Zach Gilliam's Thoughts

thedailywhat: They Don’t Shoot Bullies of the Day: Jennifer...

Sat, 20 Aug 2011 18:48:46 -0500

They Don’t Shoot Bullies of the Day: Jennifer McKendrick (AKA Jen McKen), a self-employed photographer from Pennsylvania, recently came across a Facebook page created by a number of teenage girls as a sort of “Burn Book” for the purposes of “say[ing] mean and hurtful things about their class mates.”

“It was beyond ‘your clothes are ugly’ or ‘you don’t have any brand clothes’ or ‘you are ugly, your hair is not right,” she told 6 News. “It was vicious. It was talking about sexuality.”

McKendrick recognized some of these girls as clients who had senior picture photoshoots scheduled with her. She promptly sent those girls (and their parents) an email letting them know that she will not be able to proceed with the sessions.

“[H]ow I could spend 2 hours with someone during our session trying to take beautiful photos of them knowing they could do such UGLY things,” she wrote on her blog. “Realistically, I know by canceling their shoots it’s not going to make them ‘nicer people’ but I refuse to let people like that represent my business.”

McKendrick says she’s received emails back from two of the girls’ parents, expressing shock at their daughters’ actions and apologizing for their behavior. “So far I haven’t received any backlash but I’m ready for it,” says McKen, who understands that this decision may affect her business.

But her new policy stands, cemented with a powerful motto: “If you are ugly on the inside, I’m sorry but I won’t take your photos to make you look pretty on the outside.”

[wate / mefi.]

Good for her!

I think this is one of the best segments The Daily Show has ever...

Sat, 20 Aug 2011 18:41:15 -0500

I think this is one of the best segments The Daily Show has ever done!

"Most Americans, regardless of political party, don’t understand how we can ask a senior citizen to..."

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 23:14:06 -0500

“Most Americans, regardless of political party, don’t understand how we can ask a senior citizen to pay more for her Medicare before we ask a corporate jet owner or the oil companies to give up tax breaks that other companies don’t get. How can we ask a student to pay more for college before we ask hedge fund managers to stop paying taxes at a lower rate than their secretaries? How can we slash funding for education and clean energy before we ask people like me to give up tax breaks we don’t need and didn’t ask for?”

- President Obama

thedailywhat: Infographic of the Day: James Fallows writes:...

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 20:57:00 -0500

thedailywhat:

Infographic of the Day: James Fallows writes: “The Chart That Should Accompany All Discussions of the Debt Ceiling: It’s this one, from yesterday’s New York Times…It’s based on data from the Congressional Budget Office and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Its significance is not partisan (who’s “to blame” for the deficit) but intellectual. It demonstrates the utter incoherence of being very concerned about a structural federal deficit but ruling out of consideration the policy that was largest single contributor to that deficit, namely the Bush-era tax cuts.”

It’s also worth noting that the debt ceiling was raised by $4 trillion under Bush without incident, and Speaker John Boehner, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell approved each of the five increases.

[atlantic / thinkprogress.]

This is one of the best Press Conferences I’ve seen from a...

Sat, 23 Jul 2011 19:17:27 -0500

This is one of the best Press Conferences I’ve seen from a President about a specific issue. Fast forward to minute 27 where it gets the best!

Love the last line:

And at some point, I think if you want to be a leader, then you got to lead.

So many of our politicians forsake basic leadership principles when they are sworn into their office. Its so confusing to me how it happens that way.

Oh, and this part is good:

It turns out, actually, that the plan that Speaker Boehner and I were talking about was comparable in terms of deficit reduction. The difference was that we didn’t put all the burden on the people who are least able to protect themselves, who don’t have lobbyists in this town, who don’t have lawyers working on the tax code for them — working stiffs out there, ordinary folks who are struggling every day. And they know they’re getting a raw deal, and they’re mad at everybody about it. They’re mad at Democrats and they’re mad at Republicans, because they know somehow, no matter how hard they work, they don’t seem to be able to keep up. And what they’re looking for is somebody who’s willing to look out for them. That’s all they’re looking for.

And for us not to be keeping those folks in mind every single day when we’re up here, for us to be more worried about what some funder says, or some talk radio show host says, or what some columnist says, or what pledge we signed back when we were trying to run, or worrying about having a primary fight — for us to be thinking in those terms instead of thinking about those folks is inexcusable.

nprfreshair: respicefinem: A Launch Photo 30 Years In The...

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 00:01:05 -0500

nprfreshair:

respicefinem:

A Launch Photo 30 Years In The Making

This is all kinds of awesome.

We rented a boat in Destin, FL and as we were strolling alone a...

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 21:08:02 -0500

We rented a boat in Destin, FL and as we were strolling alone a couple of dolphins decided to join us!

nprfreshair: Source: CDC Tomorrow: the story of American...

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 10:00:06 -0500

nprfreshair:

Source: CDC

Tomorrow: the story of American medical care as seen from the perspective of an inner city Chicago hospital, where most of the patients are uninsured.

So sad. :(

Heart With No Beat Offers Hope Of New Lease On Life

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 23:25:37 -0500

Heart With No Beat Offers Hope Of New Lease On Life:

Fascinating story!

The search for the perfect artificial heart seems never-ending. After decades of trial and error, surgeons remain stymied in their quest for a machine that does not wear out, break down or cause clots and infections.

But Dr. Billy Cohn and Dr. Bud Frazier at the Texas Heart Institute say they have developed a machine that could avoid all that with simple whirling rotors — which means people may soon get a heart that has no beat.

An amazing story of a community of people BEING the church!

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 23:20:54 -0500

An amazing story of a community of people BEING the church!

"The Royal Treatment" - Why @RoyalCaribbean should be praised (not punished) for their work in #Haiti

Tue, 31 May 2011 09:32:00 -0500

"The Royal Treatment" - Why @RoyalCaribbean should be praised (not punished) for their work in #Haiti:

Very interesting read on why Royal Caribbean’s operations in Haiti should be praised instead of demonized. I’ve been to Labadee (the private resort run by RC) referenced in this post and its a wonderful place!

So let me get this straight … RCCL has been pumping millions into Haiti’s economy since 1986 (and continues to do so despite a seemingly never-ending barrage of horrible PR), has contributed around $2 million since the earthquake alone, shipped in tons (and I means TONS) of relief supplies at their own expense, built a half-million dollar school facility nearby, and funds that annually to the tune of $200,000 … and they owe Haiti MORE?

So sad… thedailywhat: Follow Up of the Day: YouTube...

Sat, 28 May 2011 12:55:15 -0500

So sad…

thedailywhat:

Follow Up of the Day: YouTube personality Will Norton, who was ejected from his Hummer during Sunday’s Joplin Tornado, was found dead.

His aunt confirmed the news last night; a news conference is scheduled for later.

According to reports, the 18-year-old was on his way home with his father Mark after receiving his high school diploma, when the tornado touched down in Joplin. They were a short distance from their house when the twister caught up with the car, causing it to flip it over. Mark remains hospitalized.

The Joplin Tornado death toll now stands at 139, bringing the total number of tornado-related deaths in 2011 to 520.

[kctv5.]

Wow, very well done Grand Rapids!

Sat, 28 May 2011 12:16:42 -0500

Wow, very well done Grand Rapids!

Welcoming the @OKCThunder home!

Thu, 26 May 2011 23:31:11 -0500

Welcoming the @OKCThunder home!

Tornado strikes Lambert-St. Louis International Airport on April...

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 19:58:32 -0500

Tornado strikes Lambert-St. Louis International Airport on April 22nd, 2011

On this Easter weekend, “Aftermath” by Hillsong...

Sat, 23 Apr 2011 11:00:00 -0500

On this Easter weekend, “Aftermath” by Hillsong United is resonating with my soul.

VERSE 1
The skies lay low where You are
On the earth You rest Your feet
Yet the hands that cradle the stars
Are the hands that bled for me

CHORUS
In a moment of glorious surrender
You were broken for all the world to see
Lifted out of the ashes
I am found in the aftermath

VERSE 2
Freedom found in Your scars
In Your grace my life redeemed
For You chose to take the sinner’s crown
As You placed Your crown on me

CHORUS 2
In that moment of glorious surrender
Was the moment You broke the chains in me
Lifted out of the ashes
I am found in the aftermath

And in that moment You opened up the heavens
To the broken the beggar and the thief
Lifted out of the wreckage
I find hope in the aftermath

BRIDGE
And I know that You’re with me
Yes I know that You’re with me here
And I know Your love will light the way

CHORUS 3
Now all I have I count it all as loss
But to know You and to carry the cross
Knowing I’m found
In the light of the aftermath

My OK State Senator, Andrew Rice, did a great job on the Rachel...

Sun, 17 Apr 2011 00:43:33 -0500

My OK State Senator, Andrew Rice, did a great job on the Rachel Maddow show the other day!

Frustrating that the Republicans are trying to cut funding for...

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 23:35:00 -0600

Frustrating that the Republicans are trying to cut funding for public broadcasting. We need to focus on the programs that aren’t performing instead!

okiedharma:

I’ve seen this at least 30 times. I’ve probably posted it a few. It never fails to bring me to tears.

Public broadcasting is a valuable service. Gutting it will solve none of our problems.

The President’s Wireless Innovation and Infrastructure...

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 21:01:59 -0600

The President’s Wireless Innovation and Infrastructure Initiative

A high school from Texas did a video to Katy Perry’s...

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 21:25:32 -0600

A high school from Texas did a video to Katy Perry’s Firework (one of my favorite songs right now). Its really impressive!