After Awhile Crocodile Productions

This is After Awhile Crocodile Productions because it can be. ((: Pay little to no attention to the dates/times blog entries were submitted. I alter those to maintain a sense of mystery. What can I say? I'm a Scorpio. That explanation is quicker and easier than drawing out the reasons behind these inaccuracies. Nomatter how unorganized this blog might be trust that it routinely gets a certain amount of love and attention! I'm dedicated to making this more than some random website that was created and then forgotten about.

Googles Not Sad Enough

I need a heartbreaking story that will make me feel better about my life, but I can't find anything that can help to accomplish this. I thought I came close when I read this story written by a distressed girl who was at loose ends with her family; but when I finished reading the entire blog, I was nothing more than angry at the girl for not actively trying to change the situation she was living in. I need someone, something, to relate to but I'm feeling like writting my own stories because those I've subscribed to are not sad enough.

Agency Electronically Deprives Community

The Spokane Police Department has not released any information on the attempted murder against Nicole Barbara Gregory who was nearly strangled to death on the morning of 13, January 2008. The amount of murders associated with strangulation are increasing in Spokane, yet not one article warning of this danger is posted on the website titled Spokane Police: News Releases. On that website community members are alerted of major crimes that may not be highlighted in the newspaper. Matthew Mark Munson, 38, is accused of 2nd degree assault as he attempted to murder Miss Gregory when he was in a drug induced or deprived state. He is locked in jail awaiting trial, which is necessary because he poses a threat to upright community members like Miss Gregory. When he was arrested for the crime against Gregory his weapons, including numerous guns and knifes, were confiscated. That will help to protect the community against any future attacks, but when the Police Department puts a damper on spreading the word about crimes like these they are not measuring up to their optimal force.

Lost Friend Discovered Self

I suspected my newest friendship was heading down the drain when I looked at my friend and he uncomfortably glanced away from me and the screen where a less than amusing animated cartoon of his choice was playing. When that happened I couldn't help but quietly think about my friend's incredibly childish taste in entertainment.
I wanted to be open and honest about my distaste for him and the cartoon he had selected, but I didn't want to hurt any feelings or ruin the idea of watching a flick with a friend. Did I have hopeless desires for a clueless mentality??? The phrase "if you can't say anything nice then don't say anything at all" came to mind and I decided to quietly observe the cartoon. Watching the cartoon was like an act of kindness for my friend's sake. My friend seemed eager about watching the animated thing and that is another reason why I decided to suffer through it.
As I sat downheartedly with eyes glued to the screen I wondered why my friend hadn't asked why I wasn't laughing at any of the silly scenes. Was I hamming out the kindness for someone who could careless about my true disposition in life? When it boiled down to it I found myself soundlessly making excuses as to why my friend hadn't picked up on my less than amused state.
He may have thought that I was ready for a nap; because as the movie progressed, I began to look abit lethargic. I frequently checked my reflection on the monitor. I had consumed a few glasses of wine and I was slowly sinking down into the couch cushions. Little did he know. I wasn't tired at all. I was just wide awake and bored out of my mind, because I felt like I was stuck watching some brainless cartoon with a clueless green man who could not even pick up on my "I've seen enough vibes." It seems like we had nothing in common besides a taste for sweet Napa Valley wine.
There is no way I could have told my friend that I felt this way, but I wonder how he would have responded. Eventhough it would have been impolite to talk during the movie, I should have been honest. I should have paused the movie to mention all of the above. By the end of the movie I glanced at my friend, smiled and said "what a great flick." That was my way of laughing off my true thoughts.
Everything that went down that night is between you and I; because ofcourse, it was something that my friend and I never discussed.

Single Chihuahua Sale

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Only one Chihuahua puppy will be ready for a new home around the first week of September 2008. She is purebred, not imbred. She will have had no shots or surgeries by the time she reaches your hands. She'll weigh up to 4pds as a full grown rat-dog. ((; Please E-mail michellelynngregory@yahoo.com if you're at all interested in purchasing this sweet little puppy. The video below displays brothers and sisters from last year's litter (video deleted), but the picture in the upper-left corner that you can click on to enlarge is of the girl girl who will be looking for a new home when she finally opens her eyes.

Values With Thought

Not too long ago, while sitting around having a short discussion with a long-lost crocodile, the question of values popped up. We were asking random questions in an attempt to get to know eachother better. Try to quickly think of what you value. It may take longer then you think to get a good list going. After I couldn't answer the question quick enough and my long-lost crocodile got lost again, I took sometime to think about what I truly appreciate.

I value my point of view and perspective of different things in the world, although I was not born yesterday and I don't claim to know it all.
e.g. I'm not somebody who pretends to be savvy when all I have are some common opinions behind my mask. I believe that people who can't back statements with actual facts should definitely think before they blog. People who are too opinionated should only blog to emerse themselves in the knowledge it takes to figure out the facts. I expect the same of myself, but sometimes I like to be silly and relaxed with my blog. Silly when children in Africa are losing limbs. Relaxed when unjust wars are victimizing innocent people across the world. All of this when I have not worked hard enough; and did I mention, I like to relax when I do not know it all. Valuable right?

Secondly, I value good health, well-being and the teachings of Mary Baker Eddy who should better convinvce me that I will live forever healthy.
I ramble, Eddy founded Christian Science which claims that a thought about overcoming death is enough to over come death. Here's the scoop, I'll tell you a likely story about my understanding of the whole thing, imagine a diabetic patient is threatened with death because gangrene caused by a small spider bite has managed to take over a huge amount of healthy tissue. Imagine that the diabetic's doctor says the only way to save the life of this patient is to cut away the gangrened tissue while monitoring and stabilizing the heart rate and respitory patterns. Now imagine that while conscious the diabetic patient considers what the doctor ordered and decides to follow through with treatment. According to Christian Science because the diabetic was in that situation he/she was experiencing nothing more than immoral thought.
This means the diabetic was suffering something fierce that the church denies existence of. This concept is a philosophical way of thinking that could allow sick people to be enlightened; but in all actuality, the concept is nothing more then a heretic's bloody lies.
Even though I believe that the dead buried six feet under prove that death exists, I still value the teachings of Mary Baker Eddy. If death and sickness did not exist then this would mean that dead people are alive under the ground. To believe that is to believe in some black magic voodoo type of resurrect a dead body mess. Reality prevents the dead from suddenly waking up and deciding to dig themselves out of graves. God has not allow some elite group of Christians to live forever. If this is so then please tell me what happened to Mary Baker Eddy. Where is she? I'll tell you where she is. She is six feet under. If what the Christian Science religion says is right then a minister ought to go talk Mary Baker Eddy into walking again. I also value education, knowledge and wealth.

Calculated Occupational Goal

by MLGregory
According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs I am pinned somewhere inbetween the internal and external characteristics of life. (Rambo) In my opinion that is a horrible place to be; but it is only horrible because, I can not apply the hierarchy to a position that I hold in the workforce. Why you ask? It's because I do not have a job. Although I do not have a job, I'm a full-time student at a reputable university, and I understand that I will achieve self-actualization, according to the hierarchy, if I follow my dreams and keep my head above water while surviving in this great ocean of life.

With all of that in mind I have carefully evaluated and assessed myself with the help of some surveys.

The Discover is a career planning guide that evaluated my interests, abilities, values, and favorites based on a survey. The discover confirmed that I'm a great thinker and a better organizer. According to the Discover I should work in the personal service, community service, or health care field. How boring is that? On top of that, the Discover said that I should work in the construction/maintenance field. I was discouraged after I took this first survey because it had obviously read me wrong. Let's move on to something a little more interesting.

I was adamant about narrowing down my interests so that I could map out some way to reach a career goal, so I took another survey. The Cops Inventory was the next survey I took. It said that I have strong interests in written communication, nature and outdoor activities, and last but not least civil technology. I scored above the 95 percentile in those areas. That means I'm smart and cool. It also means my interests are comparable to those of my age/educational group who already work in the specified fields. I reviewed the details of what specific job opportunities would be offered to people working in those fields to find that many occupations in the communication and technological field interested me. That is when I decided that a job as a writer would likely make me very happy in life. I would have to focus my major on classics, drama, english, history, international relations, journalism, or languages to land the career that I wanted.

Even thought I found a field that interested me I kept plugging away at the surveys. The MBTI Expanded Analysis Report Scale labled me as having an ISFJ personality type, which is a typical personality for an editorial writer. People with ISFJ personality types supposedly sense their way to the core of things. That means they follow their gut feeling alot of times. Rambo indicates that following one's gut feeling would be a good decision to make in life. People with an ISFJ personality types are observant and good at corresponding very accurate, vivid details of experiences. Their values are prized, cherished, publicly affirmed, chosen freely, considered and acted upon again and again.

I will tell you about another survey. The Strong Interest Inventory Report (Strong) analyzes answers to questions and then matches interests, skills, and values to a specified career field. Strong matched me with an enterprising, conventional, and artistic occupation. Strong has confirmed that I have interests in business, organization, self-expression, selling, organizing applications, and writing. I have great verbal ability. I love to pronunciate and annunciate in a playful way to create a beautiful rhythm in my speech. Data analysis, and artistic expression are on the top of my list of things I hope to oneday do. I value risk taking, accuracy, and beauty. All of these attributes mean that I will land a job as an editorial writer.
Stong claims that broadcast journalism interests me, but it does not. Strong said that I would probably enjoy that kind of work because I share some of the same interests as women who already work in that field. I like working with people. I learn through lectures and books, but I'm comfortable with taking charge while participating in a team setting.

I plan on getting that job as an editorial writer by kissing whoever's ass that I have to. Just kidding. I'm a student at WSU and that is how I am working towards reaching this career goal. Now that it has been decided that I should receive the proper education so that I can work as an editorial writer, I'll go into my understanding of an editorial writers career.

There are many different types of writers, but the major duties of writers do not vary much upon the change of the title of a specific writer. Professionally paid writers either work for themselves writing about what ever personally interests them or they work for an employer writing on delegated and dispersed topics. Whether I choose to be an editorial writer for a newspaper/magazine or a freelance writer from home, there are specific tasks that have to be carried out in order to be successful.

Editorial writers must live up to high ethical standards of their work by meeting and exceeding the expectations of average writers. Writers must be able to communicate in a team environment to understand the purpose and audience that any given assignment is targeted towards. That means identifying, analyzing, and organizing all types of materials from various people, places, or things just to begin a task. Once adequate information is gathered the writer should begin the main purpose of his or her work which is to spell out an obvious subject for a general or specific audience. Writing thoroughly can sometimes be hard to do, but working with staff and team members can make the job easier.

Feedback must be taken into consideration while generating any series of articles, speeches, or narrations that advertise, inform, or entertain specific groups of people. If a writer thinks that his or her work is complete once a draft is submitted for publishing, the unexpected will happen. Feedback is a necessary step through out the process of producing a complete assignment. Even if a writer’s research pertaining to a subject matter is properly conducted, recorded, and organized, the editor may have a field day with it. The feedback process unfolds new or more accurate information for a writer’s work. The work of a single writer can be revised a number of times before it actually gets to where it is going. The writer must understand this editing process that his or her audience is satisfied with thorough facts.

Editorial writers need to be knowledgeable and most comfortable with the processes and equipment relating to writing and feedback, because editorial writers are the decision makers. Editorial writers discharge or carryout main ideas for programs, systems, and products assigned by supervisors for any given group of people. Resources in the team environment like electronic publishing, desktop, scanning, and electronic communication systems are often used while an editorial writer is fulfilling his or her ever evolving daily obligations.

The money earned especially as a freelance writer can make one forget about taking care of his or her health. Most writers who work in this competitive business work on salary. In 2004, freelance writers earned anywhere from 51,500 to 66,000 dollars, while writers working under supervision earned from 31,720 to 91,260 dollars. I would like to work as an editorial writer for the New York Times that I may have the potential to earn the top dollar in a healthy work environment.

Work hours can be flexible but deadlines must be met, so as a writer long hours in the field or office can be expected at anytime. The just of writers that work for any given company work inside, but it is not unusual on the hunt for information to venture outdoors. Some writers work in comfy, private offices and maintain regular part time office hours while others work in over crowded, noisy rooms and set their schedule at part time or full time hours. I imagine that most writers do not start out in the snug offices and that most writers start out doing freelance work. Freelance writers seem to work whenever they want to, but if a client is involved the writer may be pressured by multitasking and meeting more than one client’s demands. All freelance writers do not have it made; in fact, some of them get burnt out with the pressure of demands from multiple clients. Freelance and permanently employed writers must be ambidextrous, able to sit for long periods of time, and able to repeat the same movements. There is not too much physical demand which is fine with me.

The Times offers paid internships through different fellowships which help students of journalism get their foot in the door. The James Reston Reporting Fellowship offers four students regular reporting assignments, four days on a behind the scenes tour of the capital and for select few an extended internship which could lead to a position at The Times. The Dow Jones Newspaper Fund selects an intern through a national process. This intern will receive a 1,000 dollar scholarship, and will be able to edit headlines on location in New York. If the person selected for the internship is not a New York local they will be staying on the New York University campus and will receive a housing allowance. Those selected for an internship with The Times will earn eight hundred dollars per week and at the end of the summer program will have earned 8,000 dollars with the potential of so much more. I look forward to my junior and senior year of graduate school that I may apply and be accepted for an internship at The Times, but that is something that can happen six to seven years up the road. I hope the summer internship will still be around when I am done taking baby steps. I may never be selected for an internship, so for now I will try to focus on areas of education that will get me into a career as an editorial writer.

Since 2006 when I initially began to explore my career options, I've remained on track as far as following my educational goals. I went to an Associated Colligiate Press National Newspaper Convention hosted in Portland, Oregon which was very informative. I'm thinking about adding some pictures.

Zeitgeist: The Review

Zeitgeist: The Movie was released exclusively on the Internet in June 2007. It is divided into 3 parts. The third part of this documentary offers a critical perspective on the history of the Federal Reserve while focusing on conspiracies that seem to have surrounded America’s banking system since the days of the Revolutionary war. Photographs, drawings, graphs and video clips are intertwined with quotes and commentary as supporting evidence to an ultimate claim. The film houses countless arguable statements that are used in an attempt to convince viewers that modern day wars are created by an elite and very corrupt group of bankers and politicians.
Zeitgeist opens with the well-known April 27, 1961 speech by John F. Kennedy which is played along with a series of images that use pathos to influence viewers. A picture of Kennedy as a young and very eager president fades from the scene and only Kennedy’s speech can be heard. The entire speech is played, and Kennedy says “for we are opposed around the world by a monolithic and ruthless conspiracy that relies primarily on covet means for expanding its fear of influence.” (Zeitgeist) Kennedy indirectly warned the American people about threats associated with Communist regimes, but he did not directly named the conspirators as Communists. Zeitgeist presents this material in a way that could lead uninformed audience members into believing that Kennedy was denouncing the Federal Reserve. The dialogue from Kennedy’s speech was originally meant to denounce communism, but only people who understand the politics of that time will know how to interpret the use of this reference.
Kennedy’s five minute speech plays to the end where some highly emotional scenes featuring Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy reacting to her husband’s death flash across the screen as an introduction. Before the title screen these words resound “I am asking your help in the tremendous task of informing and alerting the American people.” Logos is presented with this conclusion by Kennedy, but when the haunting images of Mrs. Kennedy panicking in the presidential vehicle where her husband has just been shot are featured alongside the speech pathos has been added to the scenario. Viewers are reminded of these tragic events that affected the nation, but the event had nothing to do with the main point of this documentary. This introduction seems to have been used so that viewers may sympathize with the producer of Zeitgeist and eagerly watch the entire film. Kennedy’s great speech has been made a mockery of all so that the producer of Zeitgeist can gain the attention of viewers by feeding into their emotional state.
Immediately after the title screen this documentary delves into a not so fair account of problems the central bank brought to this great country. It is said that after America cut ties with the Central Bank of England in 1783, the battle with the central bank concept and the corrupt greed filled men associated with it had really just begun (Zeitgeist). When it is mentioned that the battle really began in 1783 Zeitgeist gives a bad name to what was literally a revolution in banking system of America. No evidence supporting the claim can be found. This claim is actually nothing more than a cheap shot at the Morgans, Warburgs, and Rothschilds who profited by taking advantage of the opportunity to get involved in the banking system of America at that time. In fact the American Revolutionary War officially ended in 1783 leaving America in a peaceful state where liberty was further perused (Wikipedia). It would be more appropriate to say that the real battle with the supposedly corrupt bankers began in 1907, when the Morgans, Warburgs, and Rothschilds were cut off from dominating and controlling the ups and downs of the central banking system in America.
Before any supporting evidence was offered the Morgans, Warburgs, and Rothschilds were called out as crocks, but through some tricky captioning and commentary some convincing evidence was presented. First a quote by Fredrik Allen which was said to have been originally published in Time Magazine says “The Morgan Interests took advantage… To precipitate the panic of 1907 guiding it shrewdly as it progressed.” This may lead viewers to believe that Morgan published rumors about certain banks to create controversy, further more Zeitgeist continues to site sources which ultimately form a little conspiracy theory. First Nelson Aldrich, a Rothschild through marriage, and head investigator of this 1907 panic, is said to have been placed as such so that he could let his banking family off the hook and recommend the Federal Reserve Act be put into place. Secondly before the rumors and investigations Woodrow Wilson agreed to sign the Federal Reserve Act as long as he was made President of the United States. This documentary is trying to prove that the money system is corrupt and that it is further corrupted by politicians of the United States.
This theory is backed by many statements including one from Wilson himself who according to Zeitgeist wrote this letter of regret after his term as presidency. The letter reads “our great Industrial Nation is controlled by it’s system of credit. Our system of credit is privately concentrated.” With the quote and other evidence Zeitgeist paints Woodrow Wilson as a puppet who regretted his decision to better the banking system. These claims are not be entirely inaccurate, but this quote by Wilson was actually from a 1912 campaign speech (http://www.woodrowwilson.org/learn). Zeitgeist claims that Wilson wrote this letter after his presidency, but according to official documents that is not true.
Happenings from Vietnam War, World War I and WWII are used to back the claim that modern day wars are created by an elite and very corrupt group of bankers and politicians, and that these people have no concern for the American people.
The conspiracy against the American people during WWI is first introduced. During WWI the top advisor for Wilson, Colonel Edward House, engaged in dialog with Sir Edward Grey, former Secretary of England, about how to get the American people interested in entering the war. At the time the American people thought that war was uncivilized. As President Wilson was neutral to the idea, but apparently England needed help, so according to the documentary American political leaders plotted against the American people. While average people kept their distance to the idea of war, House planned to have the Lusitania sunk. The Lusitania was a British Steamship that would bring hundreds of American passengers through war infested waters. Before the Lusitania was sunk publications in the New York Times warned Americans about the risks of traveling on the vessel at that time. Finally the ship sailed into the waters of war where it was then destroyed by German forces. After that happened Americans began to favor the idea of war and the corrupt bankers got what they were asking for.
For a select few a desirable amount of money was made off of that war and the American people did get involved, but this does not mean that there were plots against the American people. A substantial number of boats and ships were destroyed before the Lusitania went under, so in a letter addressed to German Imperialist Government, a spokes person for the Whitehouse proposed that the Germans stop sinking ships that were not involved in war (Cogito). This means that the Lusitania could not have been sent into a territory of war on purpose. Further more, think about this relationship, Zeitgeist claims that the Lusitania was sent into German waters so that politicians and bankers could make loads of money, but this letter presents different reasons. Some of the ships wrecked before the Lusitania were American vessels. They were operated by American workers and owned by American share holders who lost profit each time a ship was sunk. People who were for this involvement in war may not have been so greedy and corrupt as Zeitgeist claims. These people may have been tired of allowing the losses with each sinking of a ship that was associated with a foreign war.
A conspiracy against the American people during WWII is presented. The story of the Pearl Harbor attack on 7 December, 1941 is said to have been wanted by the Whitehouse who provoked the attack. To get this point across an image of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, president in that time, is shown with captions and commentary that explains how Roosevelt was asking for the Japanese to attacking. Roosevelt is in the center of this image with a stern look on his face in the background of this picture the following phrases are displayed; halted trade, froze Japanese assets, and aided Japan’s enemies. Simply because of that and some journal notes by Henry Stimson, Roosevelt’s Secretary of War, that said Roosevelt was antagonizing the Japanese in an effort to get the Japanese to take a shot against America Zeitgeist is trying to prove that Roosevelt plotted against the American people. The supporting evidence offered by Zeitgeist does not actually prove that there was a single plot against the American people. The evidence proves that the plots were against the Japanese government.
Zeitgeist presents many conspiracy theories with inaccurate information to back, but when this documentary gets into the definition of a central bank it finally gets something right. Zeitgeist says “Central Bank is an institution that produces the currency of an entire nation.” That is exactly right, and surprisingly uncomplicated. According to the Federal Reserve the central bank of the United States provides this nation with a safe, flexible, and stable monetary and financial system (Federal Reserve Website). This seems like a fair statement, but Zeitgeist implies that the fed is whimsical with no real concern for the public’s interest. Zeitgeist taught me one very important thing; and that is, do not trust Internet sources. (Soon to add a polished complete version of this review. No pun intended.)

Snow Plow Dick Around

In Pullman, WA authorities are extremely relaxed when it comes to clearing the snow from not only parkinglots, but also roadways in commercial and residential areas.
One guy who works as a bagboy at the local Safeway went as far as picking up shopping carriages and carrying them across the snow filled parkinglot so that customers did not have to struggle all the way to their vechiles with bags of groceries.
Getting around in Winter weather can be trying; and although people choose to live in this area where there are four distinct seasons, people complain about the nuances of this weather. One patron said a man flaunting a snowplow meandered through the parkinglot about an hour prior, but neglected to remove any snow. After the plow had left the parkinglot people still had to be very careful about how they made their way to the Safeway entrance.
When that amount of snow is covering a parkinglot nearly 2 days after snowfall, one has to wonder what the hell is going on with the snow removal system.