"Church" Looses Lawsuit

Off of www.kake.com

Jury Rules Against Topeka Church - Awards $11 Million

Associated Press

A jury in Baltimore is ordering Topeka's Westboro church to pay $11 million to the father of a Marine who was killed in Iraq. Albert Snyder sued after church members demonstrated last year at the funeral of his son, Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder. Westboro members say the Iraq war is punishment for the nation's tolerance of homosexuality. The jury first awarded $2.9 million in compensatory damages. It later awarded $6 million in punitive damages for invasion of privacy and $2 million for causing emotional distress. The defense says it will appeal, and one of the church's leaders, Shirley Phelps-Roper, says members will continue to picket military funerals. Snyder's lawsuit named the church; its founder, the Rev. Fred Phelps; and his two daughters, Shirley Phelps-Roper and Rebecca Phelps-Davis, as defendants. Snyder claimed the protests intruded upon what should have been a private ceremony and sullied his memory of the event. The attorney for the Topeka church is asking for a mistrial. A motion filed Monday says statements by U.S. District Judge Richard Bennett have hurt the chance for a fair trial. Church members believe soldiers' deaths are God's retribution for America's tolerance of homosexuals. Attorney Jonathan Katz's motion says the judge described his clients' writings "rambling." The attorney included some of the judge's other comments as extending beyond mere expressions of impatience, dissatisfaction, annoyance or anger. He also said prosecutors were speaking with the media despite a gag order imposed by the judge.

Whew

I'm glad Blogger saves your posts automatically. As I was working on my last blog, I accidentally deleted the second picture. Rather than wait for the upload (which in all fairness wouldn't have taken too long), I just backtracked and picked up where the last save was. All I had to do was retype the title.
I wish PDA's had a flash when their battery was almost dead. My old PDA is one of those that wipe out if you let the battery run out all the way. Luckily I had it all backed up (though there's not much to back up as it's mainly a backup alarm clock and my outdoors PDA when I might need it but won't be in the safest of situations).
I've been having problems with my newer PDA locking up today, but I recently installed two new programs, and once I uninstalled the one I didn't need as much, it seems to be cooperating closer to normal. Though honestly... it's a Lockupiba LOL... But the toshy runs so smoothly otherwise. Technology just hates me. But if I'd known that the backup file for the 355 wasn't going to work on the 800, I wouldn't have insisted on a toshy when I was looking to buy this one. Oh well.
I didn't get the chance to finish laundry today... I just couldn't get my back to do it... And with me being as tiny as I am, I really can't afford to argue with my back, so today I took it easy. I did the dishes and took out the trash and that was it. I didn't even go for my walk today. I really felt like I needed to take it easy, and I'm glad I did.
I wonder if anyone noticed my profile changed... LOL
Just in case you all were wondering, I'm back up to 100% after my persistent head cold and allergies. Now just to deal with the cold for the next 5 months or so! Bahhhhhh.
Anyways, enough of my ramblings. No politics today (not yet at least). I got the big battery on the PDA, so I doubt I'll do much blogging later anyways. It's the same old crap anywho, right? Peace ya'll!

Pics of My Boys

I thought I'd upload a few new pics of my boys so that ya'll can at see at least two of my three precious babies. Sorry Nimbus' Mom isn't up here, but besides, don't the boys deserve some time of their own in the limelight? Hope everyone is well and this makes everyone smile.

I had to get up to do a couple things, and this is what I saw on the couch... Doesn't Nimbus look like he's ready to turn on the tv, kick back, and fall asleep watching tv like his humans do? LOL I tried to get a better shot of his face, but the camera's battery died, and the power cord was all tangled up so I couldn't stretch it enough to get the right angle. Ain't he so adorable tho?

This would be Curzon in deep sleep on the bed... It's a great sign of trust that a cat would go into deep sleep around humans - much less exposing their stomach - their most vulnerable spot. But, as you can tell, he's the happiest camper in the world. I think he knows he hit the lottery! He just LOOKS spoiled, don't he? (I'm sorry, I don't have a recent picture of his sister, not on the stick at least. Trust me, I got pics of her ;-) lol)

This would be a mostly-asleep Nimbus. I know he looks like he's either talking in his sleep or getting ready to sneeze, but he's actually in process of yawning, and the camera snapped just a second too soon. But I think you can tell he's got quite the set of bird-catching fangs... But, being an indoor cat all his life, would he know what to do with a bird if he seen it? LOL. A mouse, I have no doubt. A bird, I'm not so sure.

GOOD News in Iraq

Off of Reuters' Website... GOOD news that's not getting much publicity

Iraq civilian, U.S. military tolls at new low in Oct
04:36 PM EDT
By Andrew Marshall
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Civilian deaths from violence in Iraq fell again in October to their lowest level this year, government figures showed on Wednesday, bolstering the U.S. military's assertion that a troop surge is reducing bloodshed.
U.S. military fatalities also showed a significant drop in October -- so far 36 have been reported for the month, the lowest since March 2006, and well below 65 deaths in September.
Figures from Iraq's health, interior and defense ministries recorded 758 civilians killed in violence in October, along with 117 policemen and 13 Iraqi soldiers.
In September, 884 civilian deaths were recorded, and 62 policemen and 16 Iraqi soldiers were killed.
The September and October tolls represent a sharp drop from monthly figures earlier in the year. The highest civilian toll this year was 1,971 in January, and the monthly toll stayed well above 1,000 until September's dramatic decline.
U.S. generals say the figures show that the strategy of pouring 30,000 extra troops into Iraq this year to secure Baghdad and other troubled areas, and of moving U.S. troops out of large bases into smaller combat outposts where they live and fight alongside Iraqis, is having a significant impact.
They say Iraqi security forces are also increasingly adept at tackling insurgent groups and rogue militias.
The Iraqi government figures showed 1,038 civilians were wounded in violence in October -- higher than the 884 wounded in September but still significantly below 2007's monthly average.
Lieutenant-General Raymond Odierno, the No. 2 U.S. general in Iraq, said last week that insurgent attacks had been on a steady downward trend since June, with roadside bomb blasts in particular sharply down in the last four months.
In several areas of Iraq, including the western province of Anbar that was long dominated by radical insurgents, groups once hostile to the U.S. military have turned against al Qaeda militants, angered by their indiscriminate killings of civilians and attempts to impose harsh Islamic laws.
The Iraqi data showed 330 insurgents killed in October and 1,427 captured, down from 366 killed and 1,514 captured in September.
U.S. opponents of the continued military presence in Iraq say American troops are caught in the middle of a domestic sectarian conflict with no resolution in sight.
Bush has said the surge strategy needs to be given time to work, and has told Congress that he expects 20,000 to 30,000 troops could be withdrawn by July 2008 as security improves.

Rambles

So what's new around my part of the world? Not too much, but I got some good news.
1. I finally fixed my PDA's inbox so I can download my email and send all at the same time. How it happened, I don't know, I think it stemmed from one of my hard resets around the time I was fighting with ActiveSync.
2. My eldest cousin recently welcomed a new son into the world, he's 4 months old now. They have another boy and a toddler, a girl.
How's everyone up on the top side of the world dealing with the march towards winter? I know here it sure has gotten cold outside, but of course, I got spoiled with the mild summer, which was perfect to me. So it being in the low 50s all day was just frigid!! And of course, I live with eskimos... LMAO.
I'm trying to come up with an adequate bedside "desk" setup so I can be mobile (my PDA has its own keyboard) but I won't feel the table moving. It's a very unstable plastic piece of trash rescue, and although much better than my previous "table" (cardboard boxes with a piece of wood over them), it still wobbles like it could and would fall over if I typed any harder! However, with such a limited amount of space (approximately two feet between a massive bed and the wall), finding something that fits AND is high enough is difficult. I could probably design something basic, but then I'd have to sand, paint, attach pieces, and move... And we know how heavy wood can be! I think a large part of this table's insecurity is the way the legs were put on, they're not attached in any way to give it stability. Thank goodness the table isn't any higher, it would fall over every time I touched it! I'll figure it out... Eventually!!
Oh and a note to my dear Cheryl before I forget... Dummie me emailed u at the wrong addy, you know what to do... LOL
Now back to my train of thought... Thank goodness you all can't hear the gears grinding in my head... Especially when they come to a screaching hault!
My break from my "addiction" is going well, I must say I don't miss the game too much. My blog should benefit from this extra time as well, as some of my quiet time was due to me so absorbed in the game! I haven't given myself much of a chance to get addicted to something else either, as I've been busy so to speak. Maybe I'll pick up my sudoku game book... OMG paper sudoku... Ancient!! Lol (Yes I have sudoku on my pda... Actually three different programs of the same game, lol, gotta have backups HAHA.)
So anywho, I will shut down this blog before I ramble even more... Hope all is well for all of you! Stay warm (unless it's summertime for you)!

Updated Blog

Changed the blog title - not the link though :) for obvious difficult reasons!

 

Changed the template and some of the colors

 

Fixed NeoCounter - kept hanging and overlapping!

 

Updated profile, added a wishlist

 

Changed fonts to accomodate the not-so-visually-acute eyes

 

Still wanted

How to reply to a blog with my email address attached to the comment like Jeannine does! Where it gives email address so I can just reply to the comment instead of surfing through email addresses because it says no-reply-comment@blogger.com or whatever the fk it says!

Back Up-To-Date

I'm back up to date with all my blogger friends, sorry I slacked off on reading! I've also found a couple new ones, I'll soon add them to my roll. If I didn't leave a comment, don't think I didn't read. I'm just out of things to say today, though I'm finally over my bug. I'm sure Wawa is sad, I must've spent $30 the last couple weeks as chocolate milk was the only thing that made my throat feel better! I'm sure someday my writer's block will be gone, but lately the news hasn't changed, and so I see no use in rehashing the same crap I've been hashing the last year or so!

So instead I want to do this. Either as a comment here or in an email, I think all my friends should have the right to ask me at least one question - anything - and get an honest reply out of me. Almost nothing is off limits - though private information like exactly where I live and my tele # are off limits (for obvious reasons). And please, those of you who know me IRL, don't ask details about my ex boyfriend, there are readers here who really don't want to know all the details. And besides, it's still kinda painful for me. Thanks.

Also, for those of you whom I don't have emails for, if you'd be so kind to email me, I'd appreciate it. I promise I never give out email addies and I always use BCC. Sometimes I just want to drop someone a line and say hey and I can't put a smile on your face if I don't have a way to send it to you! :) I've also been thinking since we're on a google blog maybe we should get together and have a google chat in real time - but considering some of you are on the other side of the world, time would be an issue. Just a few thoughts so we all can say hi and not have to wait for a hi back! Drop your thoughts down here in the comments or in an email, I'm curious as to what you all think!

And as an update, I soon may drop my comment moderation, though I haven't made up my mind yet. There are still people and issues I have to think about, and although it hasn't come up yet, it may be because of the moderation. I'm not sure, but I surely will get to changing my blog someday... it always seems to stay the same no matter what. I just ain't the best at it!

I need a new addiction - hot off the fingers!

I need a new addiction.

Not one that's cheaper,

Not one that's easier.

I need one that works,

Where things don't disappear.

One that works every time,

One that isn't so fussy.

I need a new addiction,

One that doesn't invade my dreams.

I need something different,

Not necessarily something new.

So I think I'll drop my old addiction,

And return to something else.

I'll go back to something tried and true,

Yet something challenging and portable.

So away goes the xbox controller,

The game CD back in its case,

My hand-assembled manual back in its spot,

To collect dust once again.

Time to pick up the PDA,

And go back to the games that I've collected,

Or maybe start reading

The hundreds of ebooks I have!

I'll assemble all the new ones,

And add them to all the lists,

Fix their listings in my Mobipocket,

And after a week of editing and adding,

Ask myself why I'm such an ebook packrat!

I'll start reading The Federalist Papers again,

And maybe I'll make it all the way through this time,

Just to forget the beginning again!

Or maybe I'll just sit back and watch tv,

And fall asleep as all the news channels

Feed me the same line of BS,

The same news from the same angle,

And run out of things to say once again.

So I'll be stuck on my blog

With my hands on the keyboard

But NOTHING TO SAY!

On Britney, Paris, and the “Media”

First of all, a laugh at Fox News' expense. I was watching the news update at 3pm, and they were yapping – surprise surprise – about Britney and her court appearances today. The anchor (I forgot his name) called her "America's Darling" – I about choked from both disgust and laughter! Since when is she – an alcoholic, irresponsible, spoiled rotten young woman who still insists on acting like a child – someone to look up to or say represents what we like? Crikey, there was so much ado made over her last awards show performance (granted, she bungled it) because she had gained weight! I say she looked good! She actually finally didn't look anorexic! She looked healthy!!

Secondly, word that Paris is out to try to change her bad girl image into that of a philanthropist! Ok, first of all, explain to me why she's even famous… except that her parents and grandparents are mega rich. She's only famous for being rich. IMHO, she can't sing worth a crap, all she knows how to do is party, and her "fashion" leaves a lot to be desired, to say the least. Sheesh, I wish I could be famous for my singing! But they'd only laugh at me for how awful I sing! Thus why I don't… LOL

And now to the media… doesn't it make you laugh when some anchors accuse others of being stupid or something else wrong and make themselves out to NOT be the "media"? Nancy Grace during her primetime program on CNN Headline News is famous for it.

And what about this spat lately Keith Olbermann (MSNBC) has had against Glenn Beck (CNNHN)? Keith, Glenn was being sarcastic… but seriously… if you're living in Southern California you surely know of the danger and frequency of wildfires – even most of us who don't know of it. So surely, those who choose to live there anyways and spend upwards of a million or more dollars on a house surely have insurance in case of fire. Don't get me wrong, it's still a tragedy. But it's also a risk you voluntarily take when you live in an area that is famous for disasters. It's like living in Montana and whining about the blizzards every winter like you thought it was going to be warm! We need to focus first on getting the fires out, then on catching those who started the ones which were arsons, and helping those who lost everything. Let the insurance agents work with the homeowners who had insurance, let's save our taxpayer resources for those who didn't have insurance like apartment complex residences. Am I cold? I don't think so. What do you think though?

And this weather… MSNBC had it right today. If you want rain, the east coast is the best place to be. For those of us who are drying out or already parched, this rain is much-needed and greatly welcomed rain. I only wish it was affecting more of the Gulf Coast, as Georgia surely needs it too, yet New Orleans has gotten too much.

On a personal note, all is going well here, except it's grown chilly outside making my daily walk to the store a little less pleasant. And considering the fact even we here need some rain, I'll take it. I'd rather it just pour and be done with it, but this slow, steady rain is actually much better as the ground has the chance to absorb much more of it. I hope all of you are well, and I'll see you on the flip side.

Some (dirty) Humor

Super Size Me! (It's R Rated so it's best not shown here in case there's kids watching, so kids, pass on this link please!)

Out of the PDA Archives LOL

I was emailed this ages ago... thought I'd share.

Is That Legal?
By Don Rittner

I remember reading a column by commentator Hugh Downs recently. He
was talking about moronic laws that can still be found on the books in
some communities and States although they may have been passed a
hundred years ago.
Downs gave a few examples such as an incident where a Michigan man,
who fell out of his canoe, received 90 days in the jail because he
swore within earshot of children. It just so happens that there is a
102 year old law that prohibits swearing in front of kids.
He also mentioned the Connecticut law that forbids anyone to go to
church unarmed. The prohibition dated from the era of the Puritans
when churchgoers carried rifles to guard against the possibility of
Indian attack. In nearby Massachusetts, it's illegal to shave while
driving. In Atlanta, it's illegal to tie a giraffe to a telephone
pole. Well of course! Everyone knows that.
I knew that here in the Empire State, a State so filled with
intelligent people, it would be near impossible to find such silly
laws.
Hold on to your "Get Out Of Jail" card!
In Smithtown, dogs can't bark for more than 15 minutes at a time.
Punishment for the third infraction is a $500 fine and a 15-day jail
sentence, but I can't figure out if it is the owner or the dog that
does the time.
You can be sent to jail if you open your umbrella in the presence of
a horse in New York City, and it is forbidden to shoot rabbits from
the back end of a Third Avenue streetcar when it is moving. Donkeys
are not allowed to sleep in bathtubs in Brooklyn.
In Woodstock, it is illegal to walk your bear on the street without a leash.
In Ocean City, it's illegal for men to go topless in the center of town.
On Staten Island, you may water your lawn only if the hose is held in
your hand,
In Greene, it's illegal to eat peanuts and walk backwards on the
sidewalks when a concert is on.
In Carmel, a man can't go outside while wearing a jacket and pants
that don't match. Some would argue that this one should be a State
law!
Why not? New York's statewide laws are just as silly. Frogs may be
taken from their ponds from June 16 to September 30, but only between
sunrise and sunset. Any "overt physical action" intended to frighten
fish is prohibited in the State. You cannot "harass" the endangered
Karner Blue Butterfly even by photographing it (but if you own the
land it's on you can bulldoze it).
It's against the law to do anything that's against the law in NY.
Citizens may not greet each other by "putting one's thumb to the nose
and wiggling the fingers". It is illegal for a woman to be on the
street wearing "body hugging clothing," however, women may go topless
in public, providing it is not being used as a business.
Yes, there's more! You can be fined $25 for flirting. This oldie
specifically prohibits men from turning around on any city street and
looking "at a woman in that way." Do it a second time and the male is
forced to wear a "pair of horse-blinders" anytime he goes outside for
a walk.
It is against the law to throw a ball at someone's head in New York
for fun. Does that mean it's ok if you don't like the guy?
A license must be purchased before hanging clothes on a clothesline.
The penalty for jumping off a building is death. Duh!
A person may not walk around on Sundays with an ice cream cone in
his/her pocket.
While riding in an elevator, one must talk to no one, and fold his
hands while looking toward the door.
Slippers are not to be worn after 10:00 P.M.
Ok, so you think there can't be anything so silly here in the Capital
District, right?
In Albany, kids were not allowed to sleigh down any hill within the
city in 1713. Constables were allowed to smash their sleds at the
scene of the "Crime."
If you think Albany was rough, Troy isn't much better! It is still
illegal to let your swines, horses, sheep, goats, geese, and dogs run
wild in the streets. Oh yeah, kids are not allowed to play ball
either!

Something to Think About

Sometimes things are just better left unsaid. Take for example the guy
fussing over whether his woman is wearing coordinated underwear. He'd
just be better advised to let her wear what she wants - so long as
she's not going to embarrass herself - rather than cause a stir over
something only the two of them would even know about. Or take the
unemployed person who only gripes about how rough they have it and
dragging down those who have already had a rough enough day instead of
focusing on being positive.
Now the cases I just cited have gone on around me, whether online or
in IRL, and for civility's sake, I've kept my mouth shut. Why? Because
some things aren't meant to be made into mountains. They're molehills
better avoided - or even ignored altogether when they're not yours to
begin with.
Why do I bring this up? Because people like me with hot tempers tend
to forget this all too often. While I keep my mouth shut when it's not
my place to open it, I do tend to let loose when it's nothing more
than a small pile of debris to say the least. This has been my problem
as of late. Sometimes I forget how lucky I am, how much worse it could
be... Even worse, being around some people have subconciously started
affecting who I am, to the point that I realized I was starting to
lose my own identity. This is NEVER a good thing. Without
self-identity, all is lost for sure.
So what do I plan to do about it? First of all, I got to pull back and
get back to the formula that I KNOW works for me - and for all
involved. My cats deserve an emotionally stable "mom" and my better
half doesn't deserve my emotional swings, mental breakdowns, and
arguments over the "small stuff." Don't get me wrong, I'm not blaming
ANYONE in my life for what's happened to me. I have just forgotten my
own identity, and how I best make relationships work. My being pushy
and forceful will not work. My being completely submissive will not
work either. There is a line inbetween the two, and for each person,
that line is in a very unique position. For some it's more towards the
independent, strong-willed side. For others, it's more towards the
submissive, dependent on others side. Mine is more towards the middle.
I do have my independent side, but when the going gets tough, the one
having problems can always count on the other to help them out. That's
how we work here. We don't work as one boss and one employee so to
speak. One of us doesn't "wear the pants" while the other is the
"weaker" one. We operate as a team, and a lot of people don't
understand us. But our way of operating has worked very efficiently
for 5 years now, and so my breakdown has led to a bit of team friction
so to speak. Thus the importance of getting ME back stable is critical
to the US team.
Now why am I publishing this for the whole world to read? Not because
I'm airing laundry - notice I left out details? LOL... I'm doing this
so that each of my readers can see that no two relationships are the
same - and therefore don't judge someone else's based on their own.
My Mom for example - bless her heart - had been mistreated, used and
abused most of her life by the men in her life. I think it was more
because she was independent drawn to men that instead wanted
submissive and either would slowly change into some woman she wasn't
born to be or would hold her ground to the point it got physical. This
is the reason Mom kept men away - from her AND from me - while I was
growing up. Of course I didn't realize this until I'd grown up and
fully understood what she went through and why she tried to protect me
from it. She decided she'd rather me not have any male figures in my
life than me have to see her in any way other than the strong,
dependable, loving Mother I knew her to be. She didn't want me to grow
up one of them kids seeing one parent beating up or belittling the
other. She wanted me to see that I didn't need anyone attached to me
to make me a whole woman. For this I give Mom all the credit in the
world. She's the reason I am as strong as I am - even when I don't see
it or believe it.
So what are you going to focus on today? Are you going to focus on the
negatives in and around your life? Or are you going to remain
positive, focus on improving who YOU are without changing your core
identity? And do you know who you REALLY are?

Thoughts

I just want to thank everyone first of all for your wonderful congrats
and well wishes to my cats this past week as we celebrated what we
call rescue week here. They got more canned food last week than they
probably got in the last two months thanks to me feeling like I was
neglecting them!
There's a report out today that there are more "close calls" in the
air than the federal government will admit to, and now the records
have been ordered PURGED off of the computers! Does this really
surprise anyone? For a long time now our government has lied to us,
hid the truth from us, and outright tried to deceive us into watching
one side while they sneak shit on us from the other side.
Also out of NYC recently, Mayor Bloomberg is making efforts to make
Big Brother - security cameras watching everyone everywhere every
moment - London-sized... LITERALLY. As much as I understand the
Mayor's desire to keep the nation's largest city safe, cameras only
prove guilt after the fact. Without police on the ground, the cameras
will be a useless intrusion on our privacy. So let's not jump ahead of
the gun. Let's focus more on catching criminals in the act, and not
way after the fact. What's your opinion?

Jadzia's Anniversary and Update

Hey folks. I've been such a bad little girl. It's Jadzia's rescue anniversary and I've spent the last half hour nurturing a foster kitty upstairs instead. The little girl's not so young and her humans couldn't take her with them so they left them with another neighbor (my neighbor upstairs) until they get a house. So the little shy girl has had to get used to the loud music, lots of people, and two cats. Luckily, the two resident cats are sweet and loving, so there's no problems there. The poor little girl just had her world uprooted and is still scared. But she was purring in my arm, so she's obviously adjusting well, amazingly well considering it's only been a couple days. They don't call me the cat whisperer for nothing! ;-) Cats just love me for some odd reason (um... DOH... LOL).

I apologize for my sporadicness, but as Walter said so elegantly in his blog, quality is better than quantity. Life's been a wee chaotic lately as some of you know quite well! I even got my first taste of house painting... well, apartment painting. I was helping the new neighbor who's moving into the one vacated next door by the owners of the aforementioned cat earlier today (it's my upstairs neighbor's best friend so it's all cool... she's got kids so the sooner they can get in the better, thus the neighborhood painting crew and not the property manager's). Her kids are lucky... with everyone pitching in, they are getting a colorful room, and not the boring drab off-white that is so common in apartments. But unfortunately, I got a door shut on me, wet paint and all, accidentally, so my trying to go paint-free didn't succeed. Luckily a sponge and some Dawn dish soap took the couple specks off my jeans but my shirt's still soaking in Era. I'm about to give that a second try though.

Anyways, I should head off to scrub a shirt, love up a lil girl kitty who's been neglected, and clean up from my eating a personal pizza in two sittings (not a small pizza but bigger than them Pizza Hut "personal pizza" wannabe pizzas). Yes, I was hungry, and it was my favorite pizza, so no wonder it didn't stand a chance! And some people think I'm anorexic... come watch me eat! I eat like a hog and it stays down. The only leaving I might do is to bed to sleep it into some fat (in my dreams at least). So peace from PA, and hope your corner of the world is peaceful too.

BS from both ends

So there I was, watching tv after midnight, as usual. But what was
different tonight? I was watching Hannity and Colmes on Fox News
Channel. And you all know how much I hate them, especially Sean
Hannity. Add in another thorn: they had the (much-hated) Rush Limbaugh
on the phone! Yes I got a little red under the skin at Rush for saying
that the Democrats can't win an argument on facts verses Republicans,
I have to agree with the point that the Democrats have been
ineffectual and a bunch of liars and deceivers as of late. And the
whole "phony soldiers" thing does seem blown out of proportion,
considering the fact that there are plenty of people out there
CLAIMING to be US soldiers but are nothing more than imposters (to say
the least). But to make the claim (implied or not) that Republicans
are more honest than Democrats is rediculous and nearly offensive.
Sure, the greater portion of the tax burden is on the rich now. But
how about all the working poor who are having to work three jobs to
survive but are turned down for welfare because they're working? Or
what about the professional tradesmen who are on the brink of starving
because they can't find work? In order for tax breaks to be effective,
the money needs to be put back into the economy to help those who are
down on their luck to get back up. I'm not for permanent welfare for
those who are merely just too lazy to work. I'm talking about the
people laid off that are trying to find work but are struggling and
need help to feed themselves and their families. And let's talk SCHIP
while we're there. That little boy that the Democrats brought out to
accuse the President of denying the boy coverage is ludacris too. For
one, that boy received coverage under the previous system. Secondly,
using children as guinea pigs and political pawns is just repulsive
and should be criminal.
So here's my point tonight.
Left or right, conservative or liberal, I DON'T GIVE A RAT'S @SS!!
Let's talk FACTS. Let's be realistic. Let's quit building bridges to
nowhere, giving insurance to millionaires' children (which we're not
too far away from it seems), and telling folks down on their luck that
because they don't have children they don't deserve a helping hand
needs to stop. Let's get back to being AMERICANS and stop focusing on
which PARTY we vote for. Let's quit voting by party. I want REAL
candidates.

A Special Anniversary

Today marks 6 years since I rescued Curzon off the streets as a
kitten. Saturday is his sister's anniversary... so 3 cheers for the
cats!!

Hip Hip Horray!
Hip Hip Horray!
HIP HIP HORRAY!

And I'll give them hugs for ya'll :)

Thoughts

One of the blogs I read regularly does this, and I think it's a good idea... we all must sometimes vent and/or apologize, and perhaps ya'll might get a little better glimpse of me this way. So once in a while I think I'll do this.

 

I'm Sorry...

... to all the men in the world who've been pushed aside and ignored because of the actions of the few bad apples that have come into my life. But I can think of very FEW men in my life who have NOT been bad apples, so my trust has been tainted and betrayed. Don't take it personally, blame the ones who think women are nothing but baby ovens that should be controlled constantly and are good for nothing.

 

Thank You...

... rare friends that understand and accept me as I am, faults included. True friends are rare, especially for me. And thank you to the one man who never raised red flags deep within my soul, for understanding me better than even I understand me, for accepting me, not trying to change me but only help me work through my issues, and teaching me what I needed to know to live, laugh, and love as humans should!

In Response...

Kahless just asked me recently in response to my post about the immigration test what questions I think should be on the test. I think the following questions should at least be included.

1. Name the set of documents that laid out the arguments for ratification of the constitution and are still used by the Supreme Court today to aid in interpretation of the Constitution.

2. Who's the one President to also serve as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?

3. Who was President during the Civil War?

4. What did the secessionist states name their country?

5. Name the original states.

6. Name the first written constitution of the USA.

7. What year was the Constitution RATIFIED?

8. Name the authors of the document listed in question 1.

9. What years was the world entangled in World War 1?

10. In what year and how was slavery abolished?

 

Now aren't these questions a little more difficult and help determine how much you really love this country you wish to become a part of? If you don't love this country so much to not learn her history then you shouldn't be here. I'll add more later as I come up with them, I ain't thinking fully... all my brain is thinking about is the food heating up in the oven... I'm HUNGRY! So peace for now folks.

Immigration Exam TOO difficult?

Click here for a sample exam.

 

Remember hearing that the exam for US Citizenship is too difficult for most people and that most Americans wouldn't pass?

 

Here's the thing. There's 100 questions. You only have to answer 10. And it's an oral exam, not a written one. Please folks, tell me (honestly) how hard you think it is, and if you're not shy, how many you got right.

 

I'll tell you this, there's only a couple that stumped me, most of the questions we all should've had drilled into our heads early on in school. Please, pray tell me, what is so hard about this exam? If you care so little about this country, you don't deserve the rights, privileges, and responsibilities that being American entails!

YOUCH! TOO CLOSE!!

Another recall... this time I ate the stuff!

 

I'd decided a couple weeks ago that I'd get a couple pot pies as a change for the two of us, so I got 2 Chicken and 2 Turkey. We ate them a week later, then that night, as he's sleeping and I'm watching tv... THEY'VE BEEN RECALLED! Salmonella! (Note, now all Banquet pot pies are recalled.) Yikes!!!! No, it didn't make us sick, we were sick before! And we just have head colds. But gdmn it, enough is enough!

An Open Letter - Be prepared to cry - I did just writing it!

As I was reading Frumpy Professor's blog, I was reminded of an open letter I wrote some time back to my deceased Mother. I wrote it a couple years after the fact, but I find myself around a whole new circle of friends who were never exposed to that page of my life or that webpage that put all my pain on a screen for everyone to read. So today, I put it out there again, in the hopes that, when I show my cold and jaded side, you - my beloved friends and blog readers - will understand why I am the way I am. So here goes it.

 

Dear Mother,

     It's now been almost 7 years since you died, and it still hurts - terribly. The pain has never gone away, the pain has barely subsided at all. But, I've learned to deal with it better I guess. I have someone that understands what it's like to lose everything suddenly - his dad died the day he retired from a sudden heart attack. So don't worry about me, I have someone. A lot of grieving daughters don't.

     I learned so much from you, you had so much to give even though no one gave you an ounce of credit or support. You supported me when the kids in school were so mean to me that I just wanted to come home and bawl. You supported me when I walked out of Taco Bell. You supported me when I was scared to start college. You showed me how to be civil even when you hate the people you're around. You showed me it's ok to go it alone. You taught me the basics of the kitchen even though I didn't want to listen and had to be retaught and given a confidence boost later. You were the greatest Mom I could've asked for. You taught me responsibility in the same breath as rewarding me for a job well done - that takes talent!

     No we didn't always get along. Most Mother and Daughter combinations don't get along perfectly, especially as time passes. But you always loved me and were freely available for advice even when I moved away from home (though sometimes it wasn't advice I wanted to get from YOU of all people). I told you after I arrived in AZ that I was sorry that I had to leave the way I did, but you understood why I did - and agreed. You understood the family was turning against us. Unfortunately, I wasn't there to protect you from a hateful sister. But I had to give you your freedom back. You gave up 20 years for me. I had to give you your identity back. It was the least I could do for you. I'm sorry that your sister was hateful and your "husband" was a selfish user. But you finally got to take a feel of the world for yourself for the first time in two decades. And we both know I had to find my place in the world - and KS had nothing for me. I had to see the world, what it was like, what was around me, and what society was like.

     Don't be mad at how I was treated along the way, don't be mad about how things went down from time to time. Without the pain, I would've never learned. Without the bad times I'd never be able to appreciate the good times. Without the rough trip, I'd never have had the chance to do what I've done, rescue the souls I have, touched the souls that needed touched, or fallen in love with someone that actually understands me. I know, I've made a lot of stupid decisions along the way. But we all do that when we're just starting out in the world. Don't worry, I can't fall so far that the world is microscopically small anymore. I have someone to catch me now, like you did when I was young.

     This time between me and you came to an abrupt end, as I must do again now. But rest assured, I know you're still around, you've never left my side completely. And while this was most troubling and greivous at first, I now find it most comforting. Please know I'm ok, don't worry, and enjoy eternity. I will see you shortly - though I no longer wish to rush into it. I understand now. I understand why I'm here. Thank you - for your love, nurturing, support, and guidance through almost 21 years of my life. Thank you.

 

Love,

Your Daughter

Some Questions About Global Warming

1. What if this is part of the natural cycle of the planet?

2. What if we're not headed for a global warm-up but a global cool-down?

3. What if this is nature's way of thinning the environment of parasites (humans included)?

4. IF we cut our emissions, would it really help so much that it would change the tide or would it just buy time?

5. If you're so concerned about the environment, why don't you live in an apartment complex (use less space) and fly with the rest of us?

 

Just a few thoughts... now if you want to really go back to the days when the air was fresh, here's what you're going to have to do.

1. Give up electricity (there goes computers, refrigerators, stoves, tvs, etc).

2. Give up indoor plumbing (back to the outhouse we go).

3. Give up all mechanical transport (in with the horse).

4. Give up 2-day mail delivery (no gas, no mail trucks or planes).

5. Give up foreign week-long vacations (it'll take you that long to get across the state on horseback).

6. Give up most of your foods (a lot comes in by plane from exotic places, so by the time stuff like bananas get here, they'd be rotten).

 

Now here's the problems.

1. What do we do with all the steel and appliances that are suddenly gone?

2. How do we come up with enough horses to move us all around?

3. How do we stop and prevent animal cruelty if no one has vehicles to rescue them?

4. How do we funnel enough money into our economy to make up for the taxes that come from our purchases and vacations?

5. How do we treat diseases, find cures, and prevent plagues without the basic necessities?

 

Just some thoughts...

 

So here's what I think we can all do to help out without going to extremes.

1. If it's close, walk or bicycle. It's good for you and the environment! And if you gotta buy something heavy or a lot of stuff, get a backpack on wheels or a cart on your bicycle.

2. Carpool.

3. Switch light bulbs.

4. Trade in the gas-guzzling SUV's for hybrids (they'll get bigger as the technology advances).

5. If you live in an area that gets a lot of sun, solar panels!

6. Install a fireplace. It helps warm up your house and it's romantic! And it uses less electricity, which is probably more polluting than burning a couple wood blocks.

7. Instead of driving down to the coast for a vacation, fly, and rent a car when you get there.

8. Print less - txt files on your pc take up less space than paper does, and books too (and ebooks can actually change font size and are lighter too).

9. Reuse stuff. Those grocery plastic bags make great bags for nasty cat litter (and if one has a hole, use it to cover a hole in another bag). Wash them plastic bottles and use them as water bottles.

10. Eat out less, cook more at home. Less trash.

The Truth About SCHIP

First of all, for the uninformed and non-Americans: SCHIP = State Children's Heath Insurance Program

It was designed to provide govt funded insurance for children whose families didn't qualify for Medicaid but didn't make enough to be able to afford private insurance. Now the Democrats want to boost it up to over the $80,000 level (family of 4). IF this is true, for once I have to support the President. I'm not against kids. But that amount is NOT even close to poor. If someone is making that much, I can assure you they're offered private insurance. Now if there's serious circumstances that overwhelm private insurance, yes government insurance should help some. But come on. If you're making that much, spend some of it on insurance. There are those of us who are struggling just to get by but the government won't give us insurance because we don't have kids. So if we can manage, so can you. Am I cold? Perhaps. Will I anger people? I'm sure I will. But I grew up dirt poor. I'm not living the high life still... but I'm managing. No insurance here. Have been near death once or twice. Managed - no insurance. I've been on both sides. 80k is a LOT of money for most of us. Maybe you should find other areas to trim back first? I don't want MY taxes to go up because YOU are too lazy to get insurance yourself. What say you?

'Net Update!?!

I THINK I'm back on... I am for now... Modem seems not to be dead after all... Oy vey!! And I had to uninstall and reinstall my wifi card drivers for my PDA. But the moment we try to encrypt our connection, I may drop off the face of the world again. So here I am, for now. Give me a few days to catch up with all ya'lls blogs.

Offline Update

Modem's dead too! So it'll take a wee longer! Trying I promise!

Offline

Will be offline sporadically until further notice... Router died! So
either I move the PC or use someone else's 'net!

Obama's "patriotism"

Ok, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama nailed his coffin. Never mind Hillary Clinton is leading the pack by so much she might be uncatchable (unfortunately). Now Obama refuses to wear his USA Flag lapel pin because to him it is a sign of phony patriotism, that it's more of a status symbol than anything apparently. I can't even figure out how to phrase it right, it's so ludacris! Get off your high horse, Obama. The Red White and Blue is the sign of all signs of how far our country has come for independence and freedom. On a side note, HIP HIP HORRAY to the old Vet in Reno Nevada who cut down the flags outside of some business. The story: the idiot who owned the business was flying the Mexican flag above OUR flag. A******! If you love Mexico so much, GO BACK. WE DON'T WANT YOU. This is the USA. It is against FEDERAL LAW to fly any flag higher than our flag except on embassy grounds (as that ground is that country's soil). GO HOME. And thank you to that elderly Vet for cutting it down and leaving it on the ground, taking our beloved flag home with him where it'd be treated with the reverence thousands upon thousands of soldiers have died to defend.

Why I've Been So Quiet

I apologize for my silence as of late, but after week before last week's chaos, I decided to kick back and enjoy the silence last week. I'm glad I did, because the chaos is back. My upstairs neighbor is on vacation so I'm apartment/cat sitting this week, which, on it's own, would be fine. But add in my allergies going at it like you wouldn't believe (thanks to the through-the-roof mold spores outside) making me nausious on top of stuffed up, ugh! Plus my normal housework too, which I've been neglecting for the most part. But tomorrow I'll vaccum and clean the bathroom. I'm not mopping the floors, they've barely been walked on! And no matter when I fall asleep, even if at 1am or later, I start waking up at 6am, which causes me to toss and turn and start off my day grumpy. It doesn't help a piece of our carpet is missing, much to Curzon's happiness as he has a place to make an even bigger hole now! And never mind trying to keep it hidden until my property manager can come patch it (he's carpeting a vacant apartment so he'll have spare) because Curzon will move it! Grrr... cats... love em, but they sure know how to drive me crazy lately! But the main reason I've been so quiet is something I've thought long and hard about even publishing for the world to know... Not because it's so private, but because to me it's so embarassing!

Let me provide some background. As an only child in a single-parent home with a very protective mother (my cousins can verify that LOL), my Mom wouldn't let me do anything that might cause injury, both for worry's sake and the fact we couldn't afford it. So, no badminton team in school, no rollerblading lessons, no bicycle lessons. NOPE. Not happening. So here I am, 27, and still can't ride a bike (and it's obvious with my lack of balance WHY my Mom thought better of teaching me how to ride a bike when I was young). But I have a neighbor who's son isn't much shorter than me and the two of them have been spending the last few days trying to teach an old cat a new trick. HA! I wish I could say I've been more successful as I've been trying for nearly a week now, but I still can't get past that first full revolution without losing balance. If I'd started out younger with wimpier muscles and a hint of coordination still in me, I'd surely have gotten it faster. But my legs are much more efficient for walking now and any force I put on either pedal sets me keeling that direction, and shifting my weight the other way doesn't seem to be very effective either. Luckily, last Friday, I bought a new backpack on wheels for my grocery shopping so I no longer have to haul home 20lb on my little back. I'm hopeful I'll have this bike riding thing down soon, but I don't think I'll meet my goal of getting it by the end of this week. But we shall see. I'm not giving up hope... yet.

So that is what's going on in my corner of the world, I sincerely hope all is well with all of you, my blogger friends. Please accept my sincerest apologies in not writing or commenting on your blogs sooner, but know I will get to all of you soon!