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Saturday, February 28, 2009

Rihanna has lost her damned mind...

It was recently announced that Rihanna has decided to go back to Chris Brown. All I can say is that this is not OK. If these two want to fade into the distance with their ridiculous behavior, that's fine but they shouldn't expect society at large to support their reconciliation. Ladies, it is never ok to go back to a man who has been abusive. I don't care what the situation is, a man who will beat you is no man at all.

If you want to read the full story, you can find it here.

Whether they know it or not, these two pop stars have had a huge impact on our youth and all they are doing now is teaching the kids who idolize them that it is okay to beat up on the one you love. They'll forgive you. This is what I like to call irresponsible bullshit. I hope that radio stations and other media outlets will not try to play up some stupid romantic angle on this story. That would be a real shame.

Until next time...



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Bloggers aren't journalists...

Didn't we know that already? In the latest edition of WebPro News, there is a story about how the House has decided that bloggers do not count as journalists and can therefore be forced to disclose the source of their information if something they have written on their blog is ever called into question.

As you well know, I don't consider some "journalists" to be worthy of being called journalists. At least not the fear-mongering media mouthpieces that I see anyway. And I never really thought that bloggers considered themselves to be "journalists," hell, we're alot better than that. :)

According to WebPro News, both the House and Senate agreed that journalism entails:

"the regular gathering, preparing, collecting, photography, recording, writing, editing, reporting, or publishing of news or information that concerns local, national, or international events or other matters of public interest for dissemination to the public."

Unfortunately, the House chose to add the following language to their definition:

"for a substantial portion of the person's livelihood or for substantial financial gain and includes a supervisor, employer, parent, subsidiary, or affiliate of such covered person."

What this really means is that unless you are operating under a larger umbrella, you can expect to be strong-armed by the government should you say anything suspect on your blog. At least, that's what I got from it.

Share your thoughts about this topic. Everyone knows we get our best information from our bloggers, so what do you all think about this latest development?

Until next time...

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Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Delayed reaction...

There has been alot to talk about, but unfortunately, my blogging slows down a bit when my daughter gets sick. I've been home with her for several days now and she is still coughing her pretty little head off. I figured it might do me some good to take a break and vent about some of the things I've been seeing in the news.

First, the whole economy thing. People need to back up off of President Obama and let him do his job. Yes, he's spending money, but it is going to take some spending to fix the great big mess that Mr. Bush left behind. Although I was not a huge Obama supporter during the campaign, I am smart enough to realize that he's not just going off on some wild spending extraveganza. He's got a plan and it's going to cost some dollars to put the plan into action. He did warn us that things will get worse before they get better. In my opininon, the best thing we can do is to be thankful for what we have and trust that things will be better over time. There really is no sense in bitching and moaning that he's spending too much money. Unless we work in his office, we can only speculate as to the necessity of the amount being spent. Give him time...at least as much time as we gave the last guy to muck everything up.

Second, I was happy to see Wall-E win an Oscar! This little movie was just great and it really deserved the recognition. I was a little disappointed the Kung Fu Panda didn't win, but if they had to lose, I'm glad it was to Wall-E. On the other side of things, what was with all the panning to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie during Jennifer Aniston's time at the podium? Someone needs to be slapped in the back of the head for being a troublemaker.

Third, this article about degrading lyrics in music and teen sex. Well, this is a big surprise. As I've said before, many times, there really is no need for some of the language that we are hearing in songs that are played on the radio. If it embarrasses me, I damn sure will not be letting my daughter listen to it. Good article if you're interested.

Lastly, the whole cartoon thing. I think that this is just another example of how irresponsible our journalists have become. To have allowed this cartoon to show up in the New York Post is just ridiculously disrespectful. As I said before, I have not been a huge supporter of Obama, but I do respect his opinions and I think he is very capable of turning this country around if the rest of the country will let him. I believe it is time for our news outlets to begin exercising a bit more prudence in their actions. What happened to delivering the news in an unbiased fashion? When I was learning about journalism, way back in high school and wanted to be a journalist, I was told that journalists never take sides. It seems the opposite is now true and I think this is a shame.

Now that I've vented a little, it's time to get back to my daughter. Another trip to the doctor and a couple of more prescriptions later and she'll be good as new.

Until next time...


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A Little Bit of Mystery: Short Mysteries to Confuse and Amuse

Where I've Been...

Listen to my interview on the Jeffery S. Miller show.

Listen to my interview on Calling All Authors.

Listen to my interview on the Let's Just Talk w/Kathryn Raaker.

Listen to my interview on Radio Free Baxter.

Where I'll Be...

After a short break in the summer, I'll be at the following locations:

8/11/09 Allen Park Public Library, Allen Park, MI 6:30 p.m.

Looking for something entertaining for your library or bookstore patrons? Looking for a fun way to spend a couple of hours? Do you love mysteries? Then you need to schedule a Tea & Mystery event for your library or bookstore! The fee is minimal and the presentation is fun and informative! Attendees will be given the chance to win great prizes and share their thoughts about the mystery genre and their favorite mystery writers!

E-mail me today at lonestoryteller@yahoo.com for details on how to set up your Tea & Mystery event!

Books by Rebecca Benston

Reviews for Rebecca Benston

“You'll find yourself looking forward to more stories from the files of Rona Shively.”

Michelle Shealy, Reviewer for MyShelf.com

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“Rebecca Benston has written a detective with plenty of suspense…I hope there will be a sequel…”

Annick, Reviewer for Euro-Reviews

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“The story is good, the plotting great. Rebecca Benston draws you into the story from the first page. Read the book.”

Lucille P. Robinson, An Alternative Read

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“Rebecca Benston’s twists, turns, and descriptions are utterly engaging.”

Tracy, Fallen Angel Reviews

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“In The Wash is like a 1930’s film noir detective story that had a modern, edgy twist and a female lead.”

Janet Davies, Once Upon a Romance Reviews

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“Under Lock and Key is an enjoyable, fun book! Rona Shively is a delightful character. I loved her off-beat, quirky personality and her outstanding sense of humor.”

Connie Harris, MyShelf.com

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“Talented author Rebecca Benston shows the reader just how complicated life can get suddenly and how people you thought you knew, aren't who you thought they were.”

Anne K. Edwards, Mysteryfiction.net