[Blackberry Bun]

There are so many infuriating news about things happening either in my country or somewhere else. Corrupt government, unjust law enforcement, oppression, war, etc. I read such news, but often times this question appears in my mind.

"What is the use of knowing this?"

I read that a missionary has been unjustly arrested in a certain country (Near Japan, with initial N.K.). I read that my country's government is still as corrupt as ever, and they still prosper from it. Reading such news only serves to grow uneasy feelings inside me, nothing more. Even after knowing those, there's nothing I would do for them anyway because I have no power to make any changes. I'm just an ordinary civilian, and I just want to live my life to the fullest I can achieve. So I'd prefer not knowing those news because the only difference between knowing and not knowing is the uneasy feelings I have for knowing. In other words. ignorance is bliss.

Am I wrong for thinking this way? Do I have to be convinced otherwise? Is there actually any good thing for knowing such news?

[cpd2009]

There are so many infuriating news about things happening either in my country or somewhere else. Corrupt government, unjust law enforcement, oppression, war, etc. I read such news, but often times this question appears in my mind.

"What is the use of knowing this?"

I think the same way. Here in the states, it runs the gamut from the NSA's spying activities, New Jersey governor Chris Christie's bridge scandal, the chemical leak in a West Virginia water supply, etc. Don't even get me started on all the shootings and murders that end up in the evening news. The driving force behind most of these negative stories is, obviously, ratings. Corporations know that the nitty gritty dark stories bring in viewers because for some reason, their viewers get attracted to this kind of content. More viewers equals more money for the advertisers who advertise during their news shows, and that, in turn brings in more profits for the corporate overlords. Some of that news is actually useful, such as NSA spying, but the corporate media usually glosses over it or puts their own opinionated spin on it.

And if it's not negative news about murders and spying and government scandals, it's celebrities. Hoo boy. CNN, MSNBC, and Fox so-calledNews spend loads of time dealing with celebrity scandals and fluff when there is no real news to spin about.

There are lots of negative things in the news, and if one wants to ignore negative news, then its best to ignore it. But with news nearly everywhere these days, it's very hard to do so, even with alternative non-corporate media.

I read that a missionary has been unjustly arrested in a certain country (Near Japan, with initial N.K.).

I'm actually mystified with that place. As evil as their government is with kidnapping random people for trumped up reasons, their Disneyland-esque tours they put on for tourists is a sight to see. They basically lie to tourists, saying that N.K. has everything they need, and it is a paradise on earth. Of course, we here, as well as the majority of the world know it's all lies, but it still amazes me that they go so far into convincing tourists otherwise despite all the evidence.

[cpd2009]

It's been about two years now since Disney Junior launched it's 24/7 cable and satellite channel. It has launched on my local cable TV provider (which we can't get despite living two miles from the city line, even though we got fiber optic internet from them), and on DirecTV. But not on Dish Network, which is my family's satellite provider.

To make things worse, there is still a dispute going on between Dish and Disney over ESPN. Nothing has been heard about this dispute since October.

To make things even worse, Disney released "Watch" apps for their networks. With these apps, you can stream Disney Channel and Disney Junior episodes as well as the channel itself. The catch? You need to be connected to a supported cable TV provider. And no, my particular provider is not listed at all.

By the time I can finally recieve Disney Junior, whether Dish resolves it's Disney dispute or when I find my own apartment with digital cable, PB&J Otter will be gone. It's already running weekends only as it is.

EDIT: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://seekingalpha.com/news/1546691-report-disney-and-dish-network-close-to-carriage-deal">http://seekingalpha.com/news/1546691-re ... riage-deal</a><!-- m -->
This deal better include Disney Junior.

[Stella Grapes]

I am sponsoring a foster child overseas, specifically in China. I will be sponsoring her into adulthood. I was matched with a preteen girl who has autism, and I love her. However, I am so ANGRY with her birth parents. They abandoned her when she was EIGHT YEARS OLD, when she was fully aware, because she was diagnosed with autism at that age. I want to do violent things to her birth parents, and I am not a violent person. To be abandoned at eight years old is even worse than to be abandoned as an infant, because you'll always remember the trauma and the things you were told to make you blame yourself!

[Blackberry Bun]

I am sponsoring a foster child overseas, specifically in China. I will be sponsoring her into adulthood. I was matched with a preteen girl who has autism, and I love her. However, I am so ANGRY with her birth parents. They abandoned her when she was EIGHT YEARS OLD, when she was fully aware, because she was diagnosed with autism at that age. I want to do violent things to her birth parents, and I am not a violent person. To be abandoned at eight years old is even worse than to be abandoned as an infant, because you'll always remember the trauma and the things you were told to make you blame yourself!

That's indeed depressing to hear, but I believe we all know that in China, due to situations which will take too long to explain, parents want to make sure that their child will be capable of prospering the family. Hence the rather high number of child abandonment. I never agree with that, but that's unfortunately how it works over there.

[cpd2009]

I am sponsoring a foster child overseas, specifically in China. I will be sponsoring her into adulthood. I was matched with a preteen girl who has autism, and I love her. However, I am so ANGRY with her birth parents. They abandoned her when she was EIGHT YEARS OLD, when she was fully aware, because she was diagnosed with autism at that age. I want to do violent things to her birth parents, and I am not a violent person. To be abandoned at eight years old is even worse than to be abandoned as an infant, because you'll always remember the trauma and the things you were told to make you blame yourself!

I still don't know what to say about this other than some parents are horrible. I have been meaning to reply for the past two days.

Makes me wish there were more good people in this world. Why does the world have to be so cruel at times?

I do have a question. Is the girl in a loving home, or at an orphanage?

[cpd2009]

Due to the fact that I have begun to eat more healthier as well as reducing meal portions (because of constant indigestion issues since October), my trusty red Timex watch is now far too big. Thus, I had to get a new one today...

[RAMChYLD]

holiday was ruined. Stress level now unbelievably high.

[Blackberry Bun]

Went to dentist for routine treatment. This time to a different one than usual.

For the same good result, this dentist finished much faster and for a much cheaper price. However, the treatment was much more painful.

If you were me, which dentist would you prefer?

[cpd2009]

Went to dentist for routine treatment. This time to a different one than usual.

For the same good result, this dentist finished much faster and for a much cheaper price. However, the treatment was much more painful.

If you were me, which dentist would you prefer?

I would prefer the previous dentist, personally. If speed is a factor in how comfortable recovery is, then the slower the better. If the dentist works slower, then there is a better chance that said dental work will go according to plan and be free of complications.