My Mom had passed on to me the habit of keeping important papers and information documented, though my collection is not as organized it still help a lot. Being a chronic migraine sufferer there are times I forget things or information and this habit proves useful to me and my family.

In an April article of New England Journal of Medicine, a new data library called Patient-Controlled Health Records is presented. Initially, the idea seemed rather familiar since this is what my Mom used to do, sans the computer. As I read the article on the NEJoM review, the mention of “web access” and selective viewing of anyones health records made me a skeptic.

My connection with the Internet is more like a love/hate thing. I have had myself spammed and was sent a confirmation bill for a camera on E-bay which I didn't order much more pay for! I even got harassed through my Yahoo Messenger by a person claiming to have paid for the thing, ergo my skepticism for the on-line health info.

I know most transactions are web based and the instant available medical records can save you the waiting room time warp. Yes on-line consultation would be easier in emergency cases, the virtual house-call has a nice ring to it. The retrieval system lessens misdiagnosing and may be more information packed than the chart doctors and nurses have to fill up- in doctor script (read: undecipherable!)

But you know what? Mentioning all the benefits above doesn't change my being wary of the project. Information like a person's medical records are very private and important, once spied on could mean danger. Would you want a bored hacker tampering your medical entries and foul up any information? Remember The Net? Or The Paycheck? Those movies had people's lives non-existent…In the end, giving important information on health to a computer network system makes every bit open to all- no matter  the assurances given, tampering information, hacking, spamming and virus spreading happens.

If you ask me, I'd rather hold information about my life close like a card shark and his hand.

News about Obama's blunder in Pennsylvania and letting his thoughts get the best of him were on the news and on everyone's lips. Being confused and treated to a string of speculations, reckoning and personal take on the incident, I surfed to see for my self. The damning statement was…

 “they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."

As I read each word and try to interpret the phrase, it just doesn't sound as menacing as it was made to appear. In all intents and purposes, Obama is a very courageous candidate, he spoke his mind even if it hurt him. Isn't that what a Head of State is supposed to do?  My vote is important, and I feel it should go to the politician who'd risk everyones vote just to give the nation a glimpse of where we must correct ourselves. I find it funny that Obama's opponents have made a circus of his statement, twisting the interpretation just to get people to vote for them and the other party, lol!

The statement was made to stress a people's sense of hope and where it lies. Religion plays a big part in a person's life, it is where we learn good from evil. World peace would never come at the barrel of an AK-47, ever!

I admit, it has been a habit for our family to watch this year. It is a bitter pill to swallow, specially when the prior seasons never really compelled us to watch the reality competition-we actually watch as far as the bad auditions (it's always funny how many weirdos attempt). I didn't get on the AI bandwagon by mistake, I've got Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis to thank for our AI Season 7 addiction. Their face-off was what I got to watch and found myself enjoying it.

This year, according to the obnoxiously 'sexy' (?) Simon Cowell, has the most startling and talented bunch ever- okay, not his words but to that effect =). Truth be told, every week is a good showdown where anything can happen. Considering the blogs about this reality show, a lot has been said about make or break song choices and interpretation. Perfect example is Ramielle M. having to go instead of country chick (forgot her name) and the latest upset Michael Johns. In my book, they were better than Syesha and country chick…it's just their choice in song and interpretation (for Ramielle it was the clothes too).

Anyway as we reach the end of the season, I wonder if the others will pull a Yamin or a Daughtry? I know we at home will be upset if any of them will not make use of the AI exposure to make it big in Billboard-think Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, Eric Yamin. Sue me if AI don't send chills up your spine, I'm hooked! What could I do?!

Social networks and video stream sites MySpace and YouTube have been getting a bad rap for the several incidents of teen beating which were to be and have been posted. The flack these sites have been getting are because youngsters nowadays have a venue to herald their 'mightiness' all over the world. When you open any of the 2 sites you notice that visits, synopsis even ratings for videos are there for the voyeurship (pardon the pun). In each box at the right of the YouTube you see the words “more from” and “related videos”, these indicate the other vid's posted by the same member and other vid's posted in the same category. If you type the words “school beatings” in the search box you get a choice of any video out of a 1,010 beatings. Some vid's are skits, cartoon and game beating but most of it shows how an anonymous kid from any part of the world getting the lights beaten out o them by adults, other teens or by their peers and so-called “friends”.

Makes me wonder, at this point is how far has technology influenced people and corrupted young ones?
Not that shutting down both sites would be the solution, aren't there ways of restricting posting of videos and keeping track of IP Addresses that log in? Giving access for the web to be used as a venue for violence and not for preserving human rights is really the problem here. Shouldn't YoutTube and MySpace have  the responsibility to blow the whistle on members with a violent streak in them or the taste of violence in them? Technology shouldn't hide behind freedom of speech, because the constitution also has a section where everyone's rights must be upheld first and foremost.

Watching it all on TV makes it look so easy and hassle-free, scuba diving gets to be easy and all that only AFTER you get certified and trained to keep yourself safe and swimming under several feet of underwater.

So you've gotten that certificate and have spent a chunk of your last pay-check to pay for the vacation. The ext question is, have you got gear? Is it in tip top shape or you need updating on the gear? The first step to diving safety is to have working equipment to supply you a steady amount of air to sustain you while you stay submerged. Best to buy with an experienced diver friend to show you the ropes of testing and assessing between Grade-A from  third-rate gear. Or might as well buy goods at a reputable diver's shop, they usually have staff who are experienced divers.

While en route to your destination, use the time to run a check on equipment and brush up on some diving guidelines (depending on where you go, there are some things you must keep in mind).

Better to be clueless for 5 minutes, rather than ignorant for the rest of the air in your tank (life).

Before diving, chat the guide up and observe the body of water, ask about weather, the current, tides or under tows or danger zones or local limits which may have been left out of the diving brochure.

Once in the water, recall an old adventurer's adage: never be dead weight. Stick to the dive plan! If in any way you think the site is out of your training and experience, feel free to sit this dive out.  Being mindless and forgetful of all the guidelines and precautions or even drowning out the voice of responsibility is a call for danger. When you endangering yourself, you do the same to the others you're with. Be sure not to gulp a shot of whiskey before diving, alcohol and the pressure of being under several feet of water can cause impaired thinking. Stay away from underwater caves, they can run a mile long or have a cone entrance which can be easy to get into and impossible to get out of.

For the 375 or so words stress the importance of responsibility and training to make any dive fun, enjoyable and safe. Get into the practice of proper dive attitude turns into a habit that can save a life.