This video will make you smile.  I wish my priest growing up could have done this. I might have paid more attention.

Just last night I watched the movie “The Stoning of Soraya M”.  It is based on a true story of an Iranian woman who is stoned to death for “allegedly” cheating on her husband.  The husband actually orchestrates the story so he can marry a younger (14 year old) woman.  The story is horrific and brutal.  The men in Soraya’s life, from her father to her husband to her own sons, are despicable savages.

Sadly, this is not just a movie.  It is a reality for many Iranian women and other women in the Middle East and other parts of the world.  After seeing this movie last night, I came in to work this morning to see an update on Sakineh Ashtiani.  Ashtiani is an Iranian woman who was facing stoning for adultery.  The stoning sentence was commuted only after international pressure was placed on Iranian authorities– but she still faces a death sentence by other means.

If you can stomach the brutality of ”The Stoning of Soraya M”, I encourage you to watch the movie.  Even though it’s a world away, we can’t ignore what’s happening.

I watched this video with my boyfriend, who is a Marine Corps veteran the other day.   It pretty much left us speechless.  This woman is amazing.  She paints portraits for the families of fallen troops.

Please take a couple of minutes to watch the video.

CBS News Reporter Lara Logan addresses the question of journalism on CNN following the Rolling Stone article that ended General Stanley McChyrstal’s career.  The video is a must see and brings up an interesting debate.  Also in the article, an interview with Rolling Stone’s Michael Hastings and his side of the story.

This week I started webcasts on www.kgmi.com.  It’s a brief news update on some of the day’s top stories, including details on how to locate more information on our website.  The “kgmi.com news update” will be updated daily by about 10 a.m. and posted on our homepage.  I hope you check it out!

The Miss USA pageant strikes again!  The official photos for this year’s pageant are of the women in their underwear.  The theme is “Waking up in Vegas”.  Usually a contestant is stripped of her crown when photos like this show up on the internet. But these photos are sanctioned by the pageant. I think the photos are beautiful and the women are gorgeous…but could it just be an attempt to boost ratings?

This weekend (April 24^th) I’ll participate in a 100-mile bike ride– where we’ll ride from the steps of our nation’s capitol on a historic journey to pay homage to those who defy what is thought possible.

World T.E.A.M. Sports, a non-profit organization that helps wounded veterans, is sponsoring the event.

A few of my friends have participated in this ride since it started six years ago.  After hearing the motivational stories and after meeting several wounded veterans during a similar kayaking trip through the Northwest last year, I decided to take part in the century ride.

Many of the men and women are amputees who participate in the ride on hand-cranked bikes…amazingly, some of them are fresh off the battlefield.

World T.E.A.M. Sports provides equipment to wounded veterans and keeps them involved in sports, activities and group events throughout the year, so that the camaraderie that is such a big part of their military lives is never lost. I don’t know if I will be a help or a hindrance (I’ve crashed three times in the last three years on my bike!) during the ride, but I do know I will be in good company riding alongside our nation’s heroes.

www.worldteamsports.org

I think we’d all like a world without nuclear weapons or the threat of a nuclear bombing.  But let’s be realistic, that likely will never happen.  So, do we really need to tell the entire world what our defense strategy is…nuclear or otherwise?

What do you think about President Obama’s recent comments about nuclear force?

I think Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is a complete idiot, but I did agree with his comment that President Obama, “must be careful about what he says and does.”

Best Picture — The Hurt Locket

Best Director- Kathryn Bigelow

Best Actor - Jeff Bridges

Best Actress - Sandra Bullock

Best Supporting Actor - Christoph Waltz

Best Supporting Actress - Vera Farmiga

Best Animation - Up

Best Original Screenplay - A Serious Man

Best Adapted Screenplay - Precious

Best Song - The Weary Kind from Crazy Heart

What do you think about Starbucks’ stand on gun laws in some of the cities where it has stores?  Do you support Starbucks or do you think the company should give in.

This KIRO-TV story includes a statement from Starbucks, the Brady campaign’s petition and interviews with gun owners.