Custom List: ♣ With a cherry on top! ♣

Posted: Wed, 03 Aug 2005 18:32:33 GMT

Source:

♣ With a cherry on top! ♣

• ~ ρℓєαѕє ℓєανє α ¢σммєит σя ѕιgи тнє g-вσσк! ~

Photo Album: Congaree National Park

Posted: Tue, 09 Aug 2005 21:40:05 GMT

Source:

Congaree National Park

cellspacing="0" border="0">
swampy stuff
more swampy stuff
the boardwalk
canopy
another spider
swampy area
really tall pine
cypress "knees"
Weston Lake
hollow cypressMore Photos...

The Niger Uranium Forgery Of December 2003

Posted: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 12:21:00 +0000

Source: 'In December 2003, the Daily Telegraph claimed to have obtained from Iraq's Coalition Government a copy of a "secret memo" written to Saddam Hussein by Iraqi Intelligence, reporting 9-11 hijacker Mohammed Atta's visit to Abu Nidal's terror training camp near Baghdad . . . The memo included a section entitled "Niger Shipment," which noted delivery to Iraq of yellowcake for WMDs . . . Even that newspaper had to concede, "it is almost impossible to ascertain whether or not this document is legitimate or a clever fake . . ."' (Dissident Voice article). [Editor's note: Current thinking on the Niger memo is that it was written by a discredited Italian intelligence agent.]

The Calm Before the Storm, and a Shy Person's Day

Posted: 2005-10-18T04:48:02Z

Source:

We still have a week and a half before we move and I've pretty much packed everything that isn't currently being cooked, written on or worn. Too much time, not enough possessions, I guess. I knew I should have bought more shoes.

I'm afraid I would have to turn in my badge as an American female if anyone knew that (not counting running shoes) I have purchased four pairs of shoes in the last three years. One pair of Dansko professionals (Danish clogs for us former-Birkenstock-wearers-turned-yuppies) per year, and one pair of Dansko sandals. What does that say about me? You could say that it says that I wish I was about an inch and a half taller but don't like to wear heels. You would be right. Or you could say that it means that comfort means more to me now than fashion. You would be right again. I suppose if comfort meant wearing the same vinyl wedgie moccasins that grace the eastside "assisted living estates," I might not feel so above the fashion fray, but luckily for me, it's not that bad. Enough about footwear. (I can hear you snoring.)

Drew has been at work for the last two days. Most non-shy people would never believe what it is like in a shy person's house for two days when she has nothing to do but pack. It's very quiet. The phone doesn't ring because no one owes her a phone call. And I certainly do not call anyone under my own power.

Sometimes I wonder whether this is really a healthy way to live - whether maybe I should seek out more human contact. Maybe. But why should shyness be considered a disorder? If people make me nervous, isn't it better here at home with limited people-contact? Isn't everyone better off, and less medicated? Am I really unhappy here by myself? Not really. I just wonder about it sometimes, and think how most people I know would not be able to handle more than a day of my quiet life...

Now I'm going to blow your mind. I was a cheerleader in high school and considered a huge ham whenever I had an audience. But then again, "off stage," my nickname was "Mouse." Well, actually "Jaundice Iguana Mouse," but that's another story, and I'm not sure I ever knew how it went. I can understand the "Jaundice" part, because it sounds like "Janice," but where did "Iguana" come from? I don't know. I'm not normally green or scaly. Maybe we have similar chins. You would have to ask Marcie Kesey. It was her idea.

Daily Kos: Looks like we now know what kept Rove from being indicted: A new e-mail

Posted: 2005-11-01T08:30:37Z

Source:

Looks like we now know what kept Rove from being indicted (for now at least) by dumbya Sat Oct 29, 2005 at 11:21:28 AM CDT According to the LA Times Karl Rove once again magically produced an email exchange with Adam Levine. Lawyers familiar with the case believe these e-mails were one element of a broad, eleventh-hour review of evidence -- coupled with negotiations by Rove's lawyers

Daily Kos: Berlusconi Up To His Ears In TreasonGate (Forgery Edition)

Posted: 2005-11-01T08:20:08Z

Source:

Berlusconi Up To His Ears In TreasonGate (Forgery Edition)
by Phoenix Woman [Subscribe]
Sat Oct 29, 2005 at 08:11:21 PM CDT

In all the hoo-ha over Scooter and Turd Blossom, don't forget the Italian connection to TreasonGate. Fitz sure hasn't.

Silvio Berlusconi, who up until now has been Bush's best buddy in Europe outside of Tony "Poodle Boy" Blair himself, is trying to put as much daylight between himself and Bush as he can. He's now even trying to claim that he opposed the invasion of Iraq and tried to stop Bush from doing it.

But that's not what the Italian paper La Repubblica is saying. (More on the flip.)

* Phoenix Woman's diary :: ::
*

Contrary to what he's now saying, Silvio Berlusconi not only was Bush's eager little helper in the runup to the invasion of Iraq, he was behind the creation of the forged Niger yellowcake documents that "proved" Saddam either had nuclear weapons or was trying like mad to get them.

Blogger and Eschaton habitué Nur al-Cubicle has provided English translations of the three La Repubblica articles in question:

Berlusconi behind fake yellowcake dossier (Berlusconi, hoping to please his buddy Bush, demanded the Italian intelligence services give him something he could give to Bush)

Yellowcake dossier not the work of the CIA (in fact, the CIA wanted nothing to do with it)

The Centrifuge Scam (The Italians knew that Saddam's centrifuges were intended for innocuous uses. But they knew better than to try to tell that to Bush)

Don't expect this to be in your local papers -- unless you show it to them.

Daily Kos: Berlusconi Up To His Ears In TreasonGate (Forgery Edition)

Activist Leaving Town, Keeping Up the Fight

Posted: Thu, 13 Oct 2005 00:00:00 EDT

Source: The head of the National Council of Women's Organizations is stepping down, but don't expect her or the council to be quiet about the all-male membership of the Augusta National Golf Club.

Social desirability in action

Posted: 2005-10-28T03:45:50Z

Source: Colby Cosh points out a poll showing that nearly 40% of Canadians would never vote for a candidate for public office with a history of alcoholism. Is it the prudes or the pollsters? Colby suspects the latter, and I am inclined to agree.

There is an old custom among my people. When a woman saves a man's
life, he is grateful.
-- Nona, the Kanuto witch woman, "A Private Little War",
stardate 4211.8.

Taxi drivers are rude nowadays! Or maybe it's just...

Posted: 2005-11-11T18:15:45Z

Source:

Taxi drivers are rude nowadays! Or maybe it's just my luck that I end up riding on a cab with them on the wheel. I got this cab from Safeway and I remember I told the guy THREE TIMES that I wanted him to stop at SM's basement (entrance nearest Info) but he TURNED LEFT when he's supposed to GO STRAIGHT! Agh! I was sooo pissed off 'cause I was already late and I think it was excusable for me to mutter a bit and I guess he heard that 'cause he said something like, "Kay nganong wala nisulti na mudiretso..."

I just...blinked. I mean, I simply can't believe I heard that. Inside my head, I was screaming, WTF??? HELLO??? IS THERE ANY OTHER WAY TO GET TO THE BASEMENT BUT GOING STRAIGHT AHEAD??!?

MORON! GEEZ!

After the random nasties in my head, I decided to calm down and remember this guy is probably tired from driving other people all day and all. So I told him to stop at the nearest exit. I handed him my fare and he THREW THE CHANGE AT ME! Like, ok, not hitting me and all... he just didn't bother turning around to face me and give me the change. He just... thought my hand was waiting to get the money and I was busy placing my wallet back inside my bag. And I ended up grabbing bills and coins on the cab's floor. Meanest thing was he didn't even turn around! He was busy adjusting that thingie-that-tells-you-how-much-you'll-be-paying... :(

I went inside SM and instantly ran towards the Ladies' Room near the food court. I kinda cried and stuff 'cause it was such a ridiculous situation. He was so rude. :( And I don't think it was my fault 'cause I told him where I wanted him to stop THREE times...

*sighs*
Can't I get some little respect?

"We need to educate the public that science takes a long time."

Posted: 2005-08-14T15:51:48Z

Source:

Browsing through the Journal Science for articles on transdifferentiation yesterday, I came upon an article from June 2002 wherein Drs. Markus Grompe and James Thomson lamented the pervasive belief that not only can stem cells cure everything, but they can do so tomorrow:

"I think [therapies with transplanted stem cells] will eventually work," says Grompe. But "we've raised a lot of false hopes for quick fixes, and that's not going to happen." He and others say a closer comparison might be with gene therapy--greatly hyped 20 years ago but still without much to show for itself. James Thomson of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, who first isolated human ES cells back in 1998, agrees. "I'm not looking forward to the backlash 3 years from now when people say, 'What happened to stem cells?' " he says. What can scientists do about it? Says Thomson: "We need to educate the public that science takes a long time."

The last sentence remains true today. Three years later, Bush's policies have unwittingly saved researchers the backlash predicted by Thomson, but the backlash will come as long as people maintain unrealistic expectations.

The cutest minnie mouse ever...

Posted: 2005-11-02T22:29:21Z

Source: Hey y'all!! I hope you had a great halloween! I wasn't feeling well but Hubs really helped out and got our minnie mouse ready to go...I decided I couldn't miss it so I got in the car and we headed to Chick Fil A for dinner (I opted for an ice dream) then we went to a near by neighborhood and went trick or treating for about 45 minutes...Minnie was so sweet everyone just loved her! She said trick or treat and thank you at every house!! And she definitely racked up for only 45 minutes..here are some pics..

Anyways, yesterday I had to turn in a huge project for school so now a lot of weight has been lifted off of my shoulders!!! We are going to go get Princess' christmas pictures taken so here is how I have dolled her up...

I hope they turn out well..I am really looking forward to the weekend! We decided to spend some family time together Saturday and then Sunday is my Mommy's Birthday!! YAY!! I hope y'all are having a great week so far!! I feel Christmas on its way and I am so excited about it!! I am also excited that less than a month until I will be in Florida for Thanksgiving woohoo!! Anyways I want to end this with one request...I have added our cousin to my prayer list...His name is Jacob and he is one of the cutest kids I know! He has really been through a lot but he is a tough one...we found out that there is a lump in his chest and they are running some tests! Please keep him in your prayers. He is such a blessing to our family and we love him very much!
**edit** I just found out that Jacob is going to have surgery on Monday! Please keep him in your prayers!! We love you so much Jacob!
Have a great week...mwah!

Chutspe!

Posted: 2005-10-01T10:25:37Z

Source:

The news right now: Love in Action sues the state. The state is harrassing them, they say, taking the role of the victim. QAC has the story here and here. Peterson Toscano comments here.

I just want to pick at the logic followed by LIAs lawyers for a moment, even though it's almost too easy.

"The state is trying to turn a Christian ministry into a state-regulated mental hospital," Kellum explained. "By the state's reasoning, a homeless shelter would become a medical clinic if a homeless person were taking antibiotics for some minor infection. Do we want the state to shut down private organizations that are helping people who are struggling?"

No. We want the state to shut down private organisations that kick people who are struggling when they are down. From Finally Free (.pdf):

'I became depressed because my orientation wasn’t changing. Interestingly, at this point, the leaders decided that I needed therapy. I was given the ultimatum to either enter therapy with a Christian therapist or be expelled. I entered therapy, which saved my life.

I never broke a single rule they laid out for me, and yet, when I got so depressed that I was suicidal, they kicked me out. And so in my most vulnerable state, I became homeless.

My therapist helped me see how cult-like this “ex-gay” ministry was. The rules were set up to control our thinking and behavior. The whole premise was to use “group-think” to put pressure on us to change our ways.'

Does that sound like helping people? To kick them out when they are suicidal?

It's a frightening precedent. The reason LIA is on the stand at the moment is that they deal with mentally ill people - as defined by state law. State law defines people who take medication for mental problems, or are seeing a mental health specialist. If things play out the way they're looking at the moment, Love in Action will no longer be able to take these clients on, unless the prospective client stops taking their medication and stops seeing their therapists.

So there's a scary thought in case you needed one. I'm not saying that Love in Action will tell prospective clients who are depressed to stop taking their medication, I'm just saying that I'm not sure they would not.

That said, Love in Action does score a point for getting this woman (her name is Catherine Wulfensmith, and if you have not checked "Finally Free" out yet, I strongly recommend you do) access to a real therapist. If only they did this more often. Story from Peterson Toscano:

'After Todd [not his real name] did not turn up for dinner, two of us looked in the cab of his truck to find a suicide note, photos of his family and empty vials of medicine. For the next several hours we searched the nearby fields and woods. Police helicopters flew low overhead shining spot lights. We never found Todd that night.

I could not sleep thinking of him lying on the ground all alone and dying. Miraculously some utility workers found Todd, the next morning--barely alive. After weeks at a mental health facility, he returned to the program and stayed until his graduation.'

Love in Action pretends to offer a "safe place" for the people they help, people who have often had very difficult lives, and are dealing with many issues. (Read the testimonies, for many of these people, homosexuality seems to be the least of their problems!) But Love in Action does not have the training or the accountability to be able to deal with serious situations.

Claiming they have nothing to do with mental health is a chutspe considering the way they present themselves. Love in Action has everything to do with mental health the way they define it themselves. They use (or misuse) the theraputic methods developed to deal with mental health problems. Consider the following from the Refuge program booklet (emphasis mine to show the clinical language they use).

'At this time Refuge is an outpatient program for young men and
women ages 13-18. [...]

Refuge promotes change in the clients' lives through the use of therapeutic
groups, individual counseling and family support. The effectiveness of Refuge is greatly increased when the participants are willing to work with their counselor and parents, follow the program structure, study the materials, and build
relationships. The parents can also play an important role in their teen's
recovery by enforcing the rules when the client is out of the office and
attending the weekly family support group.

Refuge operates on an integrative model of treatment. The following models
have been integrated to deal with the overall goal of disrupting destructive
patterns of behavior and replacing them with healthy alternative behaviors:

Spiritual application emphasizing humility, purity, assertiveness, personal boundaries and other recovey ingredients are essential to refining the Christian walk of our participants.

Behavioral directives are employed to establish new routines and new patterns of behavior.

Cognitive challenges are issued to deal with negative self-talk and irrational belief systems which perpetuate self-destructive patterns.

Experiential groups and interventions are used to bring awareness of underlying issues and to foster internal motivation for change.

Family systems interventions are designed to improve communication within the families of program participants, and to facilitate reconciliation with parents and other family members.

Psychoeducational groups on topics such as child development, gender roles and personal sexuality help answer questions about the etiology of sexual problems and promote healing from sexual brokenness.'

There's more, in fact, every text they've published uses language like this. Talk about "False Image" issues!

Think of it this way: these methods, group sharing, councelling, journalling,
are all developed to interfere with the way the mind works. They are applied when the mind works in a destructive, unhealthy, negative way, by people who have the training and qualifications needed to apply them properly.

Love in Action applies them to something that is not an illness, thinking, and getting their clients to think, that it is. It's the equivalent of a minister with a set of scalpels and rubber gloves saying, "although liberal medical science denies it, we know the appendix is a tool of the devil and leads these people astay. It is our duty to help these people, because we are the only ones who will do what needs to be done!"

Then the state health authority knocks on the door and says: "er, excuse me, are you operating on people here? We do think you need a licence for that, and some training, perhaps?"

And the minister answers: "No, no, we don't need a licence! You see, these people aren't sick as the state defines sick! So we don't need a licence for what we do. Now stop harassing us."

Custom List: The 13 Revolutionaries!

Posted: Sat, 23 Jul 2005 20:34:23 GMT

Source:

The 13 Revolutionaries!

• 1. ¢σмρυтєя: how did I even function without this? handwriting?! perlease...
• 2. ѕтяαιgнтєиєяѕ: before this was too nasty to talk about. let's just say the keywords were out and up rather than down!
• 3. ѕиєαкєяѕ\нι-тσρѕ: functional fashion without the faddiness of branded trainers. thank-you retro kool!
• 4. нσσ∂ιєѕ: I just love these babies although they're an itty bit awkward when you're wearing your hair up.
• 5. ιитєяиєт є-мαιℓ: anytime, anywhere
• 6. мσιѕтυяιѕєя: if I was stuck on a desert island, this would be my no.1 beauty product. just slather this beast ON!
• 7. єує-ℓιиєя: after my moist. a little slick of this on the old peepers helps me face the world.
• 8. υи∂єяωιяє∂ вяαѕ: I just can't even believe how against these I was for so long, but as soon as I tried one I was hooked! Literally!
• 9. мρ3ѕ: when you're on the lappy as much as I am, and you need a bit of aural entertainment - don't reach for that CD, just jam on some Napster choons.
• 10. вℓαzєяѕ: call off the search. I just found my baby - £30 in New Look - but it's worth it for a flattering black blazer. I hope to find it some brothers and sisters soon.
• 11. ℓσgσ т-ѕнιятѕ: a strong staple in my wardrobe. double function in that they draw attention to the jubblies as well as passing on an informative\entertaining message to the onlooker.
• 12. fєвяєzє: no more waiting for a slightly soiled item to be washed! just spray, spray, spray!
• 13. ∂яу ѕнαмρσσ: no longer do I have to worry about 2h hair-washing sessions. Batiste keeps me fresh inbetween!

Custom List: Good Blogs

Posted: Sun, 13 Nov 2005 18:07:58 GMT

Source:

Good Blogs

• Fred: Making Conservatives cringe since 1977
• Hummingbird: Sister's site
• Psycho-veritas: Brother-in-law's site
• Bill Wheeler
• Fred: Fred's new site
• Zawm: Hazelton House
• hurleygrrl: Pink Politics
• Jules: Sociologist in training
• Holly: Daniel's girlfriend
• Dustin_Cletus
• Kilmati: Klatu verata niktu
• daleelama
• Dave
• Austrianbumb

Teaching Evolution: A State-By-State Debate

Posted: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 12:01:24 +0000

Source: 'School boards and legislatures across the country are continuing to debate how to teach students about the origins of life on Earth. Policymakers in at least 16 states are currently examining the controversy.

'In some states, advocates of "intelligent design" - the theory that an intelligent force had a role to play in the creation of the universe - are pushing for the concept to be taught side-by-side with evolution. In other states, schools are incorporating the idea that evolution is "theory, not fact." Below, a look at how the debate is playing out in several states.' (NPR article).

What Does It Mean?

Posted: 2005-10-12T21:36:01Z

Source:

What Does It Mean?

For the longest time, I thought John Mayer was singing about "waiting for my fears to dry" in his song Bigger Than My Body when he is actually waiting for his fuse to dry, which makes a little more sense, but is a little less satisfying to me....

What Does It Mean?

Last might I dreamed about falling asleep while my pet owl slept on my chest. I had a pet monkey too, which woke us up by jumping on the owl.

What Does It Mean?

Why does it seem so much more fascinating and urgent to compile a list of one's Top Ten of All Time songs in the evening after a few drinks then it is the next morning? Okay, I threw that one in to give you an easy one...

Out of Order

Posted: 2005-11-13T10:14:41Z

Source: This blog is temporarily "Not In Service" at this moment, and will resume once I get back in the Phils. In the meantime, check out my "travel blog", Violence&Sugar.; SHEHT, ANG ARTEH NG LOLA MOH!! Hahaha.

Daily Kos: Bill Clinton tells Dems to Fight or "Find Something Else To Do"

Posted: 2005-11-01T08:28:02Z

Source:

Why don't you decide if you are Bush wipe or a Democrat first Bill ? Did you think we forgot your performance deodorizing Bush's diaper dodo in New Orleans ? -- law Bill Clinton tells Dems to Fight or "Find Something Else To Do" by nehark Sun Oct 30, 2005 at 09:46:54 AM CDT From the diaries by Armando. Edited. Just saw this AP article and decided to post it as a diary since the open

Daily Kos: Sen. Kennedy: a reply and a question

Posted: 2005-11-01T08:18:50Z

Source:

Hate to admit it but he is right. The Senate knew Wilson was telling the truth and played deaf... But if we don't forgive the Dems who voted the war resolution we are left with 1-2 Senators... Forgive and forget, let's go after THEM now -- law

where were you in 2003? In his State of the Union address, President Bush lied to the American people, citing debunked and forged intelligence. The president directly contradicted the Oct. 1, 2002 National Intelligence Estimate to state as fact that which George Tenet had called "weak" and "not particularly significant" four months earlier.

You and your colleagues allowed this campaign of fear to continue without significant challenge, as our soldiers were used like chess pieces and poker chips. And you were not hoodwinked by misrepresentations and hidden documents, because as we now know, in 2002 the CIA told Congress "that the Africa story [was] overblown" and that Iraq's reported attempt to purchase uranium was "one of the two issues where [the CIA] differed with the British." (SSCI report on the IC's Prewar Intelliegence Assessment).

To the dKos users preparing to flay me alive, first, take note of that: not the Niger story, as Rice and Fleischer would later claim, but the Africa story. In Oct. 2002, the CIA told Congress that claims about Iraq, AFRICA, and uranium were unsupportable. Yet only Joesph Wilson would finally call him on it.

So why, Sen. Kennedy, is there such a deficit of courage and leadership that our country's best hope for redemption sits on the shoulders of a former U.S. ambassador? Though Wilson could only say that he had been tasked to investigate a report and found it wanting, he still took the chance, risked his reputation, his safety, and heavy legal consequences to try and stop what he saw as an abominable abuse of power. Yet all the while, our elected representatives who knew that which Wilson suspected to be true, refused to draw the same line in the sand. They refused to join him in open and honest rebellion.

Daily Kos: Sen. Kennedy: a reply and a question

Grants' Aim Is to Speed Medical Advances

Posted: Thu, 13 Oct 2005 00:00:00 EDT

Source: With the pace of basic scientific research accelerating, the National Institutes of Health launches a program aimed at speeding the process of turning fundamental discoveries into medical treatments for patients.

The most influential political scientists (well, at least in IR)

Posted: 2005-10-28T03:38:01Z

Source: Tyler Cowen links a list assembled by Foreign Policy ranking the “most influential political scientists,” who—apparently owing to the sampling frame—seem to all be IR scholars. Not that there’s anything wrong with IR, mind you…

Perhaps the RBLing (Realtime Black Hole) of msn.com recently, which
prevented a large amount of mail going out for about 4 days, has had a
positive influence in Redmond. They did agree to work on their anti-relay
capabilities at their POPs to get the RBL lifted.
-- Bill Campbell on Smail3-users

Your Reputation Is: Mystery Girl You're the girl ...

Posted: 2005-11-08T21:17:59Z

Source: width="350" align="center" border="0">

Your Reputation Is: Mystery Girl

You're the girl that everyone is trying to figure out. Men are attracted to your intriguing persona - and women want to copy it!

What's Your Reputation?

Leon Kass: It's ethically neat

Posted: 2005-08-11T15:07:56Z

Source:

Hat tip to Kristen.

Kass: I would like to talk with you about reprogramming, because I think that’s where the gold is buried. Since the council’s white paper has been issued, we’ve been made aware of three major scientific reports that indicate to me at least that the reprogramming alternative is, A., hotly under investigation, and B., moving much more rapidly than we had any reason to suspect even two months ago when the report was issued.

Here Dr. Kass is referring to dedifferentiation, an ethically and scientifically viable way to obtain cells with embryonic-like properties. The interview focuses on the four options discussed in the May Bioethics Whitepaper. My favorite quote:

Kass: But if I’m a betting man, I’m betting on the thing we talked about at first, which is the reprogramming. It’s ethically neat, it doesn’t require genetic engineering, it doesn’t require eggs, and it can be done with the existing eligible-for-federal-funds cell lines that scientists are now using. And these very promising and exciting results from three independent laboratories over the last few months make me think that we’re going to hear an awful lot about this.

If I'm a betting man, I would say Dr. Kass has nailed the key to ending the stem cell debate.

A great weekend and a halloween diet...

Posted: 2005-10-31T21:41:29Z

Source: Hey Y'all! Hope everyone had a great weekend...I know I sure did! Well Friday I got up and took princess to dance class and being the wonderful planner that I am I had to backtrack and go home to pack for the weekend...anyways I finally left the house around 2ish I think and ran into traffic but it was alright cause I was in dead stop right in front of hubby's work and so he came out to tell me bye!! I got really really lost, yeah those who know me are saying "what's new" but Anyways I made it to P's house and was ready to get out of hub's monster truck hehe!

So we decided to do a little shopping and go out to eat at this delicious italian restaurant! We had a really good time...We headed home and hung out and had a ton of laughs...


BTW we played some scratch off and won a wopping $33!! The next morning T came over to stay for the rest of the weekend...

so we decided we would go out for breakfast on our big winnings...Then we did some more shopping and decided to check out this mini farm....what a blast!!

So we get to the farm and go in to see all of the animals...There were a few problems with the goats and lambs because they liked to thow princess down and take all of her food...My princess fell in love with the llamas and let me know how she wanted one at home...mmmmmmk!!

So after we checked out the animals for a few hours we went on the hay ride...which was a freaking hoot!! I ended up at the end of the trailer and almost fell out a few times...lets just say I definitely gave everyone their entertainment!!

We decided to get the girls on the pony ride but princess decided that she would just hold onto the horn...

After that we decided to do a little shopping and get some dinner! We then headed home to do some girly stuff...It was really nice spending time just us girls!! We ordered some PPV but never saw the movie...oh well!!
We woke up Sunday and hung out and then you guessed it we did a little shopping...I was ready to come home so we decided to grab some Olive Garden and then I would jump on the big road and head home...I got home and spent some time with Hubs and took a shower...when I got out I said I wasn't feeling well...so I decided I would go to bed early and hope it would go away...nope! I was up all night and morning losing the 10 lbs I had been wanting to lose...not the way I wanted to lose it though...Hubs stayed at home and made me feel better!! Thanks Hubs...and now after 3:30 I have held capri sun down for an hour and a half and I feel about 50% better...thank goodness...My little princess told me to hurry and get better cause she wants her mommy back!! I really hate that it had to be on halloween but Hubs said he would take princess trick or treating...she is going to be Minnie Mouse! I will post pics tomorrow! I hope y'all have a great halloween and be safe out there...TTYL

Good People

Posted: 2005-09-30T10:00:13Z

Source:

border="0" alt="" /> Yesterday I met up with Peterson Toscano, and had a great evening (tea at our house, dinner at a Chinese restaurant). Peterson is very friendly and thoughtful. We talked about all kinds of stuff, including cultural differences between Americans and the British, Chavs and doggie-bags, Iraq and of course the "ex-gay" movement.

One snippet stands out for me. He told us that he was on a TV debate once with Alan Chambers, the head of Exodus. The question was put to him, "how do you justify your lifestyle with the Scriptures?" and his answer was just brilliant. "Well, you're right, it is really difficult. I spend more money on soy lattes than I do on feeding the poor."

This confused the debaters somewhat because they were of course referring to his being gay rather than his lifestyle, but it seems to sum up the core flaw of this whole argument perfectly. Of course, he's got a point. "Have you read the words of Jesus Christ recently? We're all screwed!" In all this to- and fro-ing about what the bible has to say (or not) about homosexuality or being gay, everyone seems to be missing the passages about greed and about hypocracy and turning the other cheek. Things Jesus would probably care about a lot more.

I'm not a Christian, and it's not for me to tell John Smid or Dr Dobson or anyone else how they should read their bible or what their faith should be. But I was raised to hold to Christian values, I grew up on the stories about the bread and fish, and the good samaritan, and the woman who gave her last measely coins. Talking to Peterson yesterday reminded me of those stories, and the meaning which I, as a child, could easily grasp, but which seems so hard to put into practice for so many who try to be Christian.

Jesus set a high standard, and following his teachings is not easy for us lazy, greedy, prideful, petty humans. But it is something worth aspiring to, and those who truly do seem to make for good people.

Jesus, you all right by me.

Custom List: Things that are

Posted: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 15:09:15 GMT

Source:

Things that are

• href="http://spaces.msn.com/members/th13teenskulls/feed.rss">Japan: what can i say? just the capital of all that is Kool
• books: things i like to read
• computress: otherwise known as lappy - ^_^ - my other half
• university: Birmingham is my love. i sooooo want to go!
• skeleton: SKuLL or SKuLLioN, whatever way you look at it - at the end of the day, we all need bones
• colours: make things pretty and interesting
• fashion: what can i say? i like to look half decent lol
• music: 'nuff said
• words: say it with flowers? nah

Custom List: Interesting Sites

Posted: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 18:15:01 GMT

Source:

Interesting Sites

• The Downing Street Memos
• Al Franken
• Tom Paine.com--Progressive news and insight
• Sweet Jesus, I hate Bill O'Reilly
• US used napalm-like weapon in Iraq
• ACLU Homepage
• Silence Dogood
• Center for American Progress
• Operation Truth: If you support our troops, then you must check out this website and read the words of our soldiers.
• Media Matters
• 213 things skippy can't do in the army
• Hurricane Housing: Open your home to someone who needs it
• Crooks and Liars
• DU video: What depleted uranium does to people. WARNING:graphic
• The Northwoods Document: DOD plans to start a war with Cuba--1962
• onegoodmove
• search me, bitch: nearly like google
• Jesus General

The Ideas Interview: Joe Trippi

Posted: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 11:56:05 +0000

Source: Joe Trippi's memoir The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (2004) detailed how Trippi used blogs to reinvigorate Howard Dean's 2004 election campaign. Trippi tells The Guardian's John Sutherland about his background, the influence of Dean's 2004 campaign on media and politics, and forecasts the likely impact of blogging on the 2008 US Presidential campaign.

Don't you hate it when your ludicrous jokes become reality?

Posted: 2005-10-11T20:00:50Z

Source:

Worst case:
I actually said before Hurricane Rita: gosh, wouldn't it be awful if Houston got hit with a hurricane and they had to evacuate the Astrodome? Whooo, that would be bad....

Almost as bad:
Okay, when women started blindly wearing "capri" pants (imagine the finger gesture for quotes - it works better in this case), even though "capri" pants make virtually everyone look fatter and shorter than they already are, just because some "fashion" magazine (again with the finger quotes) told them they were some kind of "must have" (aaaugh, don't get me started! oops, I guess I've started...), I made a joke about how the next thing they'll have women wearing are some of those "gaucho" pants (finger gesture with accompanying gagging gesture) that were roundly criticized the first time around (in the late 70s for you youngsters) as being the most awful, unflattering, intentionally worn garment since the Elizabethan age of pizza pan-sized pleated collars. And what did I see this morning in the newspaper ads for the local department store? Gaucho pants! I would laugh if I weren't crying. First Bush, now gaucho pants. This never would have happened under a Democratic administration.

Sorry about the parentheses, but they were unavoidable.

World, Meet My Tonsils

Posted: 2005-11-02T08:56:32Z

Source:

Why didn't anyone ever tell me that when I laugh, I basically introduce my tonsils to the world? Alam kong malakas akong tumawa, but good lord... I lovelovelove this picture, because it's so us. And we look so happy! ---------------- So... I'm leaving in 3 days. I'm scrambling to have one last 'hurrah' with different people. Tonight, I'm meeting folks from law school for dinner and a movie.

Daily Kos: Ewwww...I Went to High School with Rove! (w/Picture!)

Posted: 2005-11-01T08:23:18Z

Source:

I think I knew that Karl Rove had grown up in Salt Lake City, and I may have even heard that he went to Olympus High School in the late 60's, out in the eastern 'burbs where all the rich Mormons live (though neither he nor I were LDS), but I guess I heard that back in the early days of Bushboob's tenure and it never really took hold because nobody knew who Karl Rove really was. Then I read a

Knocking on Cheney's door - The Boston Globe

Posted: 2005-11-01T08:12:38Z

Source:

KNOCK, KNOCK, who's there?

Dick Cheney.

If you are President George W. Bush, you do not want to open that door. On the other side stands the vice president, who outed CIA official Valerie Plame Wilson to his chief of staff, I. Lewis ''Scooter" Libby.

On Friday, Libby was indicted on criminal charges, including obstruction of justice, making a false statement, and perjury in the CIA leak investigation. Basically, Libby is accused of lying about how and when he learned that Valerie Plame Wilson was a CIA agent. According to the indictment, one of his sources was Cheney. The indictment specifically states that Libby ''was advised by the vice president of the United States that Wilson's wife worked at the Central Intelligence Agency" and that ''the vice president had learned this information from the CIA."

Bush senior adviser Karl Rove was not indicted, but remains under investigation.

Given the build-up over the last week, Scooter without Rove at first feels like Bonnie without Clyde. Rove's escape for the moment means the CIA leak investigation does not -- yet -- directly involve Bush.

But it's getting closer. Here's the timeline closing in on the president:

In February 2002, Joseph Wilson, a former ambassador, went to Africa to investigate allegations that Niger sold yellowcake uranium to Iraq for use in nuclear weapons.

On Jan. 28, 2003, in his State of the Union Address, Bush said: ''The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa."

In a July 6 New York Times op-ed piece, Wilson wrote that he could not verify that Niger sold uranium yellowcake to Iraq.

According to the indictment, Cheney passed Valerie Plame Wilson's name to Libby ''on or about June 12, 2003."

On July 14, 2003, Wilson's wife was first identified in the press as a CIA operative on weapons of mass destruction. The sources were ''two senior administration officials."

During a Friday press conference, special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald did his best to cut through the complexity:

Valerie Wilson's cover ''was blown," said Fitzgerald, and Libby blew it and lied about it.

''This is a very serious matter," said Fitzgerald. ''Compromising national security is very serious."

No one was charged with the specific crime of leaking the identity of a covert CIA agent, because Fitzgerald apparently determined that he could not prove at this time whether it was done through ''inadvertence, recklessness, or maliciousness." That determination may change.

Think of the indictment as a skeleton. Put flesh on it, and here is what you get:

The Bush administration took this country to war on the premise that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. When Joseph Wilson undercut the premise, the Bush administration went to war to discredit him. Part of the effort involved getting the word out that Wilson's wife worked for the CIA and she was the only reason Wilson was chosen to check out the Iraq/yellowcake connection. In other words, Wilson did not have the stature or expertise to investigate WMD, and his conclusions were therefore irrelevant.

Right now, the price of gas and the rising toll of US military deaths in Iraq may seem more troublesome to the average citizen. But oil and Iraq are really what Plamegate is all about, as well as the lack of honesty at the highest level of government, and the willingness to do what it takes to silence a critic.

With Cheney in it, Plamegate gets a plotline that is easier to understand.

It's no wonder Cheney issued this statement regarding Libby, who resigned on Friday: ''Scooter Libby is one of the most capable and talented individuals I have ever known. He has given many years of life to public service and has served our nation tirelessly and with great distinction."

The vice president needs Libby now much more than Libby needs him... Facing jail and disgrace, what will Libby give up about Cheney.. ?

Knocking on Cheney's door - The Boston Globe

First Person

Posted: Thu, 13 Oct 2005 00:00:00 EDT

Source: An occasional series about readers' experiences with the bureaucracy. First up: a woman details her effort to complete the paperwork after the death of her husband, who was an employee of the Architect of the Capitol.

Franklin on Parks

Posted: 2005-10-28T02:10:40Z

Source: Political scientist Charles Franklin takes time out from the pretty graphs to reflect on the meaning of Rosa Parks’ role in history, echoing some themes of discussions I’ve had with Mike Munger and others who grew up in the segregated South.

I know you're mad at me right now, and I'm kinda mad too ... I mean, we
could sit here and try to figure out who forgot to pick up who till the
cows come home. But let's just say we're both wrong and that'll be that.

-- Homer Simpson
Brother from the Same Planet

WAAAAAAAAH!!!!

Posted: 2005-11-08T16:19:27Z

Source:

/>

WAAAAAAAAH!!!!

Get Well, Dana

Posted: 2005-08-09T21:44:04Z

Source:

While I try to avoid blogging on things that do not specifically related to stem cells, I want to send my condolences to Dana Reeve. Her Doctors have given her an optimistic prognosis, and I hope everything clears up for her.

Love isn't just for Valentine's Day!

Posted: 2005-10-28T13:54:52Z

Source: Hey y'all,
I hope y'all had a great week and that you will have an even better weekend! I am headed up to my sister P's house tonight! I am staying the weekend with them while hubby goes huntin' again!! I am really looking forward to having some fun with the girls and hope to bring back some great pics! During this season I always seem to lose my hubby...I dont mind so much esp now that I can get some time in with my sisters but I get hubby withdraws usually the first night...So that brings me to my post today about marriage...

Lately we have been discussing marriage in some of my classes, and I have been talking to other people about it as well...I am really appauld about the divorce rate these days...I don't like how people find there is an easy way out! Marriage is a committment and I think it should definitely be taken more seriously! I understand there are always exceptions and in some cases it is necessary. I really dont understand when a hubby and wife don't get along so they say getting a divorce would be better for the child...a lot of times when 2 people get a divorce is their relationship that much better after the divorce? A good friend of mine showed me the statistics for the development of children who live in a household where the parents dont get along vs those who get a divorce and it is very apparent that having the mother and father in the household is extremely important.

There were a lot of concearns when me and hubby got married...I mean the statistics where very much against us but we are still trying to beat the odds...
1. Having a baby before you are married
2. Teenage pregnancy
3. Teenage marriage
4. Living together before marriage
When I was a teen I would watch the talk shows and I would always comment about the teens who got prego saying that would never be me...well things really dont always turn out how you plan but they will always work out. When I got prego there was a lot of pressure (esp from my side of the family) to get married right away. The first thing from hubby's mouth when we found out we were prego was to get married. I thought it better that we got married for us and not just because we were prego...I am glad we waited and I am glad we lived together first. I understand we have so much going against us but we have really made it through so much already. It is not easy finishing high school, being prego, having a child at 18, learning to live with someone (we are both only children), etc...We didnt have any friends that could relate so the only people we had to really talk to was family...I have really grown a lot and I am still growing...I realize how I am going to change and grow in the past 4.5 years but we always realize that we need to grow together. I know there are a lot of people who never thought we would even make it as far as we have...Hubby is truly my best friend. I mean we know each other more than anyone ever could...we think and say things at the exact same time...all the time! We have learned each other and try our best to accomodate the other's needs...Dont get me wrong we fight and argue but its all part of the process to learn each other! I knew it wasn't going to be easy and that is one of the things I dont think a lot of people understand coming into a marriage...it takes work, it takes understanding, it takes wanting to be together and not giving up...

Surely people dont want to live alone?? die alone..Stats also show that marriages after the first dont seem to make it as long as the first...Remember I am not saying in all cases...So I dont get why people dont try to make the first one work...Does love just fade away? Do you realize that you really didnt love the person?

Someone I was talking to the other day told me that after being married for 12 years they still didnt know the person they were married too...I just dont understand this...I mean after 4.5 years and all that we have gone through I truly feel like I know hubby and I would hope after 12 I would definitely...I dont know..maybe I am naive!

What do y'all think? I mean I know a lot of people who have been divorced many times..and I am not really condoning it I just dont understand it...I mean most of the grandparents I know have been with 1 person all their life and they usually got married really young...so why is that so different now? Because we see an easy way out? Because we dont want to take the time to make things work? I think the stats are outrages personally and I am going to beat the odds...

I am dedicating this post to my hubby...I am really going to miss you this weekend...I cant wait to see you Sunday! Thanks for waking me up so I could give you a kiss good bye :-( I love you more today than I did the first day I met you but that first initial spark is definitely still there...Last weekend when you left and I came home and saw you my heart just raced and I couldnt wait to hug you and kiss you...UGh I am going to miss you tonight but I will look forward to Sunday...You are my best friend, my lover, my sweetheart...I am so proud of you! Thank you for all that you do for us! You are definitely my shoulder to lean on, the person who I depend on, I am the person I am because of you...You make me want to be a better wife, mother, and person..I love you more than anything mwah!!



I hope the rest of y'all have a great weekend....TTYL!

Calling Ex Love In Action clients

Posted: 2005-09-27T07:49:03Z

Source:

In the absence of news:

Calling all Fomer LIA Participants

Jeff Harwood and Bob Painter, fellow former LIA participants, are pulling together data on all Love in Action participants who attended the Memphis-based program from 1995 to present. They have an impressive list that includes first names of participants, how they left the program and current status (gay/ex-gay/unsubstantiated). About 40% are unsubstantiated. If you attended LIA or know someone who did, please Email me and I will pass the info along to Jeff and Bob. In sharing of the findings, no one's name will be included, and your personal info will remain confidential.

Please include name, dates in the LIA program, how you exited the program, and your current status.
Thanks.

That was a repost from Peterson Toscano's blog, the original is here. You can leave a comment or follow the 'email me' link there.

I'm meeting Peterson this week. He's in the UK for performances and talks, and he's coming to visit me in Bristol. I'm looking forward to seeing him. Peterson has been an inspiration and a guiding light since I stumbled into this whole thing. Please take a moment to

Visit his new site. It's pretty (though I do wonder about that picture with the pink top. What the...? *grin*)

Custom List: Extras that are

Posted: Wed, 29 Jun 2005 16:29:55 GMT

Source:

Extras that are

• href="http://spaces.msn.com/members/th13teenskulls/blog/cns!1pQwwUDotklJC_pGj7TeCuFw!189.entry">Guestbook: Please sign!
• Shoutbox: Shout, chat and post here!

Custom List: Favorite Bands

Posted: Tue, 04 Oct 2005 08:30:48 GMT

Source:

Favorite Bands

• Beatles
• The Doors
• Pink Floyd
• Tool
• A Percect Circle
• Cowboy Mouth
• Nirvana
• Kansas
• Jefferson Airplane: White rabbit rocks
• Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Rolling Stones
• The Chemical Brothers
• Cake
• CCR

Wrestling With History

Posted: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 11:51:15 +0000

Source: Neoconservative planners have been publicly criticized for their lack of strategic foresight, ever since the Iraq War mutated into a low-intensity conflict and guerilla insurgency. Washington Post journalist David Von Drehle interviews Donald Rumsfeld about his forward planning, White House policymaking networks, and why the Iraq War was not the 'war' that Rumsfeld wanted to fight. Von Drehle: ""It would have been probably October of '02, and the war was March, I think," of the following year, Rumsfeld explains. "I sat down, and I said, 'What are all the things that one has to anticipate could be a problem?' And circulated it and read it to the president -- sent it to the president. Gave it to the people in the department, and they planned against those things. And all of the likely and unlikely things that one could imagine are listed there. It was just on the off-chance we'd end up having a conflict. We didn't know at that stage.""

My Malfunctioning Brain

Posted: 2005-09-26T16:58:58Z

Source:

There are many frightening ways for a brain to malfunction. It could nourish a tumor, or create electrical storms in its our neurons, or allow senility-inducing plaques to develop, or harbor faulty and failing blood vessels, or produce too many or not enough neurotransmitters and make you want to do harm to yourself or Jodie Foster.

But my brain, today, has chosen an even more insidious way to harm me: and endless-loop tape of the theme to the late-70's sit-com Laverne and Shirley. Here - I'll share some: "...our way, yes, our waaaay, making our dreeeeams come true, for me and you!" Gee, hope that doesn't cause your brain to pick up the same endless loop...

triple thespian threat

Posted: 2005-10-30T12:47:16Z

Source:

I remember back in college, I promised myself that I'd see every single film that Robert De Niro has ever appeared in. I haven't seen 'em all yet (on account of the fact that he's made, what, 6,212 movies?), but I think I'm getting there. Since then, only two other thespians have joined the club, so to speak: Tim Roth and Mark Ruffalo. They're not necessarily my top 3 favorite actors of all time,

Daily Kos: Knocking on Cheney's Door - MSM columnist get it

Posted: 2005-11-01T08:10:38Z

Source:

by teacherken
/>It is Vennochi whom I wish to bring to your attention today. Her column is entitled Knocking on Cheney's Door and is well worth the read.
Daily Kos: Knocking on Cheney's Door - MSM columnist get it

Custom List: Interesting Sites

Posted: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 18:15:01 GMT

Source:

Interesting Sites

• The Downing Street Memos
• Al Franken
• Tom Paine.com--Progressive news and insight
• Sweet Jesus, I hate Bill O'Reilly
• US used napalm-like weapon in Iraq
• ACLU Homepage
• Silence Dogood
• Center for American Progress
• Operation Truth: If you support our troops, then you must check out this website and read the words of our soldiers.
• Media Matters
• 213 things skippy can't do in the army
• Hurricane Housing: Open your home to someone who needs it
• Crooks and Liars
• DU video: What depleted uranium does to people. WARNING:graphic
• The Northwoods Document: DOD plans to start a war with Cuba--1962
• onegoodmove
• search me, bitch: nearly like google
• Jesus General

Greenpeace and Prostitutes

Posted: 2004-06-17T18:57:16Z

Source:

Sailor mongering was rife in the 19th century when brothels sent prostitutes laden with booze onto ships as they made their way to harbor. So they made a law to stop beautiful women from performing their sacred duty.

Today, it is the Greenpeace. The federal government is suing Greenpeace using the obscure Sailor Mogering Law to clip its wings. It is payback time for the environmental group that boarded a freighter in April 2002 carrying illegally felled Amazon mahogany to Miami. The crime of these green geeks is all the more heinous since (i) they call the very beloved George W. Bush the "Toxic Texan," and (ii) they are thwarting trade in green gold (Amazon mahogany) that provides profits better than cocaine to Florida Voters who sorely need this money to feed their under-nourished families.

The prosecutors are threatening that if they fail to avenge this misdeed using a law that has not been used since the Boston Tea Party to muzzle barking dogs, they will use the Patriot Act to break up this Beer Bash to save the Born-again President from its terrorist fumes.

The federal government believes that this crime is worse than (i) homosexual marriages, (ii) white-washing 9/11 by creating a multi-billion dollar entitlement program called "Airport Security", and (iii) expending 18-year old Marines and hordes of Iraqi Animals to secure black gold for generations of Free American Capitalist Cronies.

They believe that generally ill-informed Americans cannot handle free speech. Citing Greenpeace, Senator John Paul Johannesburg in his press conference last week stated that "the free speech is a dangerous weapon that cannot be freely given to people that oppose the government, do not know the name of their Senator, or their god." He further stated that he is planning to insert language to this effect in the omnibus budget bill as a foot note on page 743 on behalf of the President of the United States.

Cynthia McKinney: The Upcoming March To Gretna

Posted: Thu, 03 Nov 2005 15:16:10 +0000

Source: First of all I'd like to acknowledge the life and death of Rosa Parks, a pioneer with courage, who will be laid to rest today.

CNN.com reports that as the heart of a hurricane-ravaged New Orleans filled with sewage-tainted floodwaters and corpses, Mayor Ray Nagin urged people to cross a bridge leading to the dry lands of the city's suburban west bank.

And there begins the story of what might become the worst American civil rights episode ushering in the 21st Century.

I'm Still Here

Posted: 2005-09-26T17:02:03Z

Source:

Here are a few bits and pieces of my mind while we've been busy getting our dream house ready to sell so we can buy our really, really dream house (no snide comments accepted; we have already made them all at ourselves):

On my mind: The other day I saw a woman turned away from the dermatologist's office because she didn't have the proper voucher or something. She certainly didn't have health insurance as we luckier-than-thou types do. It was humiliating for the woman, uncomfortable for the receptionist who could only follow her employers' rules, and embarrassing for those of us in the waiting room who could not escape the woman's tearful and then angry response. Tax me. Tax me, take the burden off those employers who give a @&$ about their employees, put the burden on all of us and together let's fix this horrible system of haves and have-nots. Man, I hope she didn't have melanoma.

A challenge: An awesome replacement for the word "awesome."
I tend to continue to use the word awesome, but only in an ironic context, such as saying that it was awesome the way Bushy's eyes flicked around the room, looking for someone (Uncle Dick? Carl? Dad?), anyone to jump in and take the blame for the pathetically inept and bureaucratically hamstrung hurricane disaster relief effort before he could get to the part in his prepared "whoops" speech where he had to say a qualified "I take responsibility." That was awesome.
Oops, sorry, I keep going off on political tangents today, and I'm trying to avoid this becoming a political blog. That is so done. Besides, my family will shun me as a black, black, bleeding-heart sheep more than they already do.
Turning around now, marching back to the beginning of the conversation:
Although I try to limit my use of the word "awesome" to certain delicious ironies, Drew continues to use it in its more middle-school usage, as in, "You bought a boat today? That's awesome!" Of course there's nothing wrong with that. If you're in middle school. From a 44-year-old, it tends to match his surf t-shirts, both of which scream "Boy, did I love the 70's!"
In order to try to save him the embarrassment of telling adults who are not fire fighters (who still pretty much live in a constant middle school anyway) that something is sincerely awesome, I am enlisting the help of friends and family out there: what is a fresh, new way to say "awesome," "neat-o," "far out," and/or "sw-eet!"?

I welcome any sincere, and/or ironic, suggestions.

And Finally:
I thought you would like to know that the Vancouver library has three (3) copies of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Past Life Regression. True story.

triple thespian threat

Posted: 2005-10-30T12:47:16Z

Source:

I remember back in college, I promised myself that I'd see every single film that Robert De Niro has ever appeared in. I haven't seen 'em all yet (on account of the fact that he's made, what, 6,212 movies?), but I think I'm getting there. Since then, only two other thespians have joined the club, so to speak: Tim Roth and Mark Ruffalo. They're not necessarily my top 3 favorite actors of all time,

Kiva - MicroLoans to the poor

Posted: 2005-11-01T07:42:31Z

Source:

What We Do />Kiva lets you connect with and loan money to unique small businesses in the developing world.

By choosing a business on our website and then lending money online to that enterprise, you can "sponsor a business" and help the world's working poor make great strides towards economic independence. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive monthly email updates that let you know about the progress being made by the small business you've sponsored. These updates include reports on loan repayment progress, photos of new capital equipment, narratives on business growth and standard of living improvements, and more. As loans are repaid, you will get your original loan money back.

How does the loan process work?
By partnering with existing microfinance organizations and institutions, Kiva finds outstanding entrepreneurs who need loan funding. Our expert in-country staff works with these partner organizations to conduct due diligence on each business, and once approved, post each business' profile on our website. This is where you come in. You can choose loan money online, using your credit card or Paypal, in increments as low as $25 toward the loan needs of a business. With your participation, Kiva gives entrepreneurs access to the capital they need to lift themselves out of poverty.

What makes Kiva unique?
The charitable loan. Kiva is the first and only existing option for you to make a loan to a unique microenterprise. No other organization offers the opportunity to loan - instead of, or in addition to, making a donation - to a real person and then get your money back. Furthermore, when you loan to a Kiva business, every dollar you loan goes to that business. Kiva is a very low-overhead organization that raises money offline to support its small budget. None of the money you loan goes to fund administrative costs.

Direct, real-time, one-to-one connection. The individuals featured on our website are real people who need a microloan. They are waiting for socially-minded individuals like you to lend them money. They will not receive a loan until a Kiva lender provides it. Our data is real, not representative. Once funded, sponsored entrepreneurs are diligently tracked and the real results of their efforts are propagated through email updates and on our website.

Transparency. Once donors make donations to an MFI or a nonprofit, tracking where that money actually goes is difficult, if not impossible, in most situations. Kiva removes several layers between lenders and recipients and makes tracking funds simpler and easier. In fact, Kiva allows lenders to see firsthand how, when, and why the work of their sponsored enterprises succeeds or fails.

Customized, high-engagement experience for all. Many organizations give special attention to a select few "major donors" (at very least, these are individuals who contribute several thousand dollars or more) and spend a great deal of time and money to give them a high-engagement, personalized experience connecting with the end beneficiaries of their generosity. We at Kiva believe everyone should have an opportunity to connect directly with the people their money helps empower, so therefore we allow each and every Kiva lender - and, in fact, anyone who takes the time to look through our site - the opportunity to see their dollars effecting change.

Commitment to working in rural areas. Kiva is committed to reaching people who have few if any other opportunities to receive microloans. Most organizations have offices in big cities, which makes sense for many reasons. However, this means that most of their work takes place in the areas surrounding those cities - not in very rural areas where it is often more expensive and logistically difficult to work. The idea to start Kiva began in the villages of Uganda, and Kiva continues to focus on rural areas.

Kiva

Daily Kos: Radnofsky to Hutchison: Resign if you tolerate perjury

Posted: 2005-11-01T06:17:58Z

Source:

Radnofsky to Hutchison: Resign if you tolerate perjury
by George [Subscribe]
Mon Oct 24, 2005 at 12:27:51 PM CDT

Radnofsky press release:

Texas Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Barbara Ann Radnofsky called on her Republican opponent to resign if she tolerates perjury. "No elected official should tolerate or excuse perjury. I call on Kay Bailey Hutchison to renounce perjury. She should resign if she tolerates it," Radnofsky said.

On October 23, Kay Bailey Hutchison said in televised comments concerning the Plame investigation that, "I certainly hope that if there is going to be an indictment that says something happened, that it is an indictment on a crime and not some perjury technicality where they couldn't indict on the crime..."

Daily Kos: Radnofsky to Hutchison: Resign if you tolerate perjury

Exclusive Lanes May Have Seen Their Last Frames

Posted: Wed, 05 Oct 2005 00:00:00 EDT

Source: On the evening of Sept. 11, 2001, members of the White House bowling league assembled at the Old Executive Office Building for their regular weekly match. They were turned away, never to return.

A billion here, a billion there -- pretty soon it adds up to real money.
-- Sen. Everett Dirksen, on the U.S. defense budget

Tuesday I got sooo tired today! I got up at aroun...

Posted: 2005-10-27T16:18:57Z

Source: Tuesday

I got sooo tired today! I got up at around 8 in the morning 'cause my sister arrived from Butuan! She gave me lots of stuff my mom bought for me (mostly clothes and earrings) and I was surprised that all she brought home was one bag---filled with my stuff! Then I learned she's just here to enroll herself then go back to Butuan in the evening! Anyway, by then I had a hard time going back to sleep so I took a bath and decided to go to Ayala to look for more decorations for school. Nothing super Halloween-ey in there so I just walked around and was surprised (and excited) to see Janylin sell some shoes 50% off! AND MY FAVE PUMPS WAS ON SALE TOO! So I bought it immediately, even though it's another addition to my new set of very painful yet sexy pairs of shoes. :P

<-- it's this one. ;) I like it 'cause it looks goth-ish.

Anyway, seeing there's nothing else in Ayala, at around 12:30, I went to SM to help out in the decorating. I get to cut more pumpkins, paint a certain font for tombstones, and watch Cornelius, Pops, and Kevin have fun scaring people outside (something about a contraption Corni made that makes a fuzzy spider fall on somebody who stopped by the school to see out Photoshopped Halloween pictures at Room A). Pops thought it was a great idea to give candies to the people with the best reaction. Heheh. Oooh...and while helping Cornelius in glueing the leaves on the glass wall for Room A, I accidentally touched the hot glue stick and now I feel this little sting on my thumb. :( Erm... what else? Decorating... and... more decorating... hmm... Hope it's all worth it, tho. We really NEED to win. Heheh.

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Wednesday

It's THE DAY! Hehe! I couldn't sleep a wink 'cause I was sooo excited! So I decided to use the time to make some certain "alterations" on my tie (cut a cross from an old black shirt and sew it on the tie :P).
<-- my tie
<-- my hand-whatever-thing

See the album!

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After lunch, took a shower, did my makeup (extra black eyeshadow!), drew a cute little star above my cheek, changed into my goth/punkish/lolita-ish costume and asked Krystel if she thinks it's ok... she gave me a thumbs up! I asked Ate Wena to take a few pics of yours truly so I could send it to Tita Maimai ('cause my mom and Ela wanted to see), and I was on my way to SM!

I arrived at around 2-ish and as I had my bag checked at the entrance, the female guard said "Informatics ka noh? Nindot imo sanina, dai." I smiled and did a sweet pose! I though walking towards the school would be hard 'cause there would be lots of people staring but I can't actually run in my shoes (feels like it's made of wood!) so I had to walk slowly with my head held high... and if anyone would as much as point and say something rude, I'd give 'em a very angry and carefully polished finger! Wah! But it turned out that some of the guys are already outside wearing their costumes and frightening little kids so I felt better about walking all the way towards school. People were complimenting me on my costume and I was glad 'cause it took a whole LOT of effort to put the whole thing together! Even though my shoes are killing me, I felt great all over anyway!

They set up a TV set near the entrance at Informatics showing some scary movies and we also videotaped the reactions of the "victims" of Cornelius' spider thing. Sir Karl wore an all-black outfit with some scary skull necklace (that he wouldn't let anybody touch!), Sir Mel wore all-black stuff as well (and eyeliner overload!), Sir Henry was inspired by that Photoshop manip that I did of him and stuck a plastic knife on his chest... and the rest of the faculty wore funny headresses. The Course Consultants went lilac with their outfits complete with matching wings and wands! So cute! Anyway, you'll see all of it on the album (linked above).

The whole day went really great! I was really glad to see our efforts appreciated by the people who passed by (and by the judges! For 5 days, we decorated the place and they only checked it out for 5 minutes! Heheh!). It really did come together nicely... and there was this great sense of unity with the students---which is rare. Pop's daughter, Blossom, came to visit and she was the cutest thing ever! A bit upset about Cornelius' costume, tho (he's a hunchback!). Heheh.

Ooooh! And the cutest thing happened! We had our picture taken with Sir Karl! It might not sound like a big deal, but Sir Karl usually doesn't want to be in any pictures. It was a RARE opportunity so we took advantage of it! Pops actually sat on his lap and Sir Karl looked like he's ready to throw her down the floor and run! Ahahahah! What was more shocking is that he congratulated me on my costume and gave me a high five! No kidding!!!!!!!

After the judges were gone, everyone was kinda tired and hungry so we all went our separate ways to hunt down some food. I brought another pair of shoes to change if ever I can't walk with my gothilicious ones anymore, so after I changed, Diana, Pops,Cornelius, Maimai, Trixie, Abigail, and I went to Tacos to get some quesadillas. On our way back to the school, we passed by a guy that waved at me and said "Hi Wednesday!". Hmr...

We hung out at Info for a bit and at around 7pm, everybody was off to watch the basketball practice for out Sportsfest. I told them I'll pass and went to Sbarro to buy myself dinner and went home. It was a weird experience 'cause it was quite alright walking with the girls with our costumes... but I was alone and people had these really confused look in their faces when they see me. Heheh. And kids hide behind their parents when they see me! xD

I went home and had dinner with Kuya, Papay, Chichi, and Karl. Then I went directly upstairs and changed, removed my makeup (took a long time!) and went to sleep! I woke up 'cause someone sent me an SMS (with a scary laugh as my message alert tone!) and it was Anton! He was outside the house and he bought pizza! He got to know Bax, played with him for a bit, we ate (while Bax was waiting to be fed some too!), and talked for a bit.

Get Well, Dana

Posted: 2005-08-09T21:44:04Z

Source:

While I try to avoid blogging on things that do not specifically related to stem cells, I want to send my condolences to Dana Reeve. Her Doctors have given her an optimistic prognosis, and I hope everything clears up for her.

Her biggest fan!

Posted: 2005-10-21T13:44:15Z

Source: Hey Ya'll,
I hope you all have had a great week!! I am really looking for this weekend...my hubby is headed up North for the opening deer season (I hope he brings home some food) so me and princess are taking off to spend some time with my parents and my sisters!! I am already having a little hubby withdraws but I am really looking forward to the weekend...I hope ya'll have a great one!!

Throughout all the family madness that has been taking place lately I always seem to have one constant in my life...She helps me through good times and bad...She loves me know matter what I do and I love her twice as much! I thought today I would tell ya'll a little more about my beautiful princess that I am so lucky to have in my life. Some of the things that makes my heart totally melt is when she says Mommy I love you bunches, or Mommy you're the bestest, or you are My favorite, etc. She always says the right thing...I often wonder what life would be like if my princess didn't come into my life. I can't imagine not reading 4 night time stories, or putting bread in my grocery cart and telling her not to sit on it and then look back and my bread is totally flattened. I couldn't imagine waking up and not getting my "morning mooches." I read about people who are upset that their children are getting older...It is a sad process but it is more bittersweet than anything...Watching my princess grow into the little girl she is today has been amazing. Getting to know her own personality is incredible! She definitely is her own person. She is so incredibly smart, and cute, and so considerate. If she has 1 cherry she will half it with you. If she has something and you ask for it she doesn't think twice before giving it to you. She is also anal..When it comes to her shoes and her hair they have to be perfect!! She likes to put on makeup (powder and lipstick) and then she looks in the mirror and says Mommy I'm beautiful! She is so fun...She wants to go to the movies and bring a purse. She wants to buy things and pay for them with her own money. She has her own unique style that I have completely fallen in love with! She is smart, makes me laugh, beautiful, sweet, just an all around wonderful child. Other children really get along well with Des because she is really easy going. I am so incredibly blessed that I have such an awesome little girl. I could kiss her and hug her for the rest of my life...And I definitely will!! Anyways, in December she is going to be in her first dance recital..This is a HUGE deal for me. I was a dancer for over 10 years and I know how important it is for a child. My mom was always at my recitals and she was definitely one of those that gave me a huge bouquet and made me feel so special and I can't wait to do the same with Des. My mom was always my number one fan and I am definitely Des' biggest fan and I will always be...