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It would be a whole lot funnier if it wasn't REAL

Ignorance

Muslim Children Gassed at Dayton Mosque After "Obsession" DVD Hits Ohio

I (of all people!) struggle to find words sufficient to convey my disgust at this terrible act of ignorance and violence. Eric and I received the "Obsession" DVD in the mail a couple of weeks ago (it's being sent out to voters in the swing states) and we threw it away. Clearly, many others did not.

The DVD is basically an anti-Muslim film claiming that Islam is at war with the West. From what I hear, it's a vile piece of hateful propaganda.

I am ashamed to live in a country where some people think it's okay to attack children for being part of a different religion. During their evening prayers. Do you want to know what a terrorist is? Just look at what these sick people did in Ohio.

(the newspaper article)

A token

I feel like I am neglecting news about myself that any of you uninterested in politics would prefer. (Note: how is it POSSIBLE to be uninterested in politics? This is your LIFE we're talking about here! It matters!)

I've been busy, busy, busy with the start of school. It's flying by already, though -- interims are this week! I've been feeling extra tired this year... I don't remember being so worn out by this time last year. By the time I make it home, I'm just spent. The last thing I want to do is sit and write about something. Plus, I really feel like I've been too busy to even have anything interesting to say!

Ask me some questions. What do you want to know??

You don't know Jack

Because you probably don't watch as much CNN as me.

But, I know him, and I kind of have a crush on his 65-year-old self, now :-) Watch:

Thank god SOMEONE in the media just says it. Poor Wolfie, trying to defend her......

Clarendon Day

I just spent the morning at the National Book Festival (got my Frommer's guide to Benelux signed by the Frommer's, who loved my Obama shirt and told me they both canvass around the country for him!) and the afternoon volunteering at the Obama booth for Clarendon Day. It was great. While there, I met a woman whose husband is running for county board. I'm quite impressed with him, and will be volunteering for him, soon!

Check out John Reeder if you can vote in my county!

Are you middle class?

Obama's Economic Plan

Paul Newman

Paul Newman Dies At 83

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — A spokeswoman for screen legend Paul Newman says the actor has died at age 83.

Spokeswoman Marni Tomljanovic says Newman died Friday of cancer. No other details were immediately available.

Ohh... my brain...

Is she a freaking robot? No wonder the campaign is trying to hide her from the media! Couric tried so hard to be nice... but Palin's ignorance shines through, anyway. It gives me a headache.

I am literally sick to my stomach after that.

Comparing elitists

Can we just give up the 'elitist' argument at last? Even Eric and I have more cars than the Obamas!

Weekend conversation

Saturday night we hung out at the home of a couple we are friends with. They have a super-adorable 2 year old boy.

The "conversation" I had with the kid at one point in the evening:

Me: "Can I have a hug, too?"
2: (hugs me) (laughs, clapping hands) "Good boobies!"
All of us: (much laughter)
2: (almost falls over from laughing) (stands back up) "Good boobies!" (reaches both hands out and honks both of my boobs)

PBS Poll

PBS has a poll that asks: Is Sarah Palin qualified to be VP?

The Right is having people vote that Palin is qualified. Is that what this country really thinks, though?

Voting is very simple.

Here's the link: http://www.pbs.org/now/polls/poll-435.html

5 seconds is all it takes.

Let's make healthcare AWESOME!

Still think what you said in this month's report is a good idea?

From ThinkProgress:

Paul Krugman notes that Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) published an article on his health care plan in the current issue of Contingencies — the magazine of the American Academy of Actuaries. In his article, McCain attempts to make his case for deregulating the health insurance industry by extolling the benefits of the last decade of deregulation in the banking sector. He writes:

Opening up the health insurance market to more vigorous nationwide competition, as we have done over the last decade in banking, would provide more choices of innovative products less burdened by the worst excesses of state-based regulation.

As Yglesias writes, McCain is “such an enthusiast about financial market deregulation that he was bragging about his plan to make the health care system as awesome as the financial system.”

Help him help you

Please, if you have a few extra bucks and a bit of hope in you that Obama just might be able to make a bit of a difference, consider donating to his campaign. The more we help out, the more the campaign will be able to fight the lies and the status quo of the past 8 years.

Go to my Fund raising for Obama page if you want to contribute. Thanks!

Women for Obama

But, but... McCain put a woman on the ticket! He MUST support women's rights, right...?

Good thing I vote with my brain instead of my vagina.

Comments?

From Friday's Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Bipartisan Energy Summit:

Just saying...

"The occasion is piled high with difficulty and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, we must think anew and act anew. We must disenthrall ourselves and then we shall save our country."

~Abraham Lincoln

Herb update

My herbs are doing great! My tipsy pots, however, experienced too much trauma during the landscaping process, so nothing has really come of them. Next spring, I think I'm just going to put grown plants in the pots.

Here is my parsley:


And my thyme, oregano, and chives:

Oh Mattie

Matt Damon, you're sexy AND smart!

"I mean, did she really, I need to know if she really thinks dinosaurs were here 4,000 years ago. That's an important, I wanna know that, I really do. Because she's gonna have the nuclear codes."

Must... post....

Okay, maybe you don't know what the Bush Doctrine is, either, but YOU'RE NOT RUNNING FOR VICE PRESIDENT WITH A 72-YEAR OLD MAN!!!

From DailyKos:

Charlie: Do you agree with the Bush Doctrine?

Palin: In what respect, Charlie?

Charlie: What do you interpret it to be?

Palin: His worldview?

Charlie: No, No, the Bush Doctrine. He enunciated it in September 2002, before the Iraq War.

Palin: I believe that what President Bush has attempted to do is to rid this world of Islamic extremism, terrorists who are hellbent on destroying our nation. There have been blunders along the way, though. There have been mistakes made. And with new leadership--and that's the beauty of American elections and democracy--with new leadership comes the opportunity to do things better.

Charlie: The Bush Doctrine, as I understand it, is that we have the right of anticipatory defense. We have the right to preemptively strike any other country that we believe is going to attack us.

How absolutely, head-in-the-ground oblivious do you have to be to our national politics to not be familiar with the Bush Doctrine, the very cornerstone of this administration's foreign policy and the doctrine that led us into the most disastrous foreign policy decision in American history?

Oh, that's right. This oblivious:

"I've been so focused on state government, I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq."

Ike

I hope everyone I know from League City, etc., is out of there by now!!!!

Time for some questions

This Thursday, Palin will be interviewed by the media for the first time since she was named as McCain's running mate on Aug. 29. Granted, the interview is with Charles Gibson, who helped facilitate the debate between Obama and Clinton that asked more questions about Obama's lack of a flag pin lapel than anything remotely substantial... but, it's something. Gibson is a bit of softballer, and is sure to ask "easy" questions.

McClatchy put together a list of questions they would like to ask Palin, if given the chance.

-- You present yourself as a Republican maverick who took on your own party's corrupt political establishment. In November's election, your party is running an indicted U.S. Senator, Ted Stevens, who is awaiting trial on charges he accepted more than $250,000 of unreported gifts from the state's most powerful lobbyist. Will you vote for his opponent? Will you urge Alaskans to help you change Washington and vote him out of office? If not, why not?

-- Sen. Ted Stevens' trial is still pending; he has declined to say whether he would accept a pardon from President Bush before Bush leaves office in January. Do Alaska voters deserve an answer to that question before they cast their vote for or against Stevens in November? What is your position on a president pardoning a public official before a jury has ruled on guilt or innocence?

-- Alaska Congressman Don Young appears to have won his Republican primary, even though you endorsed his opponent. Will you vote for your fellow Republican Don Young, who has spent over $1 million on legal fees without telling his constituents what sort of legal trouble he is in?

-- Why have you reneged on your earlier pledge to cooperate with the Alaska Legislature's investigation into Troopergate?

-- In spring of 2004, the Anchorage Daily News reported that you cited family considerations in deciding not to try for the U.S. Senate: "How could I be the team mom if I was a U.S. senator?" What was different this time as you decided to run for vice president?

-- As governor of Alaska, you have not pushed for laws or regulations that put your personal views on abortion, same-sex marriage and creationism into public policy. As vice president, will you push to outlaw abortion, restrict same-sex marriage and require the teaching of creationism?

-- If you were a fully qualified vice-presidential candidate from the get-go, why did you wait more than 10 days to face reporters?

-- McCain spokesman Rick Davis told Fox News the media didn't show you enough "deference." How much deference do you expect to get from Vladimir Putin or Hugo Chavez?

-- You have said victory is in sight in Iraq. In July 2007, when you visited Kuwait, you said, "I'm not going to judge the surge." In the March 2007 issue of Alaska Business Monthly, you were asked about the surge and were quoted saying:

"I've been so focused on state government, I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq. . . . While I support our president, Condoleezza Rice and the administration, I want to know that we have an exit plan in place."

Define "victory" in Iraq? What is the exit plan?

What would you add to the list?

Edu-ma-cation

Quizzes

I was directed to the Blogthings website through a friend's post. It has some random quizzes on it you can take... a bunch of them are really lame, but I decided to find out what utensil I am. Hm.

You Are Chopsticks

People see you as exotic, unusual, and even a bit intimidating. You are a difficult person to figure out. In truth, you try to live a very simple life. But most people are too frenzied to recognize the beauty of your simplicity.

What Utensil Are You?

Oh, to be 14 again

The first week of school I have my students write a letter to me to introduce themselves. I absolutely LOVE reading them. The students are usually very genuine and open in these letters.

My favorite so far:

"Hi I'm _____, I like sports. I like chicken and girls."

Fantastic!

Pro-life?

I've always been confused by those on the conservative end of the political spectrum who claim to be "pro-life" but have no problem shipping young men off to risk their lives in a pointless war. Or failing to help dying victims of hurricanes. Or denying health coverage to the poor and sick. Or refusing funding for stem-cell research that could potentially save thousands of lives. Or just basically continuing their dismal streak of ignoring the poor, needy, struggling families in our country.

Is a woman's choice about the best path for her life in the event of an unplanned pregnancy really more important to people than the rest of these issues?

Face it, conservatives. You're NOT pro-life; you're anti-choice. You want to deny women their right to choose by making their decisions for them. Because in nearly every other case regarding people's lives, life seems to matter very little to you.

Thar she blows!

We've had steady, but light, rain since last night... looks like she's not turning into a hurricane, though, so that's good news for all along the east!

Personal politics aside

Though I'm *pretty* certain all of you have figured out which candidate I support by now... I am far from Libertarian, being far closer to Democratic Socialism, myself, but I thought I'd post this email from my brother. You know, let you all support whomever you want, etc, etc.

:-)

Help America break out of its two-party system and vote for someone who would put freedom to choose back in the hands of citizens. I support Bob Barr because he recognizes that there is a huge national debt and we need to do something about it, he believes that we should not be a world police force, but that the governments job is to put its own citizens first and respects other governments to do the same, he believes that people have the right to privacy (opposes the Patriot Act). In summary, he believes that governments job is limited, not meant to control people's lives. The following is a sample message:

Dear Friend,

As I observe politics in Washington, I am often discouraged by the direction our nation is taking. Our government is growing almost totally out of control. Taxes are skyrocketing. Our national energy policy is failing. The economy is weak and getting weaker.

Even worse, all of the rhetoric and spin from the Democrat and Republican candidates for President suggests to me that they offer no real ideas for improvement.

Well, you know me, I'm a pretty independent thinking person. That's why I've decided to send Washington a message in the coming election. I'm supporting Bob Barr, the Libertarian nominee for President, and I hope you'll join me.

Bob Barr spent eight years in Congress as a Representative from Georgia. His intellect and leadership skills were quickly recognized. He rose to prominence as a result of his courageous commitment to principle. Bob Barr was and is a strong defender of your civil rights. He will fight to protect our privacy against "big brother" and he'll defend our right to keep and use firearms. Bob will cut government spending, and taxes. And, he'll balance our budget. Bob's plan to tackle our national energy crisis includes embracing new technologies and conservation - but also, more domestic production and refining.

I'm asking you to join me in supporting his candidacy by visiting www.BobBarr2008.com. Together, we can make a difference. Visit his campaign on the Internet to sign up for their news and information and if you can make a donation - just $5 or $10 will make a difference - then I encourage you to do so.

Thanks!

Your friend for Liberty,

-Kevin

______________________

You can donate to Bob Barr directly by clicking on the following link:

I'm sorry, could you repeat that?

No comment necessary... just enjoy the clip!

Trackbacks

I read an article recently about this fun website called World Names Profiler. On it, you can trace the origins of your surname and its frequency around the world.

Here's the frequency per million (FPM) of my last name around the world. Most people with my last name live in Great Britain, then Australia, then here in America. No surprise, if you check its roots below, as it is an English name.


And the roots. I think it's interesting that the region with the highest FPM in the whole world is West Virginia. Hmm. Third highest is Utah -- those are all of my relatives.


Eric's FPM. Top three are the same as mine: Great Britain, Australia, U.S.


And roots. His name is Welsh, hence the same FPM pattern as mine. I think it's really interesting that his highest region is Argentina! And the Netherlands is number three... how about that, momma?


Oh, and Eric's dad's name was John -- number one on the list of top forenames. Fancy that.

Anyway, just a fun website to play around on. Enjoy!

Hanna, Hanna, bo-banna

Hello, Hanna. I hope I don't meet you on Saturday.

Teen Pregnancy

Okay, so Sarah Palin's daughter is pregnant. Big deal. That tells us nothing about Palin, and it shouldn't be part of the political discussion.

Except.

It does tell us one thing!

Abstinence-only education does not work.

It doesn't matter what kind of family you come from. If you insist on teaching your children that they must practice abstinence without giving them the tools they need to protect themselves should they choose to ignore that advice, the lesson is useless! It doesn't work!

Thanks for proving our point again, Palin.

Seriously. Let's re-think the stance on abstinence-only education. It's silly... and dangerous!

**UPDATE: There's a good article about this over at The Washington Post.

Happy Labor Day!

Going down to hang out with the family today. Hope you enjoy your day.

In hurricane news, Gustav has his the coast of Louisiana and is bearing down on New Orleans. Thankfully, the city has been evacuated. Let's hope that nothing is destroyed when the eye hits the city in a couple of hours. And, let's also hope the politicians and candidates don't try to turn this into a "disaster opportunity" fiasco.