Craig Ruvere

31Mar 2011 by CJ

Funerals should not be convenient for the mourner

Funerals being broadcast on the web? Are you kidding me? Sounds bizarre, I know, but apparently it’s becoming the latest craze among funeral homes across the country for mourners who simply can’t make the effort to appear in person. Truthfully, I’ve always been a little skeptical about funerals anyway. I mean, if you couldn’t make the effort to spend quality time with me while I'm alive, why the hell do I care if you come to see me when I’m dead? It seems to me the whole idea is more about alleviating a person’s guilt rather than mourning the person lying in an overpriced casket. Now I understand that people today live all over the country – all over the world in fact. If you really care enough about a…

30Mar 2011 by CJ

Ina Garten is still A-OK in my book despite press

Life & Living

I’ll admit it - I’m a huge fan of cookbook author and Food Network star Ina Garten - the Barefoot Contessa. Her recipes are simple to shop for, even easier to prepare and they’re damn good to eat too! Unlike Martha, where the ingredients list looks like the parts catalog for the space shuttle and you typically need the better part of a day just to make cup cakes, Ina is about simplicity with maximum flavor. Now that’s my kind of cooking! While she’s rarely scrutinized by the media, over the last few days they’ve been gutting the culinary personality like a freshly killed chicken, seasoned and baked at 350 degrees. For those who have NO idea what I’m talking about, 6 year old Enzo petitioned the Make-A-Wish Foundation to…

29Mar 2011 by CJ

YouTube rant shows just how dumb people are on the internet

Life & Living, Youth

If the world of social sites such as YouTube has taught us anything, it’s just how dumb we really. Take Alexandra Wallace, a UCLA student who recently posted a three-minute bitch session on YouTube about all the Asian students on campus. She whined about how they use their cell phones in the library and drag their entire family on campus for regular housecleaning – even pathetically mocking their accent to further add insult to injury. But nothing amused me more than when she said they should “learn American manners” and make their calls elsewhere. Really? Does she live in this country or just spend most of her life hidden on the floor of her closet? Americans learn manners? Please. We’ve become some of the rudest, most uncaring people around, and…

25Mar 2011 by CJ

When acts of kindness become too difficult, we’re doomed in society

Generosity & Kindness

Calling all superheroes! Humanity’s in some serious trouble! Just look around, we’ve become a self-serving society who’ll do anything NOT to communicate with each other - the simple act of saying “hello” has become too much of a burden. Where are the acts of kindness? I wonder who we can call to save the day? Spider Man maybe? Nah, he’s got his hands full trying to open a mega-million dollar show on Broadway. How about “The Karate Kid”? Oh wait, he’s busy dancing around with a bunch of so-called stars. What we need is a friend and neighbor who might not have worn a cutting-edge costume or had any neat tricks up his sleeve, but he always did know the right things to say. I’m talking about Fred Rogers (AKA…

24Mar 2011 by CJ

Blaming an 11-year-old for being raped is inexcusable

Information & Education, Youth

In a small Texas town, about 50 miles outside of Houston, 18 men (ranging in age from 14 to 27) were recently arrested for gang raping an 11-year-old girl last November. As is all too common in the headlines today, police officials weren't made aware of the sexual assault until a graphic cell phone video began circulating online. Remind me again why giving kids cell phones capable of doing anything more than talking is such a great idea? Here’s what’s most disturbing about this story – there are actually residents who blame the girl and her parents for being raped. Some have said she hung out with kids who were older than she was, that she wore clothes and makeup which made her look much older. Come on already. You…