Saluting Jim Schutze

For over a month I've wanted to comment on Jim Schutze, a reporter for the Dallas Observer. Jim's article of January 12, 2006, Bad Ticket, discusses the Dallas Transit's DART Police and offers an innovative solution to an apparent problem of police control. Since it appears they don't have one, he's offering his own volunteer internal affairs department for DART Police at no charge. He is donating his time, and he's following up on the issues. Jim stands up for the common man and represents the best of the Dallas community. A man with this kind of courage deserves a salute.

See also Jim Schutze's related article on Dec. 8, 2005, Bus Gestapo.

Link

technorati tags: news, transit, police, dallasobserver, jimschutze

Your Own Music Map

Try these two tools in order to access a special corner of your world - your music world:

Pandora helps you discover new music you'll love. Just enter your favorite song or artist.

LivePlasma has a music feature offering a visual search engine showing all the artists or bands who fit your musical tastes. Try the movie feature also.

technorati tags: mindmap, music, tool, visualization

My First Job - Buffalo News

I was 12 years old 50 years ago. That was when I got my first job. It was a newspaper route with the Buffalo News, then called the Buffalo Evening News. I had it for three years.

Just imagine - a kid delivering newspapers on a bicycle through 3 Buffalo winters, not to mention the rain, shine, sleet and hail throughout the other seasons. And besides that, I had a huge route with over 230 customers.

Did it make a man of me? Well, it taught me courtesy, discipline and respect. It also taught me about responsibility and maybe even a little about money management. Not bad for a first job.

Over the years that followed, I often relied on the lessons I learned as a newsboy. I like to think I was industrious, hardworking and honest. I also had learned to be sensitive to customers. And, I tried to always be polite and remember to say, "Thank you."

Thank you, Buffalo News, for your contribution to my upbringing.

Photo by buffalowaterfront.com

technorati tags: newsboy, newspaper, job, buffalonews buffalo

Remember the Troops on Valentine's Day

On this Valentine's Day, special recognition and appreciation go to our troops as well as their families and loved ones. For their dedication, I remain grateful. Today, I will especially remember the troops and their loved ones for their sacrifices and pain of separation. Thank you.

technorati tags: support, troops, family, valentines

A Kid's Introduction to Musical Instruments

Here are two sites offering a great introduction for kids about musical instruments:

Check out the Dallas Symphony Orchestra - Kids site with a clever Music Room. Click on the piano's music sheets to listen to various musical instruments.

PBS has PBS: Instruments of the Orchestra with a fun matching game. Click on the "Listen" button, listen to the instrument being played, and then select which instrument below is the one you heard.

technorati tags: music, instruments, kids, children

Best Blogs Defending Freedom of Expression

This might be a good time to refer to the Reporters sans frontières - Blog awards 2005 results. The competition is for the best blogs defending Freedom of Expression. Congratulations to the brave winners, listed by geographical region.

technorati tags: blogging, blogs, freedom+of+speech, awards, freedom+of+expression, best, garrysblog, Garry's+Blog

The Bland Leading the Blind (Ted Rall)

I don't always agree with Ted Rall, but I do with his recent excellent Op/Ed on the Muslim Cartoon controversy and censureship.

technorati tags: muslim, cartoons, ted+rall, garrysblog, garry's+blog

Driving and the Law

Two hard-to-believe examples of driving and the law come from the Newspaper, a journal of the politics of driving:

UK: Man Fined $142 for Flipping Off Speed Camera

Texas Toll Road Imposes $73,000 Fine on Driver

technorati tags: law, government, politics, driving, fines