Archive for July, 2007
July 30, 2007 at 2:15 pm Filed under News Items
In my net travels today, I found myself on in2thefrays blog and I saw an interesting speech by Newt Gingrich….
“We are today engaged in a phoney war since 9-11.
We don’t tell ourselves the truth,
We don’t organize for victory,
We don’t hold our enemies accountable,
We don’t insist our allies pay attention,
We don’t reorganize our bureaucracy so they’re effective,
We are in real trouble.
I can”t say this too strongly,
I worry everyday.
When 6 out of 8 terrorist in Great Britain are medical doctors, the danger of biological attack are more real than you can imagine.
When Pakistan is unstable and the Iranians and North Koreans are unchecked, the danger of a nuclear event is greater than you can imagine.
When there are 6 terrorists picked up in New Jersey, and 3 of them have been here for 21 years illegally, and in the last 6 years they have been charged 75 times by the police and in those 75 times the police never noticed they were illegal,we are in greater danger than you can imagine.”
Sounds like wise words of caution.
And even if we don’t have what it takes to make our allies aware and keep those who wish us harm in check, for heaven’s sake, we should at LEAST have the ability to keep ourselves safe within our own borders. It is so wrong what is going on right inside our own country.
I think if there is a candidate that wishes to win in 2008 elections, he or she would do well to be strong on our security from within.
Newt’s Speech on YouTube
July 30, 2007 at 10:47 am Filed under Personal
Usually I am a steady blogger, but I think I slowed down the pace of late. In fact, even my weekend seemed slow of pace…and you know what, I enjoyed and needed that. My emotions and life needed a break from the hassles of our troubling headlines.
Also, Tony, my ’star quality’ reader kinda told me off yesterday for making my blog too political. So, I thought an entry about my weekend would be even another nice change of pace. 
After all, it’s summer. It was great to just be by the swimming pool, and later mosey over to my neighbor’s (and long time friend) and just spend time with her. Mosey is an accurate word here, as I had my camera in tow, and I stopped to inspect some mushrooms 1, 2, & 3 and one Red-banded hairstreak butterfly.
While there, I got to meet their adorable Georgia Bearded Dragon:
He was so alert!
Sunday was also relaxing, and after the evening service, we said goodbye to a sweet couple who will be moving to Thailand.
Drew and Leah have been very good to our family and we will truly miss them. They want to do the Lord’s work in Thailand for the next three years. They will be leaving soon and in good company, as some of our church’s teens will go with them; the teens will make it this summer’s missions trip.
They will blog about their events there, so I hope to pass on that link soon.
It’s been a nice change of pace.
July 27, 2007 at 12:21 pm Filed under News Items
We have a case in Maryland, that, thanks to Bill O’Reilly from Foxnews, has received National Attention. The national attention is a good thing as I see it, as Maryland’s press tends to hide these kinds of stories.
It seems that a man from Liberia, accused of raping and repeatedly molesting a 7 year old girl, will not have to face the charges on the grounds that the court couldn’t find an interpreter.
As the facts surrounding this become known to the good people of Maryland, turns out, the accused, Mahamu Kanneh, attended high school and community college in Montgomery County right here in our state. To me, that doesn’t sound like someone who needs any kind of interpreter.
“Circuit Court Judge Katherine D. Savage ruled last week that the delays associated with finding an interpreter who spoke the African language Vai violated Mahamu Kanneh’s right to a speedy trial.”
To me, the only thing that interfeared with a speedy trial was the JUDGE and the courts. Apparently in Maryland, the interpreter is the duty of the court, although the blame has been shifted to the prosecution in some instances as discussion has been held nationally, with little knowledge of how it’s supposed to be done here in Maryland.
I see it a tragic story that has no end for a little girl who will get no justice, I feel sadness that our system treats children this way, but more and more these are the news headlines - children get raped, the accused go free or get light sentences.
There does exist a small corner of sanity as a Maryland lawmaker is seeking to remove the judge, and I hope the national attention puts the pressure on to impeach Judge Katherine D. Savage. Thanks to her, a dangerous precedent could be made, every accused, no matter how long they have lived here, can suddenly claim to not know English and walk away free.
Washington Times Article
July 25, 2007 at 1:18 pm Filed under Personal
Today went out for chinese. Even ordered something different.
I won’t argue with ‘rich and successful’!
July 23, 2007 at 7:04 am Filed under News Items
In an effort to let people know he is not a tyrant or dictator, President Hugo Chavez said Sunday that foreigners who publicly criticize him or his government while visiting Venezuela will be expelled from the country.
“Government opponents argue Chavez — a close ally of Cuban leader Fidel Castro — is becoming increasingly authoritarian and cracking down on dissent as he steers oil-rich Venezuela toward what he calls “21st-century socialism.”
Well that should help those silly rumors!
More on the story HERE
July 22, 2007 at 8:49 pm Filed under News Items
I believe this is basically for the start of school, but interesting news!
“The District of Columbia will offer its first 2007 Sales Tax Holiday beginning at 12:01 am Saturday, August 4 through midnight Sunday, August 12. The Sales Tax holiday grants an exemption from the 5.75 percent sales tax for school items, clothes, shoes, and accessory items. To qualify, each item must cost $100 or less.”
More information HERE
The next DC Sales Tax Holiday will be November 23 through December 2.
The next DC Sales Tax Holiday will be November 23 through December 2.
July 21, 2007 at 12:45 pm Filed under Personal
In spite of the little levity of that graphic I found, I did think to announce to everyone that today, after some years of waiting, my divorce finally came through.
In spite of it all, I still believe in God’s institution of marriage and family; it’s just that without going into detail, I have come to the conclusion, that while some might be able to live with abuse and tolerate maltreatment, I reached a point in the road where it just wasn’t good enough for me and my children. That little graphic almost rings true, because I dared ever to have a thought outside my abuser’s ideal place for HIM, little by little it became clear that I would be made to suffer and so would those most precious to me.
Those who really cared about me during the worst of the times, could see things were very wrong. To them, this is a day of celebration and finality. I can understand that. I know it is hard to watch the ones you dearly love hurt.
To me, this end is a tradegy, but so was the living it. I had to choose which tragic path to take as there were no easy answers. I got us out, he chose to continue his ways.
My love and gratitude goes out to those who have been so supportive, wishing only good things to come my way and for my children too. Thank you for your caring, upholding me when I could hardly do it for myself. I still need you this next cross in the road. I know I can’t take much more hurt, so I will treasure your love as always when you share it with me, which hopefully dissolves some of the hurt, but not the lessons learned from it.
Love you
~Barb
July 20, 2007 at 6:17 pm Filed under News Items
“Some men rob you with a six-gun, others with a fountain pen.”
I am a little behind blogging on this news story. There are days our government can carry on antics with the speed of lightning, making it difficult for us bloggers to keep up.
And these are only the antics we hear of. With the taxpayers money though, every little cent should be accountable, however recently, there was a million dollar spending bill on the floor and no one actually KNEW about its details.
Despite the money’s uncertain destination, the House rejected the measure to strike the funds, 326-98. And so, the bill sailed through, 312-112.
This one STINKS fellow Americans, Read more here.
July 20, 2007 at 3:13 pm Filed under General
Matthew over at I, Pandora has been thinking and invited me to link to this particular blog; a few of his ponderings regarding our culture today.
An example:
“There is no objective truth!” the claim rings across the hills and valleys.
“Oh? Is that true?” the echo returns.
“Yes, it is!” is the reply, ignorant of it’s own disproving irony.
Please have a visit HERE
July 20, 2007 at 2:52 pm Filed under Personal
In my down time, I allow myself one computer game,
Sim City 4 Deluxe Edition (PC).
I present my most successful city yet, with the money accumulating and the highest approval rating I’ve ever had. (The bar is solid most of the time!)
I named it Woodstock, (The Mayor is Neil Young)
(Click on the image to see a larger picture)
July 19, 2007 at 9:28 pm Filed under News Items
Today I read that China has issued the USA a stern warning.
“China warned the United States on Thursday against “groundless smear attacks” against Chinese products and said it was working responsibly to address concerns over a spate of recent food safety scares.”
The article continues to say how they haven’t taken it lightly on the recent toxic food issues, tires, pet food, and so on, but then it continues.
“It is unfair and irresponsible for the U.S. media to single China out, play up China’s food safety problems and mislead the U.S. consumer,”
Oh!
It’s the USA’s MEDIA they have a problem with. I thought they were warning the government. Gee, don’t they know that is an institution out of control??? Good luck to them on that one.
Reuters Article Here
July 18, 2007 at 9:33 pm Filed under Personal
[Still staying away from politics today....]
I have taken a Personal DNA test and the results follows.
My personalDNA Report
I guess with a divorce pending, it’s no surprise to see my trust and confidence at a low.
Glad to see my femininity is still in tact though.
July 18, 2007 at 1:40 pm Filed under News Items
[Brit has made me see I really need a post or two off the political path, here it goes...]
I saw this on FoxNews: College courses on Prostitution could be the next addition to New Zealand’s educational institutions, with funding, I might add.
Going to the official article, it does say that the Government isn’t really aware of any demand for this kind of course.
I just got to wonder what the final exam is like.
July 18, 2007 at 8:50 am Filed under General
I was reading over at Chris Pirillo’s blog how he has come to the conclusion that Aspartame is poison. However, he mentioned that he thought the dangers of Splenda was still on the fence, but he was going on the side of caution. Wise.
I wanted to comment on his blog, but getting a password sent to my email proved impossible. So instead, I will blog my thoughts on splenda here.
I used to use splenda in my coffee, on my cereal, but have stopped. Apparently it was in many a softdrink that I was drinking as well.
I wasn’t sleeping very well and I had some other issues, so I went to the local Nutrition Shop to ask for advice. When I mentioned I wasn’t sleeping very well, they asked me, “Do you drink diet colas?” I said yes, and the man there looked up a few things in a big book and said, “Stop drinking them and see what happens.”
Well, in fact, my sleep has been great (not perfect, but great) since then.
For those who believe that Splenda is safe, they might want to think again.
“Splenda is the trade name for sucralose, a synthetic compound stumbled upon in 1976 by scientists in Britain seeking a new pesticide formulation. It is true that the Splenda molecule is comprised of sucrose (sugar) — except that three of the hydroxyl groups in the molecule have been replaced by three chlorine atoms.
While some industry experts claim the molecule is similar to table salt or sugar, other independent researchers say it has more in common with pesticides. That’s because the bonds holding the carbon and chlorine atoms together are more characteristic of a chlorocarbon than a salt — and most pesticides are chlorocarbons. The premise offered next is that just because something contains chlorine doesn’t guarantee that it’s toxic. And that is also true, but you and your family may prefer not to serve as test subjects for the latest post-market artificial sweetener experiment — however “unique.”
Once it gets to the gut, sucralose goes largely unrecognized in the body as food — that’s why it has no calories. The majority of people don’t absorb a significant amount of Splenda in their small intestine — about 15% by some accounts. The irony is that your body tries to clear unrecognizable substances by digesting them, so it’s not unlikely that the healthier your gastrointestinal system is, the more you’ll absorb the chlorinated molecules of Splenda.
The manufacturer’s own short-term studies showed that sucralose caused shrunken thymus glands and enlarged livers and kidneys in rodents. But in this case, the FDA decided that because these studies weren’t based on human test animals, they were not conclusive. Of course, there are countless examples of foods and drugs that have proved dangerous to humans that were first found to be dangerous to laboratory rats, and then again, countless others that have not. So the reality is that we are the guinea pigs for Splenda.
Artificial sweeteners are body toxins. They are never a good idea for pregnant women, children or teenagers — despite the reduced sugar content — because of possible irreversible cell damage. If you decide it’s worth the risks, then go ahead, but pay attention to your body and your cravings. Once you start tracking your response to artificial sweeteners, it may surprise you.”
As for me now, for my tea and cereal, I have switched to raw sugar and in moderation.
More reading:
Holistic Med
Women to Women
Dangers of Splenda
Splenda Truth
July 17, 2007 at 8:31 pm Filed under News Items
I must be brilliant. No, I must be psychic.
It seems the FBI is now, 2007, investigating Iraqis and other Middle Eastern individuals coming into our country from Mexico.
I had this figured out this would happen right after 9-11.
Geez our government is stupid, because I am not brilliant nor am I psychic.
More on the story HERE
As an added point, Bush can’t be serious about an entire war in Iraq while he blesses this kind of activity. All or nothing, this is defintately a mixed message.
July 17, 2007 at 8:40 am Filed under News Items
The question at NewsBusters seems to be did Good Morning America remove a sleeping man behind John Edwards (or as Grit calls him, the Perfect Haired One ) during the show? A look at the movie shows that the man was indeed snoozing at least, and is there, and later is not.
Hillary has also been on Good Morning America.
In total, says the article, “Good Morning America” has devoted 64 minutes worth of air time to the two Democratic candidates and zero, so far, for the Republicans.
July 16, 2007 at 7:43 am Filed under News Items
Have you bought milk recently? The price has shot up overnight without any explanation, rhyme or reason.
Of course there is a reason though.
I found one clue in the news today at TimesOnline :
"This month, the price of milk in the United States surged to a near-record in part because of the increasing costs of feeding a dairy herd. The corn feed used to feed cattle has almost doubled in price in a year as demand has grown for the grain to produce ethanol."
So the very corn they use ethanol for, is making milk go up. Gas prices are still up (and rising).
I just think we’re getting soaked at the cash register at all ends.
Maybe if we each got our own cow.
[Edit]
A cash cow preferably
July 15, 2007 at 5:09 pm Filed under News Items
As we watch the news and see John McCain’s campaign
falling apart, one has to wonder how much of it is
because he was one of the loudest voices for
immigration “reform.”
He has supported:
- Make possible for immigrants to do a job Americans won’t do
- Give everyone in the world an opportunity to come to America
- No more ballot initiatives against immigration
- More help for legal immigrants when immigrating & once here
(not what citizens living here already here wants to Hear!)
- Voted YES on establishing a Guest Worker program.
- Voted YES on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security.
- Voted YES on giving Guest Workers a path to citizenship.
- Voted YES on allowing more foreign workers into the US for farm work.
- Voted YES on limit welfare for immigrants. (Come on! I know a few who are FROM here who need it more!)
Now there may be more than a few reasons why his campain isn’t doing so well, but I am near sure, a part of it, is that the people have spoken!
July 13, 2007 at 1:44 pm Filed under News Items
These democrats want to censor everything these days, including their own!
This image is of Hillary Clinton and John Edwards discussing their desire to limit future joint appearances to exclude some "lower rivals" after a forum in Detroit Thursday.
Edwards says, "We should try to have a more serious and a smaller group."
Clinton agrees, saying, "We’ve got to cut the number" and "they’re not serious." She also says that she thought their campaigns had already tried to limit the debates and say, "We’ve gotta get back to it."
When will wake up and see that Clinton and Edwards spew words that sound like they care, but, when in truth, they think so much of themselves that they want to shut others out from debate in this election, those THEY don’t deem worthy. It doens’t matter to them what the voters think. They discussed it as if they have the power to make it happen, and, I believe they do.
I probably wouldn’t agree with most of the candidates on the democratic ticket’s platform, but I sure support their right to say it. These are basic rights that this party wants to keep from us for their own good. Nor yours or mine.
But don’t take my word for it, watch the movie of what they said HERE
July 12, 2007 at 4:45 pm Filed under Personal
I have seen it all over the blogsphere, everyone seems to have an “About Me” page attached to their blog.
I decided to make one too, finally, after over 2 years of blogging. I guess the first thing about me is that I can be a little slow.
I do hope you have a look and let me know what information might be worthy to add.
View ABOUT ME
Next entries
