Quotations Weblog

Once again, the latest episode of Criminal Minds on CBS included quotations at the beginning and ending of the episode. Here’s the first:

I’ve seen a different version of this quotation from Mark Twain, so I wasn’t sure if this one is correct, but it appears to be from one of his essays. The similar quotation is from Twain’s autobiography:

And finally, here’s the quotation from the ending of the episode. I haven’t been able to confirm this one yet.

Criminal Minds airs each Wednesday evening, check your local listings for details. Stay tuned next week for quotations from the next episode.

There has been a lot of talk about weblogs, especially political weblogs. Old school journalists complain that bloggers don’t have the same ethical restrictions as they do. They complain that this new group of writers don’t check their facts, while turning a blind eye to the journalists within their midst that not only don’t check facts, but willfully spread lies. On the other side, bloggers struggle for recognition while refusing to even spellcheck their work, much less confine profanity.

I find the whole thing amusing, not because I consider myself exempt from their disagreements but because both sides are acting as if this is a new thing. It’s not.

The battle cry for ethics in journalism has been going on for a LONG time, as exhibited by this quotation from Voltaire. It is something that needs constant vigilance. The mistake some of us had made is thinking that mistakes can’t be made. Highly respected journalists sometimes fail to check their facts. Additionally, sometimes greatness can come from humble places. Bloggers are there in the trenches and can break the story before a behemoth news site can move.

This is a debate that has been going on for a long time. Just because it’s bits and electricity doesn’t mean it’s any different than paper.

Just a quick note to tell you all about The Gadgets Page. If you like my writing and you are interested in the new gadgets that come out every day, then you might like our website:

• The Gadgets Page – Gadget news and reviews for the real world

I do reviews of every toy I come in contact with. If you have a gadgets addiction and you like the writing that we do here, then you will probably love The Gadgets Page. Check it out.

“That deep place of silence…”

It’s very rare for me to find that deep place of silence. I call them my Zen Moments. When it comes, I usually spend the entire time telling everyone around me how pretty everything is. I have experienced it at restaurants, in the car and just sitting.

It has NEVER come to me while in prayer or meditation.

I wish I could control it. I wish I could have enough mastery over my mind that I could move into that place of silence whenever I wanted. Instead, it attacks me like a vampire. I have filmed a couple of my Zen Moments. You can see them here:

• Pick Me! » Zen Moment at the Apple Store

• Pick Me! » Zen Moment at Tres Hombres

• Pick Me! » Zen Moment at Caesar’s Palace

• Pick Me! » Zen Moment at Noodles

I know that I can achieve that calm silence that makes the whole world look beautiful anywhere or anytime, but I can’t control it. I guess that’s the next step.

If there is one aspect of my personality that I feel is really powerful, it’s my ability to work around the irritating things in life. I find little ways to make my life more efficient. This was irritating when I worked for other people because I eventually got to the point where I would run out of work because I had increased my efficiency. Instead of being rewarded for this, I was just given more work. I didn’t really think that was fair.

Now, if I can get things done quickly, that just leaves more time for me to write.

In essence, I treat myself just like my former bosses. I give myself more work.

There are many ways to make our lives more efficient. As Lichtenberg said, because we regard little things as important, we are able to work around the irritating things in life. What are the great things that you have created in your life to make your life easier?