Right to know vs. Need to know

The U.S. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a law ensuring public access to U.S. government records. FOIA carries a presumption of disclosure; the burden is on the government - not the public - to substantiate why information may not be released. Upon written request, agencies of the United States government are required to disclose those records, unless they can be lawfully withheld from disclosure under one of nine specific exemptions in the FOIA. This right of access is ultimately enforceable in federal court.

Some see this as their right to the access of every piece of government documentation, and of it's past, and present doings.

This is clearly not the case, nor should it be. These records are affairs that in some circumstances... very case sensitive. And just because one feels as American citizen, if they want to know, they need to know.This is not true for so many reasons. Not only are a majority of these files a matter of national security, they also may involve the lives of many others besides the ones requesting certain information.

So just because some Star Trek or X-files fan, wishes to know the details, and see an assumed crashed u.f.o. it is their right to do so.

If all of these files were available to anyone placing a request for them, we would indeed be opening a Pandora's box that could never be closed. And in many cases violating the right to privacy.

I have realized that some things are bigger than myself. But do not get me wrong, I do believe that everyone should held accountable for their actions. And that some things involving a person or their loved ones need to be disclosed. I also believe in some situations you allow sleeping dogs to lie. Because some when awaken might bite you in the behind.

Just a few more words from ,

AnotherDarkKnight.

Lessons on life

"These wise words were placed on the page of a newly acquired friend. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did."


There was an Indian Chief who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge things too quickly. So separately he sent them on a quest, to look at a pear tree that was a great distance away. The first son went in the Winter, the second in the Spring, the third in Summer,
and the youngest son in the Fall. When all returned from their quest, he called them together to describe what they had seen. The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted. The second son said, 'no', it was covered with green buds and full of promise. The third son disagreed, he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful. It was the most graceful thing he had ever seen. The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and filled with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.

The man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had
each seen but only one season in the tree's life. He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season. That a person's true essence comes from
life, and can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up. If you give up when it's Winter, you will miss the promise of Spring, the beauty of Summer, the fulfillment of Fall.

Moral: Don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest. Don't judge life by one difficult season. Persevere through the difficult patches and better times are sure to come.

The revised words of another from,

AnotherDarkKnight.

"It's a Jungle out there..."

The multitude of publishing predators is overwhelmingly horrific! As a freelance journalist, I've been trying to market my work. So far what I have encountered is unnecessarily time consuming and insulting. Swimmers beware because the sharks are out there waiting for fresh meat.

There are many kinds of predators preying upon the innocence of the novice writer. There are the ones that use reverse psychology, warning you about scams. They'll project an aura of sympathy by warning you of get the rich quick schemes. Then share a heartfelt concern for your plight, offering you guidance, and a much needed support. Yeah they'll lend you a hand alright, all for the one time price of $19.99. Which by the way is for a limited time only.

Then there's the, "empathetic predator". There hook is how they've been where you are, and how much they understand how you feel, and what you are going through. But look at me now...and if you buy my book I will show you the ropes, and you could have a house on the beach next to mine!

And then there's what I like to call, "the page pimp". They will offer you $1 a page or less, and give you a lame budget report to justifying why they are urinating on work, and blaming the weather. But these pimps all justify their behavior by becoming meteorologist with the promise of sunny skies.

Then there are the ones that claim what little education you need and how anyone can do this. Not trying to sound like an elitist, but I would feel very uncomfortable signing with an agency that targets writers with the literary skills of a junior high school student, who's idea of great television is bad Japanese anime.

As a fellow novice freelancer I do understand how you feel. We as freelancers need to band together and fight this injustice. No...not anyone can do what we do, because if they could, they would. Do not allow these people to downsize the worth of your material. Your work is just as hard as any clock puncher's,only without the health care, and 401k plan. Many of you produce articles that are seriously raising the par. The crime is...that many of these agencies are offering writers bargain basement prices for a freelancer's work, then placing brand name advertising next to this material. Now there are link providers that are offering fair pay for quality work. I think I have found a couple. After a couple of months I will write a progress analysis.

They say you get what you pay for. Well it's up to the freelancer to make them pay us what we're worth.

Just a few more words from,

AnotherDarkKnight.

"Just Say No To Gecko!"

As long as I have been watching television, there has been a commercial I have found to be mildly annoying,but Gieco insurance has seriously crossed that line. That gecko in their commercials stopped be clever after the first commercial. Now it's just another form of psychological torture. Every time I see this commercial I can feel my pulse beginning to rise. I change the channel and it's on that channel too. I put it on mute and I can hear it's voice coming through the walls!

Whenever a museum has an exhibit of the world's torture devices,that gieco gecko should be placed between the thumb screws, and the iron maiden. I do believe with all of my heart, that if Dante were alive today he would have added that gecko as a gatekeeper to one of his many levels of hell.
If there were only one insurance for liability, I would take my chances with the law and drive without it,than support that menace. I guess gieco figures if they subject us to this evil creature long enough we will all submit. It's voice...reminds me of a child's in the back seat of a car asking,"are we there yet?", while driving on a trip that will never end. So to all that agree, I think we should band together and say, "NO TO GECKO!"

Just a few more thoughts from,

AnotherDarkKnight.

The Embargo must go.

On February 7, 1962 the U.S.A. initiates a trade embargo against Cuba. The enforcing of this embargo began after the expropriation of lands belonging to U.S. citizens and private corporations. This embargo was started with the justification of, breaking the back of communism by not lending financial gain to the ones that needed it most,the working class of this country. These hard working men and women have been the pawns in a twisted chess game that has been going on for over forty years. This socially twisted manipulation of lives has been carried out by the over inflated egos of men that will not admit to the damage they are causing.

In 1992 this economic destruction of lives was coded into law as The Cuban Democracy act. Now that's an interesting choice of words Cuban Democracy act. I find it hard to believe that this nation's poor lined up to vote for the purpose of deny themselves added income, that would allow them a more comfortable way of life. Then in 1996 the Helms-Burton act further restricted U.S. citizens from doing business in or with Cuba. It also mandates restrictions on the public or private assistance to any succeeding regime unless certain policies are adhered to. President Bill Clinton added a clause ending 700 million dollars of subsidies for U.S. companies trading with Cuba.

The added revenue from trade with the U.S., would allow the majority of Cuba's impoverished to live a life that would not be considered third world. These people are sitting on some of the world's most fertile land, sixty miles away from one of the richest of countries. As much as I would love to have access to a good hand rolled Cohiba cigar, this is not my only reason for ending this charade. I call it that because it never was an embargo designed completely for the protection of the American people . I'm just calling it what it really is...a power play design to enforce beliefs by flexing muscles, and breaking the backs of the weak. The suffering of the innocent must end!

The walls of Russia have come crumbling down. The doors to China are swinging wide open. Kennedy has been gone along time now. And Castro's about to cash in his chips any day now. So that leaves me with this question...who's embargo is it anyway?

Just a few more words from,

AnotherDarkKnight.

Once upon a time...

Once upon a time...during a December a long time ago, I can still remember how the slightest thought of the Christmas would make my heart skip a beat. But with every new year it seems as if Christmas changes more and more. I say this because with each year I begin to see the days preceeding December 25th as the commercial monster it has become,instead of what it should be...homage to the birth of Christ.

I am not trying to imply that way I celebrate Christmas is any better than anyone else's. But there is one thing about Christmas that still warms my heart in a special way. It is the half an hour spent watching the Charlie Brown Christmas. Seeing that sad little tree, hearing Schroeder playing "Linus and Lucy" on his piano. While Snoopy and the rest of the gang dances. But what makes the Charlie Brown Christmas an unchanging, and heartfelt part of my past is... hearing Linus explain the true meaning of Christmas. Everytime I hear this it touches me like the first time I heard it.
So in closing I have just one thing to say..."Merry Christmas Charlie Brown!"
Just a few more words from,
AnotherDarknight.

She loves me,she loves me not.He loves me,he loves me not.

There are times when I believe that the world just wants to be lost. I say this because we have taken something as simple as love,and turned it into one of the most complicated actions in our lives. Romantic love,between a significant other,should be a wonderful affair that grows with each moment, and gives you a sense of security and joy, that no other human could even come close to providing.
But like I was telling a friend, we have basically turned this simple act into something that is damn near twisted. When did we start needing background checks, and proof of identity, to even begin a relationship. It seems as if we live in a time where our mistrust and fear of being hurt, has hardened our emotions, and made something that should be so easy, so very hard.

Now don't get me wrong...I'm still a," glass is half full kinda guy". And there has been a few times that I've wished I wasn't such a romantic optimist. Because so many women have mistaken my kindness for weakness, ooooh were they wrong. When it comes to disrespect in that form I am a "one strike kinda guy". Because in my adult life I have believed that,"you can respect someone you don't love, but you can never truly love someone you don't respect".

I see it like this...anyone that would intentionally betray your trust,has committed,"1st degree romantic homicide". And living in Texas, I believe that relationship should get the death penalty. And believe me, I have carried out this sentence more times than I can even remember. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not some kind of romantic sadist. But in the past when a woman tried to abuse my love, I executed that union without remorse. Because remaining in a bad relationship, is kinda like being in a pool of romantic quicksand. The more you fight it, the quicker you sink.

Once you have dedicated your undying love to another, uncertainty should not be a consolation prize. Love and doubt, are like oil and water, they don't mix. Just look at it like this...the more room you provide for one, will mean less space for the other.

Just a few more words from,

AnotherDarkKnight.

The Greatest American Hero

I know that what I am about to say is not something new,it's just not said enough. It seems as if society has a tendency to over idolize all of the wrong people,for all of the wrong reasons,excluding the true heros. This is just my opinion;but the true heros are the men and women that go to work on a daily basis supporting themselves, and others at jobs that offer little rewards, and meager pay. In my opinion, the single parent that raises children with little,or no support is a hero. The volunteer social worker at the city shelter that non-judgemetally offers hope and assistance.The police officer that has not forgotten they were hired to protect and serve,not bully or intimidate. The fireman that rushes into a burning building. And there are so many others.
What's sad is;so many especially our youth,would rather admire an athlete,singer, or movie star. To borrow the words of another,"It is easier for a rich man to get through the eye of a needle,than through the gates of heaven." Being monetarily wealthy does not impress me. In my mind the truly rich is one that gives unselfishly of themselves. Sometimes it seems as if we are a society that is setting itself up for failure, because we have forgotten what's honorable,and what is just hype.

Just a few words from,

anotherDarkknight.