tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17061716Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:52:25 +0000child53%jellyfishingearthnewsnebraskadeathelectionsadsrichardsonDSTsafe havenowstwinssenseswarlas vegasjonesnucleartaxessupreme courttypocelebritycouriccreditsportsbig threebank of americacraigslistmyspacecnnrosieproofreadingaaahumorsincontestfacebookhalloweenorlandomonogamyTaserrichmichael jacksonGodcdckerryeconomyleftabuseschwarzeneggerdobbssovereignperotclintonsopaspencerobamabirth ordersnopesthomas jeffersonsocial programsmug shotinsuranceashley madisonmeyersduhSatancaliforniapresidentlovesantagay marriagegoogleprivate sectorwaltersnorth koreairanpassportmediaLOLkenyababiesbushanthemeriejapan todaychristmasapril fool's daymarriageyoutubeimmigrantsmilitarypaulhomelessinaugurationcensorshippoliceclimateearthquakeolympicsprotestgreensexmccainal jazeeraplastic surgeryinternethigh aprmedical transcriptionnew yearrightmomdecadeivillagebritneybeautyspongebobnew yorksexycommentsvictoria13th juror9/11memeblondegaygossipsharptonbritainpersonalbudgetrachelmichael mooreeminent domainpoliticsday o'connorrandomsteelerswoothoneymental flossdiscriminationbbcbanksunionsindependentlifehersheyphelpsbloopersphishingquickiepostsecretcriticismnunsuper bowlhistorysiblingreligionwelfarestdquick hitterssocial mediahypermilerhungrypipahealthfatgmailbreathginsburgmoneyan attempt to discover common sense we lost by exploring popular mediahttp://ladowskispot.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Becky)Blogger124125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17061716.post-1109820239056630781Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:51:00 +00002012-01-18T07:52:25.589-05:00censorshipsopapipa Oppose SOPA/PIPA.  Tell your Senator.  Tell your Representative.http://ladowskispot.blogspot.com/2012/01/censored-content-xxx.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becky)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17061716.post-2047289141955524145Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:26:00 +00002011-11-15T13:26:43.633-05:00ows53%thomas jefferson"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and and give to those who would not." This is not Thomas Jefferson's quote.  The earliest appearance of this statement was 1986. However, he did say this: To take from one, because it is thought that his own industry and that of his fathers has acquired too much, in order to spare to others, who, or whose http://ladowskispot.blogspot.com/2011/11/stop-using-this-quote-by-thomas.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becky)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17061716.post-147287490044422340Sat, 15 Oct 2011 14:14:00 +00002011-10-15T10:16:38.363-04:00banksowsprotesteconomy Some dude from the UK put it best, and I think every American should be embarrassed of this.  Education is the best start to figuring out a solution, not just protesting with a vague list of demands.  The wealthy know that the middle class and poor are dumb about money and the economy (and it's true).  Once we figure this out, we can have an intelligent conversation about this and find solutionshttp://ladowskispot.blogspot.com/2011/10/ows-you-may-be-passionate-but-it-is-not.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becky)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17061716.post-4228343739256188768Thu, 02 Jun 2011 12:35:00 +00002011-06-02T08:35:49.058-04:00newssocial mediaHow about this for making news outlets flocking to social media:  I no longer get my first dose of news from a conventional journalist-type source, but from Facebook. In the last month or so, I have found out on Facebook that: 1) Shaquille O'Neal is retiring. 2) Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Jackson died. 3) There was a tornado in MA, which hit very close to some of my family in CT. 4) The http://ladowskispot.blogspot.com/2011/06/social-media-news-and-my-shopping.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becky)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17061716.post-4052589174859610941Thu, 17 Feb 2011 15:57:00 +00002011-02-17T10:57:37.051-05:00unionsbudgetprivate sectorWisconsin schools call off classes as budget protests continue You've seen this story before - maybe in a town near you.  It's been rampant the last few years, the public workers of this country beginning to feel the pinch of their states' budgets.  It's been felt acutely in states such as California and New York, but now Wisconsin is on the national media radar with several school systems http://ladowskispot.blogspot.com/2011/02/unionize-privatize-budgetize.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becky)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17061716.post-477369066690338120Tue, 21 Dec 2010 17:18:00 +00002010-12-21T12:18:00.760-05:00hungrycnnchildfatWhile hunger is a very real problem in this country now (an estimated 1 out of 7 of us are on food stamps), I need to pick another bone with - who else - our eminent news source, CNN, about its choice of finding the right words, or in this case pictures, to accurately describe the situation of, well, anything. In brief:  Don't use an overweight kid to describe starvation.   But why?  Don't fat http://ladowskispot.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-irony.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becky)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17061716.post-397951768187660187Tue, 21 Dec 2010 16:25:00 +00002010-12-21T11:25:58.616-05:00bank of americaRemember how I closed my BofA account?  I wrote a semi-snarky letter and did my homework, copying the appropriate executives and feeling immensely satisfied about taking my drip in their wages out in one swipe.  Well, apparently it got someone's attention. A peon from the CEO's office called me back and left a message on my phone.  I was curious now - someone had actually called me?  Amazing.  Ihttp://ladowskispot.blogspot.com/2010/12/social-media-nibbles-back-spits-out.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becky)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17061716.post-5936481129602000666Thu, 23 Sep 2010 13:33:00 +00002010-09-23T09:33:11.337-04:00proofreadingOkay, okay.  No more caps lock.  But there really, truly has to be some college grad with a chip-head degree that can publish this without looking like: Seriously.  Why is there a job shortage in this country when so many of the things we consume (yes, this includes online information) is wrong, doesn't work, or breaks on the second try?  Shouldn't there be a market for quality control somewhere?http://ladowskispot.blogspot.com/2010/09/proofreading-ancient-art.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becky)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17061716.post-8927836131263314335Wed, 22 Sep 2010 19:40:00 +00002010-09-22T15:40:02.240-04:00proofreadingWhat I can't figure out is why SI.com can't find a couple of good proofreading peons out of college to tell them the following:   1.  Irks = To irritate or annoy.  Urks = Steve Urkel. 2.  The word "attempt" once in a sentence will suffice, thanks.   The fact that I have to refer to proofreading as an art disturbs me even more.  For the love of God, you "professionals!"  IT'S CALLED PROOFREADING http://ladowskispot.blogspot.com/2010/09/proofreading-lost-art.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becky)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17061716.post-1714554198720170480Sun, 15 Aug 2010 02:24:00 +00002010-08-14T22:24:32.414-04:00high aprmediabank of americaWhen the going gets tough... you post it on your blog.  This is popular media as a vehicle for my meager (yet very real) complaints about what's wrong with the companies I am hopelessly tied to because of their business practices. I like how I have to close my account in writing to some random office in Florida, too.  No addressing mail to a real human any more (well, unless of course you're http://ladowskispot.blogspot.com/2010/08/social-media-bites-back-well-nibble.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becky)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17061716.post-6985428277467477708Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:14:00 +00002010-07-28T12:14:16.420-04:00typocnnGrammar police?  Grammar Nazi?  I don't care what you think of me.  This is basic Grammar 101, people.  Peta is not a word.  PETA is an acronym and should be capitalized as such.  Peta vs. Pita?  That organization would probably love to be confused with a meatless food that is dipped in all types of vegan-friendly hummus and Baba Ghannouj. When folks start seeing these mistakes on the front http://ladowskispot.blogspot.com/2010/07/cnn-needs-copywriters-part-2.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becky)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17061716.post-5902147640855092648Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:42:00 +00002010-07-26T09:43:28.832-04:00typocnnI find a typo every day on this damn site.  CNN, please get someone who knows the difference between by, buy and bye.  It's really not. that. hard. http://ladowskispot.blogspot.com/2010/07/cnn-needs-copywriters-part-1.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becky)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17061716.post-8030752997609667112Thu, 08 Jul 2010 02:37:00 +00002010-07-07T22:37:29.461-04:00quick hittersWe are in the middle of some record-breaking temperatures right now.  It was just our "luck" that we are now living in a house with no air conditioning, and we're trying to figure out creative ways to rotate the sticky air.  I wouldn't say this is without its benefits - for one thing, I'm not spastastically afraid of spiders any more.  Still afraid, but I can kill them without shrieking.  For http://ladowskispot.blogspot.com/2010/07/quick-hitters.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becky)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17061716.post-6383485030312740493Tue, 27 Apr 2010 16:10:00 +00002010-04-27T17:30:59.643-04:00breathdeathlifeToday CNN featured an article about a 25-year-old Canadian woman who had cystic fibrosis and blogged about the entire experience, even up until two days before her death on March 27. The article opens the headline "Death at 25:  Blogging the end of a life."  That's why I initially clicked on the link.  But then when the page loads, there is a photo of a beautiful, young woman lying in a http://ladowskispot.blogspot.com/2010/04/to-breathe-what-were-you-doing-at-25.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becky)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17061716.post-1058244620928717635Wed, 14 Apr 2010 19:36:00 +00002010-04-14T15:36:01.834-04:00medical transcriptionbloopersDear readers - It's been a very long while since I posted, and I do apologize.  You've all been hanging in there with me and I hope to let the writing bug drive me to the computer more often.  Between sickness, Easter and more life-changing events in our household, I've been neglecting the more fun things in life! Now, on topic:  This is why social media is a benefit, especially when presented http://ladowskispot.blogspot.com/2010/04/dr-nonflow-urologist.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becky)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17061716.post-5058553269045157487Sat, 27 Feb 2010 15:09:00 +00002010-02-27T10:09:47.738-05:00cnngayolympicsGood morning, dear readers!  I have a nine-hour work day ahead of me, so alas, I must be brief.  But what I found while ambling along my normal news outlets (yes, even someone like me writing about current affairs gets stuck in a rut... stuck in a rut... stuck in a rut) made me pretty darn upset, and I must share with you before typing the day away. U.S. figure skating Olympian Johnny Weir was http://ladowskispot.blogspot.com/2010/02/what-do-you-want-to-hear.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becky)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17061716.post-2568262365472937432Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:46:00 +00002010-02-15T22:23:08.809-05:00rightindependentleftpoliticsOn the cusp of another snowstorm (that's four inches of snow down here in Canonsburg - I know you Erie folks are giggling about it, as do I, but there really is a lot of snow here that they don't know where to put because of the mountainous hills), I've realized that it's been a month since I last blogged.  That's breaking the cardinal rule of blogging:  Blog on a regular basis.  Keeping it up.  http://ladowskispot.blogspot.com/2010/02/on-cusp-of-another-snowstorm-thats-four.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becky)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17061716.post-3357706896918419739Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:01:00 +00002010-01-12T16:01:41.977-05:00welfaresocial programsThere's a Facebook group (isn't there one for everything?) that is titled thusly:  "Making Drug Tests required to Get Welfare (their capitalization, not mine).  I briefly read the wall for this group, noting that several military brass said "yes" to drug testing as they are required to get tested to serve the country; that women asked birth control be prescribed alongside with it and teaching http://ladowskispot.blogspot.com/2010/01/socially-acceptable-programs.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becky)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17061716.post-9208401521366289421Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:08:00 +00002009-12-14T14:13:17.591-05:00lifedecade I know most of you are probably sick of the whole "let's reminisce about the good ol' days" recaps about the last 10 years already, and it's probably because they were pretty damn depressing. Let's admit it: There's been a lot to be sad about these past 10 years, starting with the whole world ending when the clock struck 2000 (it didn't, obviously) and ending with a war and a recession. Buthttp://ladowskispot.blogspot.com/2009/12/what-decade.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becky)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17061716.post-8537745890368386077Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:57:00 +00002009-12-07T11:57:01.940-05:00climatefacebookSo, lately I've realized that when I log into Facebook and Twitter these days, I find myself censoring myself before typing up a status or a Tweet. This is not necessarily a bad thing, because some days I'm prone to more profanity than others, but now I wonder why I'm doing it. Instead of these online tools opening the world to me, I find myself Tweeting a few times in my head before actually http://ladowskispot.blogspot.com/2009/12/facebook-red-tape.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becky)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17061716.post-6554260462759508474Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:16:00 +00002009-11-13T10:16:49.628-05:00sensesspongebobjellyfishingI dropped off Rachel at school this morning, came home, and emptied and re-filled the dishwasher.  I got myself some breakfast while Sela wailed for me to feed her too.  I got her latched on, drank my vanilla soy milk, ate two pieces of raisin toast, and started doing my web-surfing ritual.  Sela fell asleep.  Then it dawned on me that I was chanting "jellyfishing, jellyfishing, jellyfishing," a http://ladowskispot.blogspot.com/2009/11/funny-for-friday-13th.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becky)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17061716.post-5099317302754146817Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:24:00 +00002009-11-11T12:24:31.819-05:00sexinsurancehealthreligiontaxesImagine my pleasure at finding a rare species of Democrat, the pro-lifer.  Based on what you hear in the news, you'd think they were extinct - but they're out there, and the people have voted for them into positions of power, which is such an encouraging piece of information to have discovered today.  (I'm being slightly droll, folks.) Anyway, now that the ever-dreaded Health Care Bill (http://ladowskispot.blogspot.com/2009/11/senator-priest-and-health-care-bill.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becky)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17061716.post-4959884068515086977Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:19:00 +00002009-11-10T10:20:54.903-05:00newsgossipcelebrityAmong gossip blogs and news outlets alike, there are a few people who are still in the news that, well, shouldn't be.  Are we trying to ignore the impending health care legislation that will soon make its debut in the Senate?  Ignoring the 10% unemployment rate?  Whatever we are trying to get away from, I still can't believe the following clowns are still getting jawed over: Carrie Prejean: A http://ladowskispot.blogspot.com/2009/11/horse-is-dead.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becky)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17061716.post-337113027511792296Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:58:00 +00002009-10-30T15:58:49.587-04:00obamacreditbanksSo, today I was at the bank because I couldn't access my savings account online.  I had transferred the rest of the money out of the account to cover a bill, but when I tried to put some back in, poof - no savings account.  I tried to make a deposit through the ATM.  Denied. *Stomping feet to the car*  Fine, I'll bite.  Off to the bank branch in person.  I gave them my check and asked them to http://ladowskispot.blogspot.com/2009/10/halloween-currency-frights.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becky)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17061716.post-8985334295032942128Fri, 23 Oct 2009 02:58:00 +00002009-10-22T22:58:58.478-04:00quick hittersWith two little girls, a business to run and more transcription than I know what to do with, things have been pretty crazy in my abode, and my poor blog is sprouting cobwebs worse than the ones sold at Wal-Mart for the Halloween season.  No matter how small my readership is, I know some of you visit on a frequent basis, so thanks for keeping the faith.   I just have a few brief thoughts on somehttp://ladowskispot.blogspot.com/2009/10/quick-hitters.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Becky)0