Governor MoonBeam, Again?

It appears that Jerry Brown is going to announce his candidacy for California Governor tomorrow. It doesn't surprise me one bit that the announcement will be online. But, unfortunately, I think he has a really good chance of winning.

Now I don't really remember Jerry Brown being governor in the late 70's and early 80's but I do remember the crazy stories. Him sleeping on the floor of the governor's mansion, chilling with Linda Ronstadt, being an over all hippy, etc. But this isn't the same Jerry Brown.

This Jerry Brown seems to realize that being a party Democrat won't get him anything but screwed (because they did, many times) so he seems to have picked up his own sensibility. I saw it when he was mayor of Oakland and revamped the schools a bit with boot camps and such. He seems to have become much more fiscally aware and, dare I say, responsible? I can say that he has earned some of our respect.

Now all of this makes him quite dangerous. Can all he has done in the last 10-15 years combat the backlash of his previous governorship? I will probably never vote for him but I have to ask, is he a better option than another Wilson, Arnold and the like? At least this one wouldn't be labelled a Republican. But I don't think I can do it.

But do you think that Jerry Brown could really be our next governor?

(HT: Ken Malloy)

Healthcare Summit Sink Hole?

From everything I hear about yesterday's Health Care Summit it was boring. I mean really boring. I have only read a couple of pieces but I saw a lot of Twitter statuses fly by. Suffice it to say, not much was actually done and those who were there should receive an award for not going postal (I am talking about all you press, not the government types;).

But was there really anything done? Well, in the way of getting something passed or passable. No, not really. But I think in the net gain the Republicans/people against Obama's bill did well. From the Tweets and the some of the articles it seems that the Republicans were able to really show some of the holes in the health care bill. Now I am not saying that America no longer wants any health care relief (though I think the Fed's should just butt out completely) but I do think they don't want what has been put forth already. I also think the American people realize that the people in the Summit may not be the people to design anything in this realm at all.

I am curious to see what happens next but on the whole I think we are going to sink more time and effort into discussing the Health care issues than actually doing anything about it. So just stop now and hand control over to the people. And I mean all the control. Like portable insurance and an honest to goodness free market.

Cuffs for Doodles

Writing on your desk is wrong! It is very wrong! But should a kid be arrested for it? Well, a 12 year old in New York was arrested for it. Along with some other children who were accused of putting stickers on the wall. I understand that there is a need to punish for graffiti but isn't this taking it a bit far? This is all in the name of zero tolerance.

Now I am not a stranger to seeing zero tolerance in effect. Being raised with in the Clovis Unified system here in Central California I got to see it from the front row. I remember being in high school and watching a kid get hit and then get suspended for pushing the aggressor to the ground. I remember a girl being threatened with expulsion for giving a friend Tylenol and it being "drugs" (even thought the school could take you to get an abortion). I even remember a kindergartener being suspended because his hair was to long.

So what do you think of zero tolerance. I guess abstractly the line has to be drawn somewhere but cuffing and arresting a 12 year for writing "I love my friends Abby and Faith. Lex was here 2/1/10 :)" seems to be going a little far.

Political Tidbits: Twittering and Cougars

Just a couple of interesting things on the political horizon. Not a lot to analyze but interesting all the same.

Apparently there are rumblings that John Cougar Mellencamp may end up running for Senator Bayh's seat. I don't know if this will happen of it the Democratic party in Indiana is just trying to get publicity.

Then, at an appearance yesterday Sarah Palin put her foot in it.

When asked what she felt the greatest threat to America is currently, audience members in the crowd piped up with cries of “Obama!” According to CBS, Palin was quick to respond with, “See, they said that, I didn’t. Just you watch now, too, because somebody will be here with their little Twittering thing, and it’s going to be on the Internet any minute now.”

Those at Mashable took this as a swing at Twitter but I don't really think it was. I think it was a swing at those people who tweet things that aren't necessarily true just to cause a problem. Sarah Palin seems to be very comfortable partaking in different social medias so I don't think she is writing Twitter off.

So what do you all think?

More of a Reason to Use Facebook

So I have heard many people grouse about Facebook. That it is a time sucker and is bad for people to people relationships. Well, get on Facebook and spend lots of time there. Why you ask? To speak out for Western civilization against radical Islam;).

A top Egyptian cleric has issued a fatwa against Facebook. Apparently it is to be blamed for an increased divorce rate. What do you think?

(HT: About.com World News)

Proving the Greatness of Socialized Medicine

So socialized medicine is supposed to be great right? I mean don't we all want what Canada has? Everyone can have great treatment and it will just be taken out of your check... Well, it isn't good enough for Canadian Premier Williams. He needs heart surgery and is going to travel over the border to avail himself of America's great health system. I have heard about this for years. That the wealthy in Canada (and frankly even the not so wealthy) will come to the US to have medical procedures done either due to our better quality or the expediency. So maybe all those who desire what Canada has should actual see what Canadians with a choice do.

I thought a commenter over at Instapundit had an interesting question. If Obamacare passes how will the Canadian healthcare system survive?

Condolences

Rep George Radanovich's wife, Ethie Weaver Radaovich, has passed away. My sympathy and prayers go out to Representative Radanovich, his son and all those who knew and loved her.

But now I have a question... Ethie and her battle with cancer was the prime reason that Rep Radanovich was not seeking another term in the House of Representatives. Is this effect what he is doing next? Can he/will he jump back into the race? Will he run for something a bit more local? Not to be callus but, is her passing so early in the campaign season a game changer?

What Does Brown Mean to Us All?

I, like many people, was watching the Senate race in Massachusetts with bated breath. It wasn't just a long held Democratic seat but a 47 year Kennedy held seat. The uber-Democratic seat. So it is very excited for me as a Republican to see the seat fall to Scott Brown. So what does this mean for the Democrats and their future in the next set of elections?

I hope this means that the American people are seeing the Democratic party and President Obama for what they are. Charles Krauthammer said it quite well:

Brown ran on a very specific, very clear agenda. Stop health care. Don't Mirandize terrorists. Don't raise taxes; cut them. And no more secret backroom deals with special interests.

These deals -- the Louisiana purchase, the Cornhusker kickback -- had engendered a national disgust with the corruption and arrogance of one-party rule. The final straw was the union payoff -- in which labor bosses smugly walked out of the White House with a five-year exemption from a ("Cadillac") health insurance tax Democrats were imposing on the 92 percent of private-sector workers who are not unionized.

So what does this mean for November? I hope that it starts with Barbara Boxer loosing her seat! Here is to another American Revolution!

Harry Reid: The Hypocrisy of the Democratic Party

People (especially me) say things in the wrong way all the time! You sincerely apologize and move on. But sometimes your stupid statements reveal what you actually think. And how others deal with the situation reveals a lot about them too. So where am I going with this?

I think everyone has heard about Harry Reid's stupid statement about Obama from the campaign of calling him light skinned and with "no Negro dialect". Reid has apologized to President Obama just this last week because it is coming out in a book a couple of guys have written on the campaign and he was trying to get ahead of the curve. (Though it might had been avoided if he hadn't been the source on the issue in the book.)

Now President Obama has forgiven him and that is great but... There has been some chatter that Reid should resign from his leadership position. But why you ask? When Trent Lott (the former Republican Majority Leader back in the day) made a statement at Strom Thurmond's 100th birthday party back in 2002 about how it would have been better if Thurmond had been elected president back in 1948, then we wouldn't have had the problems we were having. As a result many people on both side of the aisle called for him to step to down from his leadership position. This includes both Feinstein and Obama. They said how it wasn't appropriate to represent the party. But now all is forgiven with Reid in their eyes. Feinstein has even gone so far as to say

"I saw no Democrats jumping out there and condemning Senator Lott."

Please! Now I think that the Republicans should stop calling for Reid to step down. If the Democrats allow Reid to stay in power I think it will speak loads to the voting public. Reid's popularity is already in the toilet. So if this is what the Democrats want let it be.

I do have to say that I am amazed how hypocritical the Democratic party is being. Is this really no big deal? I am sure I will be blogging more about this in the future!

No Pepsi Commercials?

It appears there will not be any Pepsi commercials on the upcoming Super Bowl after a 23 year run. Now other Frito-Lay will still have some but not Pepsi the soda. This is compared to the $15 million they spent in Super Bowl commercials last year. It appears that Pepsi realizes their money is better spent on Internet advertising.

I find this very interesting. How many other advertisers are going to be moving in this direction? What effect will it have on the Super Bowl? Very interesting....

Unknowningly Calling Them To Return Home

This poster was put out to 7,000 churches by the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO) so that more Hispanics will participate in the census. I find it hilarious that the only problem that Washington Post seems to pick up on is the use of Christ for a secular purpose. It isn't until you land at the Corner (or actually were I started) that anyone points out the real crux of the matter.

Mary and Joseph were returning to the ancestral home ie leaving where they immigrated from. So really this poster is saying that all immigrants should return home. I find it hilarious that the Reverend who is heading up the boycott (because of the using Christ and God for vain, non-worshiping purposes) doesn't seem to remember the actual Christmas story and what Mary and Joseph are actually doing.

But at least they printed most of them in Spanish;).

Tweeting in the Face of Tragedy

Imagine the unthinkable happened, your child was found at the bottom of the pool. Would it be unthinkable for you to tweet for prayer a half hour after calling the paramedics? That happened to 1 mother and she got slammed by many people for tweeting. Her tweet simply said "Please pray like never before, my 2 yr old fell in the pool."

I for 1 would totally have done the same thing for a few reasons. First off I believe in the power of prayer. She had 5000 followers and in theory that could mean a lot of prayer. I also have my Twitter tied in with my Facebook account. So the best most efficient to alert my real life friends who would serve as my support in this situation (including my pastor) would be for me to Tweet.

I think this struck a cord with me because I have blogged through a miscarriage. I have also tweeted through numerous surgical procedures that I have had this year. It has made me feel more connected to my friends for instant needs of prayer and who knows whom my life will touch.

I feel bad for this mom not only losing her child but also have to endure the judgment of many who don't know her. I also don't know her but can assure that she and her family are in my prayers. So what do you think? Did she take tweeting to far? Or is this the perfect way to let the world support you?

Stealing Money or Stealing Life?

Bernie Madoff received his sentence of 150 years. Dr. Helen has a piece wondering why he has received a larger sentence than most murderers. Logically I understand that since there were more instances of crime, there were more years up for penalty. But it does raise some questions. The surface question maybe what is more valuable: money or life? But my question is...What is worse killing 1 or 2 people versus stealing from 100's? Madoff effected more people's lives but they still have them. But by effecting so many people's lives has he made a bigger impact against society? Isn't that what the judicial system is for, to protect society? I really don't have the answer. How about you?

Quite a Day for the Stars

Today both Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson have died. I have to say it is very shocking and my prayers go out to their families. But, does that mean all that will be on tv for the next couple weeks is Charlies Angels and the Jackson Family mini-series?

Real Life

One of the arguements that I hear often is that homeschooling doesn't prepare your kids for "real life" because they are isolated. I always disagree. I think that being around real people, volunteering and apprenticing lead to a good picture of real life. We now have proof that the education system doesn't care about real life.

There is a person who has been given advanced medical training in the military. But now that she wants her degree, the school won't recognize the training or the experience. So maybe it is the ivory tower that shields your kids from "real life"?

Independence Day with a Bang?

I understand that the 4th of July is to celebrate all our rights but I have never heard about bringing your gun to church to celebrate. Apparently this is what 1 pastor inviting his parishioners to do for the June 27th service. Now you aren't allowed to bring them loaded (and there will private security to check) but there will be lots of festivities including a gun raffle. I find this really interesting, not disturbing but a little odd. I am curious if this give my pastor any ideas. I mean we do have a gun club at our church (well, they go somewhere else to shoot;). What do you think? Pastor?

(HT: Jim Boren)

Twitter Sued?

Someone claimed to be someone else on Twitter (shocker). Now Twitter is being sued. The manager of the St. Louis Cardinals had someone start and Twitter as him. So why is he suing Twitter? Does he really have any standing for a court case? I would understand if he was suing the person who was claiming to be him but Twitter? Is he just being a big baby?

The Economy?

I am one of those people that cringe when others complain about the economy going in the toilet. Sure things have tightened up but that just means you need to make good choices about your money. But my line I use is, "the economy can't be that bad if they are selling iPhones at Walmart". Well I may need to get a new line. How bad is the economy if they can pay $2500 a ticket to go to a Yankees game in New York?

KKK vs Hebrews?

Apparently back in the 1920's people didn't take blood rivalry's quite so seriously? I am not sure what to think about this old newspaper clipping over at Jeffrey Goldberg's site but it is entertaining.

Musings at the Gym

So I was walking on the treadmill and they have different tvs going. A news story came on about the economy really hurting people who have kids who are in private schools. Apparently many people are taking out 2nd mortgages in order keep their kids (elementary aged kids were the ones shown here) in private school. You have to be kidding?!?!?

Tell me why homeschooling isn't a better option than this? Is it really better to have to have both parents out of the home working (possibly 2 jobs)? Wouldn't your kids be better served to have a parent around every once in a while? I have known a few families where mom has worked just for the private school tuition and that was before the economy issues. They are sure that this is the better education and experience for their kids. This is the thing that angers me about anti-homeschooling parents. It is the mentality that the personal financial sacrifice is the nobler one. I wonder if it is that they don't actually value the personal position of parent. The impact you have on your child's life simply by being present. And that doesn't even account for the clear academic benifits to having the small group learning environment (which has been proven repeatedly) and the over all desirability of homeschoolers to colleges.

Ugh! This is what happens when I go to the gym at 6am;).

Dream House Winner Time!!!!

Find out the winner of this year’s Dream Home 2009 by tuning in on Sunday, March 15, 2009 at 8pm/7c on HGTV.

My Vote is...

Since we the people apparently own 80% of AIG I vote we don't dump another $30 million into it. Fire all the people running it and what ever we do, don't let someone who works for the federal government run it either. Ugh!

What the Heck!!!

I guess Obama really is the press savy President. So press savy that he is employing the press in odd positions. At least the is what I thought when I heard the announcement of Dr. Sanjay Gupta as Surgeon General. For those of you not familiar with Dr. Gupta he is a corespondent and commentator on CNN. But that didn't bother me as much as Leon Panetta for the head of the CIA. Panetta was in the House from Monterey, CA and was Bill Clinton's chief of staff. Did you notice there was not 1 mention of intellegience work (and possibly no intelligence in his work, but that is a separate issue)? I asked NerdDad what stopped me from being the head of the CIA and he said I couldn't because I never helped Bill Clinton hide dead bodies in the trunk of my car. If I would have known that was all it took;).

Recognize the Palestinian State!

Yeah, you read right. If the US, Israel, and the UN recognize the Palestinian state it changes all the rules. When Hamas wants to bomb Israel in the name of the Palestinian state then Israel just declares war. Does that mean that civilians can get hurt? Yes, that is what happens when you declare (or commit acts of) war on a neighbor. That is something we Americans don't think about because we haven't had a war on our soil since the Civil War. But it is the cost of war and if the Palestinians didn't want to play that game they should have behaved. Other countries have learned that lesson. Just ask Egypt.

Egyptians Fire on Palestinians

The Egyptians have sent 300 border guards to keep Palestinians on the Gaza Strip side of the border. In order to do that the Egyptian soldiers opened fire and wounded several people. Very interesting.

Viagra: The New Weapon in the War on Terror

Yes, I said Viagra. It only took 4 Viagra to bribe an Afghan chieftain. I think we are all familiar with the fact that the CIA sends in agents to find informants. And the fact those "assets" aren't giving us information out of the goodness of their hearts but due to some payoff be it money, women, or weapons. But that can have it's downside.

The usual bribes of choice -- cash and weapons -- aren't always the best options, Afghanistan veterans say. Guns too often fall into the wrong hands, they say, and showy gifts such as money, jewelry and cars tend to draw unwanted attention.

"If you give an asset $1,000, he'll go out and buy the shiniest junk he can find, and it will be apparent that he has suddenly come into a lot of money from someone," said Jamie Smith, a veteran of CIA covert operations in Afghanistan and now chief executive of SCG International, a private security and intelligence company. "Even if he doesn't get killed, he becomes ineffective as an informant because everyone knows where he got it."

The key, Smith said, is to find a way to meet the informant's personal needs in a way that keeps him firmly on your side but leaves little or no visible trace.

In this case it was a 60 year old man with 4 wives. It took 4 little sample pills and he was ours. I am cool with this because they can't shoot us with our own weapons or really do us any harm with bribes like this. And maybe they will share and the enemy will be, how do I say, otherwise engaged;)?

(HT: Neatorama)

Rethinking Conspiracies

Everyone who knows me knows that I am a hugely cynical person. I, unfortunately, am very rarely shocked by the bad behavior of politicians. But, it has happened.

The governor of Illinois brazenly put up for sale his appointment of Barack Obama’s successor in the United States Senate, federal prosecutors said Tuesday.

In recorded conversations with advisers, the governor, Rod R. Blagojevich, seemed alternately boastful, flip and spiteful about the Senate choice, which he crassly likened at one point to that of a sports agent shopping around a free agent for the steepest price, a federal affidavit showed. At times, he even weighed aloud appointing himself to the job, the prosecutors said.

Now I am not shocked that a governor was selling a Senate seat, per se, but that he was doing it so blatantly. I mean, there is the implicit bribes. You might pick someone that will pay you back someday but to open up bidding? Ugh!

But I am not the only one that was shocked. All of this has made Scott Adams (of Dilbert fame) re-examine the whole idea that conspiracy theories could be plausible.

So in the light of the whole Senate buy off attempt, what conspiracies suddenly make more sense to you?

Praise for Biden

I know, a shocking statement and yes this is still the NerdFamily Blog. Apparently Biden has realized his limitations.

The declaration results from an attention-getting article coming from the Las Vegas Sun, which is reporting Sunday in a story by Washington Bureau reporter Lisa Mascaro that the new Congress “will reassert its constitutional independence from the White House by barring the vice president from joining in internal Senate deliberations, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said in an interview with the Sun.”

Yeah, Cheney may have go and talked to a lot of people but he just talked. Obviously Biden has realized that for the future of Obama's presidency and the party's success, he should just keep his mouth shut. We call that a win/win. A win for the Democrats because they don't have to be scared of Biden's mouth and a win for American because we can forget he is the vice president;).

Schwarzenegger Says Californians are Poorer Than Previously Thought, Must Take More Money

So California finally got a budget after forever but then they underestimated the taxes the state would take in. That is because everyone has less money and is spending less money. So to make up for it The Governator wants to enact a 1.5 cent tax hike. Yea, that sounds right. People are broke so let us make them broker.

It was the best of news, it was the worst of news....

In the Best of News category has to do with VH1 and Paul F. Tompkins. It has been announced that VH1 is changing the format of Best Week Ever. They are taking it from a multi-host format to just 1 and it is Paul F. Topmkins! I have to say he is one of my favorites so I am happy!

Now onto sadder news...Mothers Cookies has declared bankruptcy and closed their factory in Oakland. I love their cookies and NerdDad will particularly miss FlakyFlix.

Dollar Store a Dollar No More?

Is the economy so bad that the 99 Cents Only should abandon their premise? I guess what surprises me about this article is how much the local Dollar Tree is carrying. I am seeing a huge diversity of products from crafts stuff to food storage materials. I think that they just want to make more money because apparently other dollar stores are making decent profits.

First Woman VP?

I have to say that I wasn't very familiar with Governor Sarah Palin before this afternoon. Frankly, because I have 4 kids and went a got a haircut, I still haven't done a lot of research on her. But, what I know I like! There are 2 issues I have already heard of.

First, it appears some of the Mommy Wars are starting. In one of my homeschooling groups a message was posted that you can't be a good mom and balance it all. She was disappointed in the Republican party for picking someone who would be neglecting her family. There was no proof that she neglects her family. Apparently she has her baby with her and has it well under control. I think that it would be a shame for women to start slinging this issue around. While I stay home I think everyone has different situations that work well for them. Do I believe that on the whole everything goes better if mom stays home? Sure, that is why I stay home. But, I only make my own choices and even those are based on today's circumstances. If things change so may my actions.

The second issue I have bandied about is her lack of experience. I haven't looked at her complete resume but...Being the governor of Alaska seems to be better experience than being a junior senator. And that is their candidate for President, not vp.

The last issue is a woman in leadership. I DON'T CARE. I want to see the right person for the right job, regardless of sex.

For the first time I am looking forward to the Vice Presidential debates. She is going to wipe the floor with Biden;).

NerdDad reminded me of the Cheney/Lieberman debate. I did look forward to that but not in the same way. I looked forward to Cheney but Lieberman was too boring to look forward to. While I don't like Biden , he is entertaining (like a train wreck or the show Wipeout).

Affair Today, Daddy Tomorrow

So a month ago John Edwards wasn't having an affair. Now he admits to the affair. So in another month will he admit to being the baby's father?

California Homeschoolers Breathe Easy

Now I am not one of those people who panicked about homeschooling in California after the initial ruling in the Rachel L case but I am now breathing easier. The Appeals Court in California that initially released the controversial ruling that forbade homeschooling had vacated their ruling. They then heard from various effected parties.

Well, the ruling is out and it is just as we homeschoolers orginally said. Taken from CHN's site:

Today's court ruling held that (1) California statutes permit home schooling as a species of private school education; and (2) the statutory permission to home school may constitutionally be overridden in order to protect the safety of a child who has been declared a dependent. Homeschooling, therefore, remains a legal educational option in California.

So it is over and the Nerdfamily doesn't have to move;). Go read up more at CHN and HSLDA.

Smelly Starbucks Sandwiches?

So what is the first thing you smell when you walk into Starbucks? Coffee? Well, not when they make those yummy breakfast sandwiches. Initially Starbucks was just going to ax the sandwiches all together. The backlash was to great so Starbucks is going to reinvent the sandwiches to make them less smelling. I think it is so funny. Also to help get people into the actual Starbucks, they are testing extra small cups of coffee for $1 with free refills. They hope if they get you in you will end up upgrading.

(HT: Fresno Bee News Blog)

Why You Should Vaccinate

Apparently there is a Measles outbreak in the US. It looks like it was spawned by a combination of international travel and people who weren't vaccinated. Britain apparently has a measles epidemic due to parents declining to vaccinate their children.

For those who say this isn't a big deal this has happened in the US in the recent past. From 1989-1991 55,000 people got the measles with 123 deaths.

Go get Vaccinated, don't assume that living around others who do will protect your children.

Breaking News: Tim Russert is Dead

Tim Russert has passed away from a heart attack at the age of 58. The host of Meet the Press had the heart attack while recording voice overs an upcoming episode. I knew that Russert had been in politics for ever, working for people like Daniel Patrick Moynihan, but I didn't realize that he won an Emmy for his coverage of Ronald Reagan's funeral. While I didn't always agreed with his political views, he did such a balanced job on Meet the Press that I always liked watching the show. His presence will definitely be missed.

Technorati Tags: Tim Russert

Defense Department Shake Ups

So the Secretary of Defense is "accepting" the resignations of the Air Force Secretary and Chief of Staff due to some slip ups in Nuclear security. That seems like a good reason. I do love the wording of accepting resignations instead of firing their butts!

(HT: Two Babes and a Brain)

Kindergarten is a War Zone

Kindergarten is the easy grade to try out public school, right? The kids are to young to really corrupt each other and kindergarten teachers are sweet people who love little kids (why else would they choose to chase them), right? Not so much.

So here is our first situation. First imagine an adorable 5 year old boy (and I do me cute!) who has some discipline problems so mom takes him to outside doctors (as recommended by the principal) and they start the process to get him officially diagnosed with Aspberger's. Some 5 year old boys can have discipline problems to begin with but pile on Aspberger's and I am sure it can be rough. But how rough would it have to be for a teacher to pull this kid up in front of the class, have every student say what they don't like about him and then vote as to whether they want to keep him in the class. That is exactly what what Wendy Barton did in Florida.

If that isn't bad enough here is the second situation. So your five year old comes home and complains that his teacher doesn't like him and that he kids don't either. While your child is saying all this you are getting progress reports that are well mixed in the good marks and the bad. The teacher says sometimes your child is disruptive and can't keep his hands to himself. But when you ask the teacher if you should set up a "behavior plan" with the teacher she says she doesn't have time. So it must not be that big of a deal. Well, many times you would say that the kid is being to sensitive to limited correction and isn't really reading the situation properly. Well, what if that kid started acting out at home? The parents of Gabriel Ross decided to send a tape recorder in his pocket to see what is really going on. The results were shocking.

What they heard over four hours of tape shocked them. Woodward can be heard telling Gabriel that he had "tortured and tormented" her and other teachers all year.

"I've been more than nice to you all year long and you've been ignorant, selfish, self-absorbed, the whole thing! I'm done!" Woodward says to Gabriel on the tape. She continues: "Something needs to be done because you are pathetic! If me saying these words to you hurt, I hope it does because you're hurting everyone else around you."

Gabriel can be heard crying on the tape.

Now I am hearing some people say this is evidence of a bad school system and that is why you should homeschool. I am looking at it a little differently. Apparently all the training these teachers got didn't prepare them to actually deal with kids. I think this should be empowering to any parent who has ever doubted that they can teach their own kids. Do you think the home environment will be healthier than this? Now, I am not saying that all teachers are like this because they aren't. But, all the training can't be the end all and be all to teaching your child so have a little faith in yourself, your intelligence and your love. You can do it!

Technorati Tags: Alex Barton, Gabriel Ross

Gay Marriage Coming Soon to California

Apparently they will be starting to have same sex marriages(or gay marriages for the search engines;) in California on June 17, 2008. According to this article, the state said that the date is set that far in the future to give the state Supreme Court time to step in. It seems all that will stop it in the near future is for the Supreme Court to issue a stay.

The new procedure isn't really all that shocking. The paperwork that the county clerks will have with not say bride and groom. Also if registered domestic partners are marrying the same person, they don't have to dissolve the partnership first.

I am interested in seeing how this all shakes out.

Deep Tragedy and Deep Sympathy

I was just alerted over at Rocks in My Dryer that Steven Curtis Chapman's youngest daughter, Maria, was killed in a car accident. This is a double tragedy for the Chapman family because she was run over by her older brother.

The teen was driving a Toyota Land Cruiser down the driveway of the rural home at about 5:30 p.m. and several children were playing in the area, McPherson said. He did not see Maria in the driveway before the vehicle struck her, she said.

“It appears to be a terrible accident,’’ McPherson said.

No charges are expected, she said. The accident was witnessed by two other children; the entire family was home at the time, McPherson said.

My deepest sympathy and prayers go out to this entire family and all those who know and love them.

Doctors and Universal Healthcare Survey

So I heard on Rush, while coming home from the doctor, that a survey would be released today saying that 1/2 of all doctors want Universal Health Care. This sounded shockingly untrue so I came home and googled it. So there has been a survey released today. Here is the "big" news according to Reuters:

Of more than 2,000 doctors surveyed, 59 percent said they support legislation to establish a national health insurance program, while 32 percent said they opposed it, researchers reported in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.

Well, I have serious doubts about the veracity of this statement. First of all it was done in 2002 in Indiana. What took so long to get the results out? Oh, thats right an election. Secondly, I also don't believe that these 2,000 doctors out of Indiana are representative of the 800,000 in the US. I find it boggling. Will Universal Health Care really fix the problems facing doctors today. Isn't Oregon one of the states that malpractice insurance for OBGYN's is so high that they are leaving the state? I think this would just make it harder for doctors to make a living and pay for insurance.

That is separate to the issue of patient care. If choice wasn't positive we would all choose to be on the existing Universal Health Care system, Medicare. Then look at Canada. If Universal Health Care is so great why do people cross the border to come here? We must be doing something right medically because people from all over the world come here to be treated for serious illnesses. It is the fact that medicine is a private industry that motivates and pays for medical research. It is also the private industry aspect that enables us pick and choose our doctors, our hospitals, and encourages speed of service that isn't seen in countries with Universal Health Care.

Well, that is my rambling on this. What do you all think?

Technorati Tags: Universal Health Care, Reuters

Court to Reconsider

For all those keeping up on the California Homeschooling drama, the court is going to reconsider their decision. As far as I can tell in the first article I have found, this is not a complete rehearing of the case. They are inviting educators and teacher's unions to submit written arguments. We shall see.

BounceBacks: Should Mom and Dad bail them out?

There was an article in the AP about people losing jobs and money and their parents bailing them out. They specifically talking about 40-50 year old kids. What do you think about this? These parents are putting their retirements in jeopardy for kids that are old enough to fend for themselves. Now I am not saying that because money is more important than people but it will create a bigger financial problem. Will the kids they use their retirements to help be able to help them when they retire in just a few years? I don't think they could even if they wanted to. If you take that money and invest it into someone's life I don't think they could turn it around to make enough money or stability to support their parents.

Dr. Helen brought up a really good point on this issue also.

If their kids are self-centered enough to take their parent's retirement from them, will they really help the parent later on down the road or will they be more like this woman, who wrote to the Huffington Post complaining that her mom was a pain in the ass?

She went on to mention a book, Scratch Beginnings: Me, $25, and the Search for the American Dream. I went over and read a really interesting write up on it. It just proves that it is the determination to support yourself that counts regardless if it is the standard you dreamed of. I think it is our belief that we deserve everything regardless of anything else that is screwing up our economy and might screw up the older generation's retirement. Hopefully we will do a better job teaching our kids about money, self-reliance and living humbly (relative to our income) than has been done with the previous generations.

(HT: Dr. Helen)

Maid Sues Over Firing and Pay

So a Maid in Atherton, CA is suing a former employer for wages and damages. This seems pretty normal until I read the rest of the article. A maid was fired because she left chicken bones in a garbage can. Ok, this may have been an overreaction but we don't know the history but it wasn't totally unjustified so what is the problem? She doesn't think she was paid fairly for her work when she worked there. She said she was paid $1000 a month to clean a 9000 square foot house, make meals and take care of 1 kid. She claims she could work 14 hours a day. Apparently she would work up to 7 days a week and up to 14 hours a day. Now this all appears agreeable while she was employed but now she is suing for $120,000 in wages, damages and penalties.

What!?!?!?! She agreed to do a job for a price and if she didn't like the price she should have gone somewhere else. I agree that they were getting a bargain but that was her fault. Yet another example of how we have become way to litigious.

NY Gov Resinged, Finally!

I first heard about the issues surrounding Eliot Spitzer on Monday. He has been caught up in the call-girl scandal that was discovered by a wire tap. All along I heard he was going to resign but never did. Well, he has now. The part I don't buy in the whole story was:

Gov. Eliot Spitzer resigned in disgrace Wednesday after getting caught in a call-girl scandal that shattered his corruption-fighting, straight-arrow image, saying: "I cannot allow my private failings to disrupt the people's work."

Yea right. He resigned after he go his plea bargain. I don't view this as a resignation but a excuse. You know what I mean, a "this is why I won't be at work any more" excuse. What do ya'all think?

Another Great Man Passes

William F. Buckley Jr. died today. There is already a touching tribute, or more appropriately a series of tributes up at National Review. He is an icon in the conservative movement. I personally enjoy the debate he had with Gore Vidal (due to language I am only posting a link). He wasn't a party man but a man of principals and he would take on anyone. May there be more like him. My sympathies and prayers to all who loved him and cared for him.

Action Over Words

I just want to brag about one of my friends at Bible Study named Carol. She had heard about Berkley and the ill treatment of the Marine recruiters there. She felt that they needed encouragement so she got the phone number of the Berkley Marine Recruitment office and called them. She just wanted to reassure them that this is the fringe and not the majority of Americans. She told the young man that answered the phone that the publics views doesn't affect the positive feelings we have for the men in uniform. Bravo Carol for not just talking about this issue (as I am doing now;) but actually taking a step to affirm the strength of these young men!

What Do You Think?

Apparently in Muncie, Indiana a man painted his own crosswalk and was charged with criminal mischief. There is an intersection with stop signs in a residential area and people didn't usually stop. So Whitney Stump called the city and the sign department to get a crosswalk painted. The city said that since it wasn't near a school it wasn't necessary. So he went out bought paint and did it himself.

So what do you think about it? Since the pedestrian would have the right away is there really a problem with the crosswalk? The city doesn't have any plans to remove it. The reason I think it might be ok that he painted it himself is that it was forbidden. I don't like the mentality that government seems to have with "if it isn't required it is forbidden". How about you?

(HT: BoingBoing)

Grissom Leaving?

According to Buddy TV, William Petersen gave an interview to British Radio Times about him leaving CSI. While it seems vague it does seem impending. He also seems very critical of the whole franchise. The one thing that seems to hold him back is his responsibility to all who have a job through what he does. Maybe he realizes that without his character there is no CSI. If he leaves I wonder if they will try to replace his character and possibly let the show die a slow death or if they are just going to close up shop.

(HT: Chris from SHS group)

Technorati Tags: csi, tv

Heath Ledger is Dead

According to Fox News Heath Ledger is dead. His body was near sleeping pills and they think it was a factor. The things you are alerted to when your niece is on your MySpace friend list. I really liked him as an actor in everything I have seen him in. I am very sorry for his daughter and everyone who loved him.

Hanukah Faux Paux

Now I openly admit that I don't keep kosher, as a matter of fact we had pork sausage, eggs w/cheese and latkes last night for dinner. But I guess back east they take their Hanukah very seriously. NancyKay Shapiro (who also eats pork;) noticed this advertisement at a grocery store and snapped a couple of pictures. She then posted it on her blog so we could all get a kick out of it. The next day the signs were gone and there are at least 2 news stories (one and two). Everyone knows the really sin is that people are paying between $8.99 and $6.29 a pound for ham!

(HT: Silicon Valley Moms)

This Makes You Both Look Bad

I guess Brittany Spears is a wiser mother than someone. Sorry, just typing that line gave me chills. Heidi Klum, in an interview, said that Brittany Spears told her about the tabs on the side of the diapers (or the little sticky things). Before that she was tying string around her kid. Now they had this conversation when Spears crashed Klum's Halloween party.

So who looks worse in this exchange?

(HT: Rocks in My Dryer)

Aqua Dots Kill!

While that may sound like an inflammatory title it is true. The AquaDots toy was made with substandard chemicals that turn into a date rape job when activated by water. (Those with toddlers read when eaten.) This can lead to come, seizures and possibly death.

Chemically what is going on is:

The toys were supposed to use 1,5-pentanediol, a nontoxic compound found in glue, but instead contained the harmful 1,4-butanediol, which is widely used in cleaners and plastics.

The Chinese online trading platform ChemNet China lists the price of 1,4 butanediol at between about $1,350-$2,800 per metric ton, while the price for 1,5-pentanediol is about $9,700 per metric ton.

What I find especially scary is that I was looking at buying these Wednesday morning at SuperWalmart and didn't get them because I was waiting for a sale.

Now We Find Out What Ford Really Thought

I have to say that I have always understood the fine tight rope that former Presidents are forced to walk. They never enjoyed open criticism when they were President yet I am sure that they have plenty to say about the numbskulls that later occupied the White House. Well, Gerald Ford found a great way to handle it. He did a series of tapes with Daily News Washington Bureau Chief Thomas M. DeFrank in order for DeFrank to write Write it When I'm Gone. So far we have found out that Ford thought Bill Clinton was a sex addict and Hillary wore the pants in the family. I think this will not only by anecdotally interesting but we might get more insight into what drove Ford and what really happened in this situations that we are all curious about. Such as,

After the House voted to impeach Clinton but before the Senate's decision on whether to convict him, the sitting President phoned the ex-President.

"He said he needed my help and wanted to know if I could help," Ford recalled not long after.

Ford had written two Op-Ed pieces in which he called for Clinton to admit he had lied to federal investigators in exchange for censure over impeachment.

He told Clinton that he would help him, if he agreed to such a deal.

"Bill I think you have to admit that you lied. If you do that, I think that will help - and I'll help you. If you'll admit to perjury, I'll do more," he said.

"I won't do that," Clinton told him. "I can't do that."

Let me just declare now, I want this book! If there is a publisher out there who would like me to review this book over here, please just mail me a copy;). I have a request in at the library already (I am #6 and they don't have it yet) so when I read it I am sure you guys will get to hear about it. But if you read it first Share!

(HT: Instapundit)

Are All Politicians Cut From the Same Cloth?

A interesting development came up when Lynne Chenney was researching a memoir of growing up in the western state of Wyoming. Come to find out Dick Chenney and Barak Obama are 8th or 9th cousins. So is it true that we are all being ruled by these uber-families;)? You know, the Kennedy/Schwarzeneggers and the Obama/Chenneys;).

I just think this is all cute and funny.

Planned Parenthood Charged

Planned Parenthood in Kansas has been charged with 107 criminal counts. About time they got charged. What I find sad is that False Information is a Non-Person Felony but a Unlawful Late Term Abortion is a Misdemeanor.

(HT: Michelle Malkin)

Oh Joy, I live in a Nanny State

California has become the 3rd state to enact a ban on being in a car, smoking with kids. While I don't smoke (asthmatic and would probably die;) I just don't like the government telling me what to do with my kids. This is a slippery slope....

Southwest Covers Up Scandily Clad "Lady"

For those of you who haven't heard, Southwest recently asked Kyla to adjust her outfit in order to stay on a flight. There is discussion going on about her freedom and was this done because she was a attractive young woman and someone (which of course must be an old married lady like me because no man would complain) was offended. In the CNN interview there was this quote:

Feminist Ann Friedman can't imagine this happening to a man

I happen to offer this different view: it would if his penis was hanging out. As a matter of fact he would have been arrest for indecent exposure. Here is some photographic evidence (Due to the issue these are not on this post due to our family friendly nature. You can click on the image and see it in a window. Mind you these are just stills off of the CNN interview).




In the second picture it looks as if the skirt was made from the top part of a pair of jeans. All you crafty girls have seen those purses and aprons made like that. According to AllDay: Today's Family Blog:

At first, when she appeared on the set, it didn't seem like her outfit was so inappropriate. It was clear that her skirt was pretty short, but it didn't seem worthy of getting a lecture from a customer service representative on how to dress.

But when she sat down, we learned just how short that skirt was -- when she flashed our national television audience. Yeah, that skirt was short.

So was she discriminated against? Yes, in the beneficial way. All she said she had to do was pull down the skirt and up the top. A man would have been bounced and possibly arrested. I say hurray for Southwest! I am not asking for a company to apply stricter standards than the law but let us apply the law. There is a law that allows a woman to nurse in public but other than that cover up! Private parts are not to be seen in public.

(HT: Rocks in My Dryer)

Deaths

Madeline L'Engle died Thursday at age 88. She was the author of Wrinkle in Time and many other great books. Literature and the world will miss her.

Pastor D. James Kennedy also dies this week at age 76. He actually died as a result of a heart attack he had in December. While I listened to him on the radio in hugh school and college, I was shocked (pleasantly) to see he was a founding member of the Moral Majority. He will also be greatly missed.

Both families are in my prayers.

New York Nanny State

Once again New York City has a new ban. This time it is parents smoking in a car with kids. Now I don't smoke, don't like smoking, can't have people smoke around me and I have asthma. Those issues are not the issue. The issue is how much control should the government have? This is private property with their own kids. It is a slippery slope. Smoking around your kids is bad. So is cussing, eating cookies, not getting enough sleep, etc. So are we going to fine everything? Will there be a checklist for raising your kids? I think the biggest thing that scares me about this is that I live in California and can see it happening here.

This also reveals a truth I have known for a while. Bloomberg may be a Republican but he is not conservative. While he hasn't signed off on this specific law he did have some comments pertaining to this subject.

When asked in January about a similar proposal in Rockland County, Mr. Bloomberg said people should have the right to smoke in their own cars, but "if it's a child in the car, who doesn't have the ability to speak up and protect themselves, then society does start to have an interest."

(HT: Two Babes and a Brain)

Pregnancy Carnival

Hi everyone! Here is the latest edition of the Pregnancy Carnival. I don't have any cute themes but so great articles none the less. Let us jump right in!

As always we are looking for ways to deal with pregnancy, its symptoms and its chaos. Mommin' It Up shares her own chaos and life in Days of Chunder. Patricia Hughes at More4Kids gives us Stress Relief Tips During Pregnancy. Emmahoney.com asks "Why Exercise During Pregnancy?". Busy Bee Mama tells us How to Go from Overwhelmed to Productive. Momat35 shares what she has learned from her experiences in How Pregnancy Influenced My Career and Ambition.

In the preparation for baby category we have some good entries. PotPieGirl at Unusual Baby Boy Names provides us with a list of Baby Naming Tips. I Love the Beach tells us How To Make A Beach Baby Nursery. Biotunes.org asks "Is the triple screen for Down Syndrome right for you?". APMFormulators says that Obstetricans have no Idea what non-medicalized Birth is.

Next we have a couple of post birth issues. Rebuild from Depression gives us Breastfeeding Diet: Vitamin D and Iron in New Moms. BustWithAttitude.com provides us with one of our raciest entries (yet needed for some) with Sexy Plus-Size Nursing Bra.

You have to have a little pregnancy politics to finish your day. Phil for Humanity gives us Abortion: Religion versus Practicality versus Morality. Two Babes and a Brain offer us OH...What the Hell... about NYC hospitals ban on freebie formula.

This wraps up this edition of the Pregnancy Carnival. If you might be interested in hosting the Pregnancy Carnival please email me at mom@nerdfamily.com. If you want to submit a piece for the next edition please go to BlogCarnival and fill out the form!

Free Root Beer Floats!

Sonic is giving away free root beer floats tomorrow(Thursday June 7th) from 8-midnight.

(HT: Biblical Womanhood)

Supreme Court Upholds Partial Birth Ban

This just in! In a 5-4 ruling the US Supreme Court has upheld the Partial Birth Abortion Ban as being Constitutional. They said that it didn't effect a woman's right to have an abortion but the method. Very Good!

22 Week Miracle Baby

A baby was born just under 22 weeks and appears to be doing well. It is now 2 months old and there is even talk of sending her home. What amazes me is this is how far a long I am! Something that the article said that was new to me was that 1/2 of all babies born at 25 weeks make it. It just makes you wonder how someone can think this isn't a baby.

(HT: Biblical Womanhood)

How could you educate for $25000 a person?

I am assuming better than the Washington DC schools. According to the Washington Post the kids of the district have a few ideas:

Among the things that they wanted to see in every public school: "books when school starts," "heat in winter," "air conditioning in summer," "healthy meals," "water fountains that work," "music and art classes," "counselors who are able to help us" and "teachers who care about their students and can teach."

My question is what are they already spending the money on? This is yet another reason for vouchers or even tax credits for schooling.

(HT: Joanne Jacobs)

Idaho Recruiting Fresno Businesses?

So I was reading the Fresno Famous Blog and there was a posting about the closing of the Old Fresno Hofbrau. True it is a bit sad because this resturant has been around for years but that wasn't the puzzling part. The resturant was struggling and then...

But at the same time, the Wagners got an offer they couldn't refuse. Business recruiters from the city of Couer de Alene, Idaho stopped here for lunch one day, then offered to help the business relocate to their city.

I just find it odd.

Bratty Kid Gets Family Tossed From Plane!

Recently, AirTran Airways removed a family from a flight due to a bratty 3 year old. Now there is a little more to it. The FAA has a rule that a child over 2 must have their own seat and be in it for take off. So here this flight is, already 15 minutes delayed, with a child that wouldn't get into her seat. That translates into hiding under her seat and hitting her parents. There were 112 other passengers to think of. How many people have missed their connecting flights? I know that NerdDad has. So the airline kicked them off. The airline got them the next flight, refunded their money and then gave them roundtrip tickets to any where the airline flies. I totally feel that AirTran was in the right. We won't even get into the various bad parenting issues going on here (3 is still to young to be aware enough to be afraid of flying) . This is coming from a mom that has a 5 year old, 3 year old and an 18 month old. I would gladly fly this ariline any time. So go comment AirTran for their great choices.

(HT: Electric Venom)

And I thought I was a bad parent!

So I admit it, Christmas comes around and I want to give my kids everything. Am I a bad mom because I don't give them all the childhood toy experiences. Especially since I homeschool. Well, at least I am not this guy. He took his stepdaughter's dog out and sold it for beer.

(HT: Two Babes and a Brain)