any news reporting or analysis of wagering activity, including odds, racing or event results, race and event schedules, or categories of wagering; or

`(v) any posting or reporting of any educational information on how to make a bet or wager or the nature of betting or wagering.'. (c) Prohibition on Internet Gambling:

(1) In general: Chapter 50 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

`1085. Internet gambling

`(a) Definitions: In this section:

`(1) Closed-loop subscriber-based service: The term `closed-loop subscriber-based service' means any information service or system that uses--

`(A) a device or combination of devices--

`(i) expressly authorized and operated in accordance with the laws of a State for the purposes described in subsection (e); and

`(ii) by which a person located within a State must subscribe to be authorized to place, receive, or otherwise make a bet or wager, and must be physically located within that State in order to be authorized to do so;

`(B) a customer verification system to ensure that all applicable Federal and State legal and regulatory requirements for lawful gambling are met; and

`(C) appropriate data security standards to prevent unauthorized access.

`(2) Gambling business: The term `gambling business' means a business that is conducted at a gambling establishment, or that--

`(A) involves--

`(i) the placing, receiving, or otherwise making of bets or wagers; or

`(ii) offers to engage in placing, receiving, or otherwise making bets or wagers;

`(B) involves 1 or more persons who conduct, finance, manage, supervise, direct, or own all or part of such business; and

`(C) has been or remains in substantially continuous operation for a period in excess of 10 days or has a gross revenue of $2,000 or more during any 24-hour period.

`(3) Interactive computer service: The term `interactive computer service' means any information service, system, or access software provider that uses a public communication infrastructure or operates in interstate or foreign commerce to provide or enable computer access by multiple users to a computer server, including specifically a service or system that provides access to the Internet.

`(4) Internet: The term `Internet' means the international computer network of both Federal and non-Federal interoperable packet switched data networks.

`(5) Person: The term `person' means any individual, association, partnership, joint venture, corporation, State or political subdivision thereof, department, agency, or instrumentality of a State or political subdivision thereof, or any other government, organization, or entity.

`(6) Private network: The term `private network' means a communications channel or channels, including voice or computer data transmission facilities, that use either--

`(A) private dedicated lines; or

`(B) the public communications infrastructure, if the infrastructure is secured by means of the appropriate private communications technology to prevent unauthorized access.

`(7) State: The term `State' means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.

`(b) Gambling:

`(1) Prohibition: Subject to subsection (e), it shall be unlawful for a person knowingly to use the Internet or any other interactive computer service--

`(A) to place, receive, or otherwise make a bet or wager with any person; or

`(B) to send, receive, or invite information assisting in the placing of a bet or wager with the intent to send, receive, or invite information assisting in the placing of a bet or wager.

`(2) Penalties: A person who violates paragraph (1) shall be--

`(A) fined in an amount that is not more than the greater of--

`(i) three times the greater of--

`(I) the total amount that the person is found to have wagered through the Internet or other interactive computer service; or

`(II) the total amount that the person is found to have received as a result of such wagering; or

`(ii) $500;

`(B) imprisoned not more than 3 months; or

`(C) both. `(c) Gambling Businesses:

`(1) Prohibition: Subject to subsection (e), it shall be unlawful for a person engaged in a gambling business knowingly to use the Internet or any other interactive computer service--

`(A) to place, receive, or otherwise make a bet or wager; or

`(B) to send, receive, or invite information assisting in the placing of a bet or wager.

`(2) Penalties: A person engaged in a gambling business who violates paragraph (1) shall be--

`(A) fined in an amount that is not more than the greater of--

`(i) the amount that such person received in bets or wagers as a result of engaging in that business in violation of this subsection; or

`(ii) $20,000;

`(B) imprisoned not more than 4 years; or

`(C) both. `(d) Permanent Injunctions: Upon conviction of a person under this section, the court may, as an additional penalty, enter a permanent injunction enjoining the transmission of bets or wagers or information assisting in the placing of a bet or wager.

`(e) Exceptions:

`(1) In general: Subject to paragraph (2), the prohibitions in this section shall not apply to any--

`(A) otherwise lawful bet or wager that is placed, received, or otherwise made wholly intrastate for a State lottery or a racing or parimutuel activity, or a multi-State lottery operated jointly between 2 or more States in conjunction with State lotteries, (if the lottery or activity is expressly authorized, and licensed or regulated, under applicable Federal or State law) on--

`(i) an interactive computer service that uses a private network, if each person placing or otherwise making that bet or wager is physically located at a facility that is open to the general public; or

`(ii) a closed-loop subscriber-based service that is wholly intrastate; or

`(B) otherwise lawful bet or wager for class II or class III gaming (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2703)) that is placed, received, or otherwise made on a closed-loop subscriber-based service or an interactive computer service that uses a private network, if--

`(i) each person placing, receiving, or otherwise making that bet or wager is physically located on Indian land; and

`(ii) all games that constitute class III gaming are conducted in accordance with an applicable Tribal-State compact entered into under section 11(d) of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2701(d)) by a State in which each person placing, receiving, or otherwise making that bet or wager is physically located.

`(2) Inapplicability of exception to bets or wagers made by agents or proxies: An exception under subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) shall not apply in any case in which a bet or wager is placed, received, or otherwise made by the use of an agent or proxy using the Internet or an interactive computer service. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prohibit the owner operator of a parimutuel wagering facility that is licensed by a State from employing an agent in the operation of the account wagering system owned or operated by the parimutuel facility.

`(f) State Law: Nothing in this section shall be construed to create immunity from criminal prosecution or civil liability under the law of any State.'.

(2) Technical amendment: The analysis for chapter 50 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

`1085. Internet gambling.'.

(d) Civil Remedies:

(1) In general: The district courts of the United States shall have original and exclusive jurisdiction to prevent and restrain violations of section 1085 of title 18, United States Code, as added by this section, by issuing appropriate orders.

(2) Proceedings:

(A) Institution by federal government: The United States may institute proceedings under this section. Upon application of the United States, the district court may enter a temporary restraining order or an injunction against any person to prevent a violation of section 1085 of title 18, United States Code, as added by this section, if the court determines, after notice and an opportunity for a hearing, that there is a substantial probability that such violation has occurred or will occur.

(B) Institution by state attorney general:

(i) In general: Subject to subclause (ii), the attorney general of a State (or other appropriate State official) in which a violation of section 1085 of title 18, United States Code, as added by this section, is alleged to have occurred, or may occur, after providing written notice to the United States, may institute proceedings under this subsection. Upon application of the attorney general (or other appropriate State official) of the affected State, the district court may enter a temporary restraining order or an injunction against any person to prevent a violation of section 1085 of title 18, United States Code, as added by this section, if the court determines, after notice and an opportunity for a hearing, that there is a substantial probability that such violation has occurred or will occur.

(ii) Indian lands: With respect to a violation of section 1085 of title 18, United States Code, as added by this section, that is alleged to have occurred, or may occur, on Indian lands (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2703)), the enforcement authority under clause (i) shall be limited to the remedies under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.), including any applicable Tribal-State compact negotiated under section 11 of that Act (25 U.S.C. 2710).

(C) Orders and injunctions against internet service providers: Notwithstanding subparagraph (A) or (B), the following rules shall apply in any proceeding instituted under this paragraph in which application is made for a temporary restraining order or an injunction against an interactive computer service:

(i) Scope of relief:

(I) If the violation of section 1085 of title 18, United States Code, originates with a customer of the interactive computer service's system or network, the court may require the service to terminate the specified account or accounts of the customer, or of any readily identifiable successor in interest, who is using such service to place, receive or otherwise make a bet or wager, engage in a gambling business, or to initiate a transmission that violates such section 1085.

(II) Any other relief ordered by the court shall be technically feasible for the system or network in question under current conditions, reasonably effective in preventing a violation of section 1085, of title 18, United States Code, and shall not unreasonably interfere with access to lawful material at other online locations.

(III) No relief shall issue under clause (i)(II) if the interactive computer service demonstrates, after an opportunity to appear at a hearing, that such relief is not economically reasonable for the system or network in question under current conditions.

(ii) Considerations: In the case of an application for relief under clause (i)(II), the court shall consider, in addition to all other factors that the court shall consider in the exercise of its equitable discretion, whether--

(I) such relief either singularly or in combination with such other injunctions issued against the same service under this paragraph, would seriously burden the operation of the service's system or network compared with other comparably effective means of preventing violations of section 1085 of title 18, United States Code;

(II) in the case of an application for a temporary restraining order or an injunction to prevent a violation of section 1085 of title 18, United States Code, by a gambling business (as is defined in such section 1085) located outside the United States, the relief is more burdensome to the service than taking comparably effective steps to block access to specific, identified sites used by the gambling business located outside the United States; and

(III) in the case of an application for a temporary restraining order or an injunction to prevent a violation of section 1085 of title 18, United States Code, as added by this section, relating to material or activity located within the United States, whether less burdensome, but comparably effective means are available to block access by a customer of the service's system or network to information or activity that violates such section 1085.

(iii) Findings: In any order issued by the court under this paragraph, the court shall set forth the reasons for its issuance, shall be specific in its terms, and shall describe in reasonable detail, and not by reference to the complaint or other document, the act or acts sought to be restrained and the general steps to be taken to comply with the order.

(D) Expiration: Any temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction entered pursuant to this paragraph shall expire if, and as soon as, the United States, or the attorney general (or other appropriate State official) of the State, as applicable, notifies the court that issued the injunction that the United States or the State, as applicable, will not seek a permanent injunction.

(3) Expedited proceedings:

(A) In general: In addition to proceedings under paragraph (2), a district court may enter a temporary restraining order against a person alleged to be in violation of section 1085 of title 18, United States Code, as added by this section, upon application of the United States under paragraph (2)(A), or the attorney general (or other appropriate State official) of an affected State under paragraph (2)(B), without notice and the opportunity for a hearing, if the United States or the State, as applicable, demonstrates that there is probable cause to believe that the transmission at issue violates section 1085 of title 18, United States Code, as added by this section.

(B) Expiration: A temporary restraining order entered under this paragraph shall expire on the earlier of--

(i) the expiration of the 30-day period beginning on the date on which the order is entered; or

(ii) the date on which a preliminary injunction is granted or denied.

(C) Hearings: A hearing requested concerning an order entered under this paragraph shall be held at the earliest practicable time.

(4) Rule of construction: In the absence of fraud or bad faith, no interactive computer service (as defined in section 1085(a) of title 18, United States Code, as added by this section) shall be liable for any damages, penalty, or forfeiture, civil or criminal, for a reasonable course of action taken to comply with a court order issued under paragraph (2) or (3) of this subsection.

(5) Protection of privacy: Nothing in this section or the amendments made by this section shall be construed to authorize an affirmative obligation on an interactive computer service--

(A) to monitor use of its service; or

(B) except as required by an order of a court, to access, remove or disable access to material where such material reveals conduct prohibited by this section and the amendments made by this section.

(6) No effect on other remedies: Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to affect any remedy under section 1084 or 1085 of title 18, United States Code, as amended by this section, or under any other Federal or State law. The availability of relief under this subsection shall not depend on, or be affected by, the initiation or resolution of any action under section 1084 or 1085 of title 18, United States Code, as amended by this section, or under any other Federal or State law.

(7) Continuous jurisdiction: The court shall have continuous jurisdiction under this subsection to enforce section 1085 of title 18, United States Code, as added by this section. (e) Report on Enforcement: Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall submit a report to Congress that includes--

(1) an analysis of the problems, if any, associated with enforcing section 1085 of title 18, United States Code, as added by this section;

(2) recommendations for the best use of the resources of the Department of Justice to enforce that section; and

(3) an estimate of the amount of activity and money being used to gamble on the Internet. (f) Report on Costs: Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall submit a report to Congress that includes--

(1) an analysis of existing and potential methods or technologies for filtering or screening transmissions in violation of section 1085 of title 18, United States Code, as added by this section, that originate outside of the territorial boundaries of any State or the United States;

(2) a review of the effect, if any, on interactive computer services of any court ordered temporary restraining orders or injunctions imposed on those services under this section;

(3) a calculation of the cost to the economy of illegal gambling on the Internet, and other societal costs of such gambling; and

(4) an estimate of the effect, if any, on the Internet caused by any court ordered temporary restraining orders or injunctions imposed under this section. (g) Severability: If any provision of this section, an amendment made by this section, or the application of such provision or amendment to any person or circumstance is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this section, the amendments made by this section, and the application of the provisions of such to any person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby.

Why write when you can procrastinate?  Here is a new way...  generate your own superhero based on the SciFi channel's hit show, "Who wants to be a Superhero?"  Using the Heromachine I created a new young superhero named "The Whipper Snapper."  He comes complete with a trench coat, an eye-patch, and whips akimbo.  Inner child not included.

As a thirty-something neophyte writer, I have this innate desire to share my struggle to become a real writer with strangers who might find it entertaining. So here goes...

    I have all the tools I need to become a real writer. I have a laptop, some writing software, a bucket full of ideas, and a deep desire to say something when I grow up.  I feel like a monkey with a hammer.  One who knows he should hit things with it, but not quite sure where to start.
    I read somewhere that writers write.  Fine.  I can do that.  I should start with something small. Something easy. Maybe a familiar pangram...

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

This Pangram contains four a's, one b, two c's, one d, thirty e's, six f's, five g's, seven h's, eleven i's, one j, one k, two l's, two m's, eighteen n's, fifteen o's, two p's, one q, five r's, twenty-seven s's, eighteen t's, two u's, seven v's, eight w's, two x's, three y's, & one z.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

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I want to write something original, creative and popular, in a form that allows for rules to be broken, and has a greater purpose.  Is that too much to expect from a monkey with a hammer?