Ferro Roche candy

Or however it's spelt.

BAN! BOYCOTT! FIRE!

Their damned candy commercial that starts with a doorbell ringing sets off my dog barking and running to the door. It's idiotic and a stupid commericial anyway even if it does feature a Christmas tree which should be and usually is a redeeming *sp* feature which makes no never mind in this case at all whatsoever.

And the other commericials. All comming in at raised volume. Isn't that illegal or something? Seems to me they made a rule against doing that. Not that anybody cares. Money over morality. And that's on every station I've watched lately. Maybe.

And how's your holidays going?

No news

Is good news. Haven't been watching news at all and loving it. I really O.D. on it, so the break is refreshing? Or something. Did catch some history on C-SPAN and NCIS tonight since I was awake and everything. That was fun. And reruns of NCIS the last few days. What a routine. Exciting. Stimulating. Compelling. And that's all I have to say about that.

Lane is doing the sailor jitterbug dance. It's a good routine and he dances it well.. I started liking his dancing more the last couple of weeks. Don't know why.

I hate this keyboard.

Judges say...2 9s and a 10. One point better than Warren.

But I'm done blogging. Good luck and they're all winners to me anyway.

I am awake

It's true. Here I am. I had an long, hours long nap today.
Yesterday, not so much so, yes. I slept through Dancing last night. Bummer.

Enjoying the show so far. As always. I enjoy the show. Don't know if the last 3s dances tonight are judged or not. Was I really watching? Hard to say.

Warren's dancing, repeat of an earlier dance.
The Funky Town song. All the stars came back to dance tonight, too. That's a real fun part. Ted is really good. Big shame he was voted off.

Ya, it's judged, 3 9s for Warren.
Warren is just plain entertaining and fun.

Lance is next. Guess they're all doing dances they did before. I think. But I could be wrong. I'll never know what's going on. Guess that'll keep me interested.

Aaretha sings again

and Christie danced with Mark. Don't remember bringing back stars for these spots, before, but they may have.

They're just getting to the elimination. I almost forgot what tonight was about.

Lance is saved. Brooke is saved. Warren and Cody in the bottom 2. Is next week the last one? 3 couples in the finals, 2 eliminated, or one winner? Beats me. Stay tuned and I'll find out, I guess. Show's almost over. don't they usually start the eliminations earlier? Changes for less dancers, maybe. Or a creative production staff or something.

Cody's eliminated. That's what Len said last night, isn't it. Guess it figured, but he probably does have a lot of fans.

Next week, then. And I didn't even cheat and look for the review before the show was over.

Julianne

just sang and her brother and Lacey and Mark danced. All excellent. She has the voice thing. That thing that's got a unique quality/sound to it and she can really belt it out when necessary. Good job, all of 'em.

See? I didn't even recognize John Legend. Is his name John? Think the Legend part's right.

Nice voice and very nice song. I like the falseto part, too. Looks like he has his own dancers. Interesting routine, like they're at a club. Great explination, wasn't that. Whatever. I know what I mean and you can watch the shows if you wanna know. Or don't.

Kids up

And it's 3 couples.

cha-cha. How do kids get to be so good at that age? Are they even 10?Len loves them. great feet and lets
Bruno, loves precision, great arms
Carryann - loves them.

How could anyone not?

The second couple looks a bit older. Maybe even over 10.

I really like the second pair. Love their costumes, too. I like the song, too, which seems to make a big difference to me. Wonder who picks out the music?

Bruno, likes it, sharp and crisp
Carrieann, sophisticated

3rd couple, the girl seemed off sometimes. Think I like the 2nd couple the best. And they jived which I love.

The judges like it a lot better than I do. Ah, this couple danced the week I slept through.

Aretha's gonna sing and the pros dance. Good stuff. One of my favorite things. Really good stuff.

Like Samantha's dresses this week, too. They're both really nice and look very good on her.

Leona Lewis? Has the biggest hit and I've never heard of her. Regis let me down on this one. It's amazing how many people I've never heard of. And then there's all the people I've heard of and have no idea what they do, either music or acting. Some more very nice pro dancing, though. Not really the kind of singer I'm fond of, though. John Legend ought to be interesting. Never heard him sing. Think I might have heard a thing or two about him, however.

yes, I am

I'm awake and watching the recap of Dancing.

But I don't feel like blogging. I did get a couple of naps, for about 5 minutes each. This helps in major ways to stay awake for this 2 hours. I slept till about 4:30 so it could have been worse.

It's getting to the end of the show, too. What'll I watch then? I did catch NCIS tonight. But I missed the episode that explained all the crew's disbursment.

Lance really did do the best dancing last night. Just re-watched his dances and really liked them both.

The Ballroom Kids are up next. Guess the audience votes this time. Just 2 couples? Naturally, I don't remember. Only showed 2 couples so far, I think. If I was paying attention of which there never is any guarentee.

I'm doing good

On the staying awake part. I never know how it'll play out, but a nap is good insurance against sleep. Which, but they way, I got my insurance, first half, mailed. Second half to follow, but is it next month or the month after that it's due? Funny I can't remember.

Warren's up doing a swing type and fun to watch as usual. He's got just a ton of positive personality.

Len, really sells it
Bruno, didn't like it so much?
Carryann - likes it

I don't get what Bruno said somehow.

I'd vote for Warren if I could vote which I can't

2 8s and a 9.

Actually, tonight I'd vote for all of them. But I guess Warren's really my new favorite even though I'm liking them all. There's a lot to be said for the entertainment value. Jackie Gleason used to do little gigs and was always a lot of fun and he was no pro dancer. Although I think he had a stage background maybe even vaudaville.

Lance is up again, with the swing thing. Jitterbug? probably. Not so impressed, but still pretty good. Did he lose a shoe?

Bruno - brilliant...well referenced, a joy
Carryann - agrees, magic.
Len, second fabulous dance.

Why wasn't I so impressed? Think it's because I was typing about Jackie Gleason and not really watching.

2 10s and a 9. Definately his best scores and best dances ever.

And it's over.

Lance is the top scorer tonight. First time it wasn't Brooke who's tied for second. But's up to fans and I guess we'll find out soon enough.

At least it isn't like this last presidential race that went on for years. Good news at last.

Brooke and Salsa

Sshe's supposed to keep straight legs. Pretty good song, but it's awfully brassy in a 50s kind of way. And I can't tell if her legs are straight or not. Pretty good dance, though.

Bruno - loves it...excited that Brooke's back.
Carryann - rose above her first dance and did great
Len - think he liked it, but told her to work on her strong points.

We'll see...2 9s and a 10. So much better than the first one.

Cody - another salsa. He's looking good. Pretty nice job.

Judges say, however,Carryann - lots of fun to the dance, bad musicality
Len, good musicality. huh, totally opposite opinion. I liked it.

3 8s for Cody.

National champion swing dancers just demoed. They are so good it's scary. Scary thinking about trying to do the same thing they do which isn't possible. I really like the pros' dances.

{Bruno, cheeky devil, fun, loose technique:::this sentence goes with the Cody paragraph and I've no idea how it got here or how to get it back there with getting out the mouse which I'm not going to do. I'll, and you'll, live with it. Or die trying?}

yikes

Cody just got one point more than Brooke. 2 7s and and an 8.

Warren's got the Mambo. Ya, see , I'm smiling already. Some nicemoves. Sshe just did a semi-split under his leg. Really fun stuff.

Judges say, however,

Carriann - more content, up his game.
Len good performer and shows personality, lacks technique,
Bruno - flatfooted, but very engaging.

Do they like it or not? lol, it's hard to tell sometimes. He is very entertaining and lots of fun. Maybe the most fun dancer I've yet seen on the show. Well, George Hamilton's pretty fun, and what's his name, Jerry Springer was fun, too. Oh, ya, Cloris Leachman's fun. But I guess Warren's the most fun. Or not. You decide.



I guess they've got new dances again this week. Think I heard Salsa and Jitterbug mentioned as second dances. Wonder what else? It's always fun to get new stuff. Mostly.

Scores, 3 8s. Best scores so far.

Lance's next. Mombo. Dumb song again. Well, it got better after the intro. A little better. He looks pretty good to me. But who am I to say?

The judges say...
Len - best dance so far.
Bruno - semi-final material, full of content.
Carryann = show stopper, dynamic.

I think they like it. But I try not to let comments fool me. They don't always score in equal doses to their remarks. But I sure liked that dance.

Scores - 2 9s and a 10. Excellent.

And I always knew that I like Lacey.

And my dog bit me. He was asleep. I petted him. Scared him and he growled and bit a couple of times. Didn't even hurt. Think it scared him that he bit me.

Len just did a bit with the stars. Always like it when Len does stuff. He gave all the stars advice on their weak areas. Fun intro to it, too. Dancing with two of the pros, then woke up from the dream. They do fun stuff on this show.

Just had a Salsa duo demonstrate. Very nice and I'd be so intimidated by having to follow all that excellence. They were really good and had appropriate music and costumes, too. It really makes a difference and helps. I don't know what it helps, it just helps.

oops

Brooke just messed up the jive. My favorite. Judges not happy. And no, I didn't get a nap. And yes, of course. I need one.

3 7s for Brooke on that one.

And I'm late to log in. Had to get dinner. Cheese and crackers. It's almost real food. Soda crackers. Soda must be good for a person. Cheese is naturally good for one. Dancing may be better.

Cody's doing the Pasa. Very odd song. Julieanne's got a strange, military costume, like a WACK or WAVE or something from the 40s kind of style. I'm finding this whole thing disjointed.

Bruno doesn't like it
Carriann needs smoothing out.

Len, stiff and wooden, really didn't like it.

Now I gotta make more crackers.

here's the deal

Marriage is not a religious act. Unless people choose that route.

Marriage is a State function. All clergy and other officials must be liscened*sp* by the State to be official. No one needs a church ceremony to be officially wed.

Marriage has nothing to do with the Church. Unless, like I said, people want a religious ceremony. It still has to qualify with the State to be legal.

Gay marriage is just another instance of the religious imposing their religious practices on everyone else. Non believers have no obligation to satisify their God. Or Gods.

and

My remote broke. Almost 3 weeks ago. Lucky the guy told me how to use the tv remote, isn't it. The lady today said that she's sending a tech out to replace it since they keep saying they'll mail a new one and they keep not doing it. This one tells me that it's taking up to 8 weeks to mail them these days. Incredible. Possibly true. I believe nothing anymore. So that was 2 major appliances I've been out of lately. It's been hell. Or something unpleasant.

Warren tango. Looks strange and the music's stranger. His solo's lookin' good. He doesn't look comfortable with this one. Or maybe it's just me.

Didn't look like a tango to me, but the music's wrong.

Len - joyful to watch, feet so bad there's no words for it.

Bruno - contagous fun, but feet again.

Carrie Ann - loved the energy and solo. loved his feet. See? I can't keep up. 2 9s and an 8. Really good.

Maybe Warren wasn't doing a tango. That's just so really possible. Was it a jive? They kept using that term. How unusual for me to miss something. hahahahaha. I'm luck to catch anything. I don't even catch colds.

at least

I'm not sleepy. Got 5 or 10 minutes after 5:00, so I'm good.

Maurice's is up Pasa Doble *sp*.

Bruno - strong, imposing, powerful, doing well

Carrie Ann - love the focus. Really hit the steps. But wants to see grace.

Len - good job, good cape work.

Guess it's me, not fond of his movement. A little stiff for me.

3 8s.

Lance - Samba. I have to say I'm a big fan of Lacy's. Really like her dancing. Not so fond of Lance, unfortunately. Good job, though. He kinda up and downs a lot and it's distracting.

Carrie Ann - he looks up too much and it's distracting and effects his dancing.

Len - work on feet,

Bruno - thinks it's better than Len does.

Scores - 7 and 8 and 9.

And since I don't know which week it is, I put out the yard waste and the recycling. With any luck, they'll pick up something.

And I have to remember to put out the garbage can after that for a replacement the day after tomorrow. what a life.

Maurice

Has the quickstep. Great song, too. Putting on the Ritz. Cheryl's got a great costume, too. Nice routine.

Judges see much improvement and liked it.

Guess I don't have any favorites left now, do I. Who will I root for?

I saw part of last week's shows, slept, of course, through the bulk of them. Lost my keyborad for a week or so and just got a replacement. Really hard to be off line so long. The worst of it is deleting all that email. I ususally delete it daily.

3 8s for Maurice.

Guess they all have a solo in a latin second round tonight.

Lance is next. Fox trot.

Nice song. Don't it, Sweet Pea? Can't catch all the words. Lance looks pretty smooth and puttingon a show.

Len pleased with their straight dance. Bruno, good classic form with some individuality. Carrie Ann...bright light...likes it, too.

2 9s and an 8. Good scores. It was good work.

Still. I think Warren's gonna be my new favorite. He just always makes me laugh and smile when he dances. His partner's one of my favorite pros, too. And yes. I have forgotten her name. Thanks for noticing. Ah, it's Kim, that's right.

Tango to a weird spy song. Even when he's serious, Ismile and love it his dancing. He really moves well. Good with the beat and rythum.

Bruno likes it. Carrie Ann likes it, says he connects with the audience.
Len- really likes it. Kim always does good routines.

Scores...2 9s and a 10.

Latin/solo round comming right up.

Cody - He's looking good. Nice solo, too.

Edita*sp* - always a favorite, nice routine.

Carrie Ann - nice, but sort of disjointed.

Len - funny guy...hopes Warren doesn't do the same ending as Ccody did...jumping on the desk. Good.

Bruno - some spasmotic. Lots of effort they appreciate.

3 8s. I thought it was better than that. But who am I to judge? hahahaha...not them, that's not who.

Julianne's back next week. Good news. Glad she's recovered. Another favorite pro.

Brook's up, mambo. Always good.Some very slick, nice moves. Very nice job, good routine.

judges may say differently.

Len - ambitious, fantastic, too flexed at times.

Bruno - great dancer,

Carrie Ann - wonder dancer and performer, but posture looked off, or something I forget what she said.

Dr Drew's on tomorrow. Huh?

3 9s. Guess they didn't like it as much as I did. What a shock.

here we are again

And where is that? Well, here.

Cody did good. Nice fox trot. Judges liked him, 3 8s.

I'm behind already.

Brook's up. Tango. Sshe's just plain good. Nice routine, too. Really nice dancing.

Judges say...Bruno, seems to like it a lot. Stunning. Carrie Ann...loves it. Pitch perfect. Len...good routine, had lots of bad to say. She's getting judged as a pro now, I guess. 2 10s and an 8 from Len. Guess he's serious about the pro stuff. Bummer.

most interestingly

is how the Electorial Colle got it's name. It was named for the Holy Roman Empire and the College of Cardinals. The Holy Romans elected their German king, called Holy Roman Emperor and the Founders, or somebody, combined that with the College of Cardinals' name as they elect the Pope. Thus, The Electoral College. Well, ya know, it's the most interesting part to me. The Holy Roman Empire is another source of total confusion for me. That I can google. And might. And I still don't know where Orange is. Or was. If William was of Orange, doesn't that mean he was from Orange? I doubt it meant that was his favorite color.

I googled Iceland. Don't ask.

And yes I did, thank you. I slept through Dancing. I did wake up for a bit and saw Flattly dancing. I think. He's just so good. But I really wanted to sleep so that's what I did. I see that Cloris is voted off. She lasted a good, long time. Longer than I expected, truth be told. Hope she had fun.

The drugs should be here tomorrow. They come from a speciality pharmacy out of town. Very odd things I've learned. Now what am I gonna do all day?

Don't feel like tv. Don't feel like reading. Played some games already and don't feel like those either. Got the new Legos Batman. Can't say I'm thrilled. But I'm not interested much in games anymore anyway.

Am sick to death of this election, though. Can't even work up the enthusiam to blog anything about it now. That could change. I may just be tired, ergo, the sleeping. I did wake up in time to see Chelsey Lately and What's My Line. Hedy Lamar was on. Didn't she have some legal trouble? I could google it. Guess I was never a fan of hers. Maybe I didn't see much of her movies. Did she make many? Could google that, too.

Lauren Becall's in a new comercial. Women's health? Forgot. She's terrific. Am a big fan of hers. Very funny in this comercial, too. "You know how to get attention, don't you?" or something like that. "You know how to whistle, don't you?" Made me laugh. Twice. I saw it twice. And laughed both times. She's just about the best. One of the very best. Ya, I'm a fan.

McCain's making campaign issues of rumors. Is Obama making White House Plans? Beats me. I think it's gossip. I am totally sick of this shit.

stuff

The Electoral College is part of the the orrigional Constitution. It was a compromise between those Founders who wanted Congress to vote for the President and those who wanted a popular vote.

It was changed to include Washington, D.C. whose residents couldn't vote for President until then which is strange since he lives there. As well as being tax paying citizens. Didn't catch the date of this change.

It takes a Constitutional ammendment which requires 2/3 of each House of Congress plus 3/4 ratification by each state, and I'm guessing D.C. which isn't a state, it's a district - The District of Columbia.

The electors meet in their states, fill out their paperwork and have to have it in to Congress in time for them to count them in January. I think the electors have a December 15 dedline, and Congress counts the votes around January 6. It really isn't official, I'm guessing, until the Congressional count.

Electors are by Congressional count. One for each senator and each congressman. Congressmen are determined by population of each state, bigger states have more congressmen. Each state has 2 senators.

Bush and the Republicans a few years ago managed to re-draw congressional lines to make more Republican districts in Texas. Everything's political.

There have been many efforts to eliminate or make major changes in the Electoral College over the years, 700 of them or something, but they never get anywhere. Except for the D.C. thing.

I believe the Electors are chosen by the winning popular votes according to party and chosen by the partys. But I'm not clear on this at all and the details probably vary according to state laws.

well

I suppose I should blog. Fortunately for some, I slept through Dancing, woke up around 10:30, fell asleep again sometime or other and woke up again around 4 a.m. I missed every show I'd have voluntarily watched. Maybe I can catch it tonight and maybe they'll have a recap again. If I'm awake? Does it matter? Well, I guess it does to me. Sleeping does save you a lot of irrelevant reading.

I think I googled nothing yesterday. I did, however, go to the doctor. Was late, but it was ok. Got the blood work and saw him. I guess I'm doing ok so he may do more than the usual 6 rounds of chemo. This month is the sixth for me. I feel fine. No problems with it. The bumps flattened and the cancer's gone from them. He couldn't, of course, see the chest one since it's inside. But was there a PET scan that showed it gone? Honest to god, I don't remember.

Regis and Kelly are giving me a terrific recap of the show. They act it out and brilliantly, may I add. And I am sorry I missed Michael Flattley*sp*. He really is brilliant and apparently they ran some of his shows. PBS could run them again. I wouldn't complain.

I did read the review of Dancing this morning. Not very flattering. Snarky this time and, is it Ree Hinds?, the reviewer lately usually isn't. Was it all that bad? Wouldn't bother me. I like the show. Although, I can't offer up a contrarian opion since I didn't see it. I guess I could make it up, like I see on other tv shows. Shall I name the places?

the straight dope

It's a website also with a newsletter, which has a staff who answers questions on all kinds of questions. Very interesting topics. Beware the offering of stupid questions or bad attitudes. They discuss that, too. Lengthy archives.

Recently, they discussed the abortion question regarding when life began. Apparently, the Catholic Church does indeed have a spotty record of it's stance on that issue. At one time, they believed that boy babies were 'life' at maybe 4 weeks (I forget the numbers. You said something???) and girls at 21 weeks. Eventually, a Pope remarked that Mary was life at conception which started the belief that the fetus is a person from that time. I think he said they didn't say much about abortion. Was is believed for a time that life began at birth, too? I think so. So they changed.

The newsletter writer said that since brain dead is considered death, that the time of being able to record brain activity would be a reasonable time to regard the fetus as alive, therefore, a person. He said that's around 24 weeks? Maybe 21, I again forget.

The first trimester is 12 weeks, isn't it? That makes the marker time towards the end of the 2nd trimester? Something like that.

Huckabee talks about the sancity of human life. Didn't the churches used to talk about when the soul entered the body? It's not provable we have souls or that God exists, so this is a tenuious argument. Sanctity is much stronger until we get to the death penality and war. I don't know how believers put that one together.

If there's no brain activity, is there life? The thing about abortion is that people apply their emotions to it and not their intellect. I apply my emotion to the economy since I have no intellect about it.

Do we make laws to satisify the intellect or the emotion? Some of both, maybe. More mix and match and I have no problem making the selections.

more Romney

The tax cuts to business didn't cause the economy crash. Yes. I know. That's not the point. The tax cuts didn't trickle down and the middle class has been pushed to the wall. The crash came from the mortages on top of other economic practices, I believe.

I don't think people are as stupid as Romney thinks. Well, I possibly am. I don't understand economics or the government or politics or horses or Christmas.

If they can regulate Christmas, they can regulate business. Then people can have a Christmas.

Aretha Franklin

Did Christmas on the View. Excellent, as always, and I, for maybe the only one, is glad Christmas is near. I love all the pre-event. The music, decorations, tv shows, which seem to be in depletion.

Poor Cavuto. 2 guests on one show last week told him the economy sink is from irresponsible, incapable and immoral executives and boards.

One is plumber Joe, who said they need a moral compas or something cause they did so bad. The second is a business guy Cavuto likes who said there's a lot of bad management and do-nothing boards and the share holders don't have any power to effect them at all.

So. Let business continue to run the country. The banks won't lend with the bail out money, but they will buy up other banks and hand out big bonuses to executives. Greenspan was right. He didn't understand human nature and he sure should have. Everybody has it from the day they're born.

I hear that 22 thousand people died last year who had no health insurance. Good job, business.

At least the Lehman guy's bonus money was in Lehman stock. Maybe he can go on welfare. Oh, ya. He already had been. Corporate welfare is no joke. It's the basis of economic enterprise.

Something's wrong somewhere. Nobody has restrictions on the bail out money. It's theirs all theirs. Just ask them. Why were they left in charge?

I don't understand anything. Not even Christmas. I just love it.

Can't google that one.

Adele

A most excellent young English singer was just on tv. Looks all of 18, with an adult, mature voice with range and control. An instruement.
They say she's the next Amy Winehouse. Huh? Amy's not even close to Adele. Someone who's music I'd buy. Yes, I know. Somebody else to put on my not a fan of list. It really is quite large and potentially embarasing and best kept to myself unless I don't feel like it.

Lady Lynn again

Was just on Fox and Friends. Her name is Lady Lynn Forrester de Rothschilds. I don't know what the family's titles are. But I have heard of E. M. Forrester. I wonder if she's related? We have some English family names on my father's side.

I also read recently that Queen Victoria elevated someone to a dukedom. The Duke of Westminster. Is that a royal title? I don't know. I think I read they're related, but I really don't know. But titled families often have several titles.

So I still ask: Has or does Queen assign aristocistaic titles? I don't know how to google that one. It really does get complicated especially in matters of address. Is it Lord/Lady first name, last name, title name? I've seen charts on it, but can't keep it straight at all.

I think Princess Diana really wasn't a princess because she wasn't born one so that's an incorrect address. She was Diana, Princess of Wales. Princess Anne is a princess. In Winston's family, the last name is Churchill. The title, one of them, is Duke of Marlburo. So is is, David Churchill, Duke of M...? Or whatever the first name is? Beats me, but it's interesting.

and

there's nothing on tv tonight. As usual. How many days till Dancing? I don't count good, but it's on again in 4 days if it's on Monday. I don't even really remember for sure which days it's on. Lovely.

And then I heard something on BBC news. I've heard it before. Apparently, they mostly think Americans don't have passports and won't travel to Europe. The thing is geography, time and expense. I suppose that means that the things are....

We don't, as a rule, have as much vacation time as Europeans. People are lucky to have a week paid vacation a year. Two isn't totally unusual. I think they often have 4 to 6 weeks a year. With a week, subtract 4 days and there's 3 days left to visit Europe.

So that's geography, too. They're much closer to other European countries than we are. They can easily go to France, Spain, Belgium, Germany, GB, whatever, with only a few days. It costs a lot less than travel from here to there, as well.

The news mentioned all the vacation places in the U.S. that mirror vacation destinations in Europe that they enjoy. And it's true. People can go camping or go into San Fransisco, New York, Chicago, St. Lewis, Houston, etc for shopping, theater, museums, etc.

There's beaches, lakes, fishing, water and snow skiing, casinos east, west and south, I believe, and, well, stuff to do in lots of places.

People near the boarders often go into Canada and Mexico.

Europe is a dream destination for many people. And some go there as well as Asia and the tropics.

Oh. Don't forget Disney. There's one on each coast. And other amusement parks here and there.

I suppose Americans go to different states the way Europeans go to different countries. It's geography.

I think I said a long time ago, if nothing else, teach geography and Latin. Really. I mean it.

today

Peaceful. Even with an extrodinary amount of kerfuffel.

My internet box wouldn't work. And, yes. I checked plugs and batteries. (the keyboard is battery) I called, and instead of my fears playing out, all I had to do was unplug it for a few seconds to reset instead of buying a new one.

One down.

The cable guy didn't show. I called and was told that the appointment was cancelled. Nobody called me. Turns out the day I called the cable was out and it wasn't my box. I re-attached things and it works fine. I even remembered to order a new remote since a couple of the buttons wore out.

So I spent all day yesterday and half of today living fronteer television. It took considerable time and advise from the cable guy the other day just to use the tv's remote. I didn't even remember that there's buttons on the tv itself I could use. He asked and I said there's no tv controls on the tv. There are controls on the tv. I can't read them the lights so bad and they're so small, but they're there.

Joy was bad on The View today. She took a string of pot shots at Elisabeth that weren't funny no matter how much she laughed at her own jokes. Pointless and mean. But that's what happens when people go there with argument. Elisabeth and O'Reilly picked at her a lot yesterday and Elisabeth often says mean things about Democrats and won't tolerate any criticisim of the right at all. The basic discussion today was nothing to get serious about, whether or not Palin's daughter should get married now to avoid national scrutiny ***if McCain wins, or wait till next summer.

The Palin's are waiting, so of course, any suggestion that they shouldn't (cause of the election) was immediately defended by Elisabeth with lots and lots of reasons they couldn't make the wrong decision. And Joy proceeded to take her shots at Palin just to get Elisabeth. It's all really dumb. Not worth listening to at all. Either of them.

And then Cavuto. His argument today was that JFK and FDR were rich and bought expensive clothes so what's the difference if Palin does? I think they bought their own clothes for one thing.

But then Cavuto often says the rich are all Democrats and that simply isn't true. Trump and T. Pickens Boons are both Republicans, I believe, and there's a lot more of them, I'm sure.

But Palin's running the I'm just one of the folks plank. 150 for clothes is more than a lot of the folks make a year. And the Party bought them for her. And they bought them for her in a time of economic difficulty. Livin' large is so Republican.

But the Democratic representative on Cavuto today didn't come up with a very good argument. They often don't seem to. At least the young ones.

Susan Eisenhauer was also on today. As soon as she had a good response to Cavuto's remark, he lost interest. What was it about? Something to do with his spreadsheets crunching Obama's numbers and finding bad answers to that economic plan. She said the ideas are a broad generalization and what they do in office depends on what they find there. It's true. They never do what they say exactly. They can't. Sometimes they have to make deals. Compromise is mostly the name of the game. The good game.

It's funny. They're talking about Joy on the View and skipping the part where Elisabeth is just the same from the other side. They're talking about all the liberal hate speach without admitting all the conservative hate speach. Republicans don't admit fault or laugh at themselves or their candidates either. Just like Joy and Elisabeth don't.

But they're right about Joy. She's mean and not very funny. She always struck me as wounded and angry and using humor as a weapon. No, I suppose I've never been a fan of hers, either. Joy and Elvis. What a list.

Republicans have been running things for a long time. Demeaning anyone the left even as much as an inch. They absconded with God like they own him without being particularly pious. They even used God to win elections. Now Democrats, along with being bloated with wealth, can't even be considered valid believers.

So they can complain about liberals all they want. They aren't any better and they look worse to me because of all the manipulation and intellectual dishonesty. People with power always want to keep it. See: feminists regarding men. See: parents regarding children. See: most anybody regarding anything. We all want to go to the movies we want to see. And everybody knows how to manipulate. It's the first things kids learn about language and behaivor. How to get attention or the extra cookie or whatever.

Why are so many traditional Republicans bailing? They don't ask themselves, do they. The unexamined mind is the happy mind.

oh, ya, the clothes thing

It's McCain-Feingold. That's the compaing reform laws that McCain worked on. In that bill, it's illegal for compaings to buy clothes for candidages, but apparently it's not illegal for the Partys to.

Maybe that's his embarasement.

He said they'll donate the clothes to charity, but how much value they'll have is dubious. They could, perhaps, auction them to Palin fans for a nicer chuck of change to give to someone. The handicaped, maybe?

did yoou know

That our Founding Fathers were East Coast intellectual elistists?

It's true. The only group they enfranchised to vote were white, land owning males. We were founded on snobery.

The uneducated were considered lacking common sense and mental finess and couldn't possibly be trusted to understand sophisticated political philosophy.

But that's why we have the electorial college. They had no confidence in us the people.

Also, States Rights were more important at the founding than it appears now. Everybody, mostly, resisted Federal control. So now, state laws effect the electorial college as well as everything else, capital punishment, for example, which is a state law.

I think one problem at the time was currency, so that was made federal. The colonies, maybe, all had different money and it was confusing. But I think the states had more individual power then than they do now.

The masses got the vote eventually, so the people perhaps understand better than the founders could imagine.

These details, as always, may be completely incorrect.

I didn't find my war horse information, but read many interesting other things. Like after Rome fell, horse breeding took a nose dive. There were a couple of pockets which continued the Roman ways, in Spain and France.

Spain became the center of the best horses in the middle ages and many turned to them for stock. France, also, under the Merivinginian (whatever) dynasty, maintained good breeding practices. But it also mentioned Scandinavia, I think. But I forgot what about.

Horses then were classified by work and not breed. Were they good for speed, confort, draft, battles, etc.

Very interesting things to know and think about.

And the town in Slovenia the Lipizzaners come from is near the Italian border and the country was part of Yugoslavia. I really do need a map AND and atlas. And an atlas of ancient times. And a history book about them. Or two. It's hard to research without books. Just trust me on this. It really is.

On O'Reilly, Laura Ingram said that Sarah Palin is the face of the Republican Party to come. I'm not sure that they can get more right wing than they already are without dipping into Fashism, but time will tell. Ingram seemed to be looking forward more right shifting.

We can only hope that Orson Bean is correct about the parties and countries shifting center whenever they go too far left or right.

AND, come to find out that the dressage moves of the Lipizzaners aren't war moves. The knights developed those exercises to build strength and flexibility in their horses. So now I need to find out if the horses really did kill people. They may have used different but similar moves in battle. I now simply don't know.

See how it goes? Wrong things are taught all the time. Misinformation comes from everywhere. Sorting things out can be difficult to impossible.

Oh, and it's called the Spanish Riding School because some of the foundation stock for the breed are from the Spanish horses, also ancestors of the Andeloosian**kinda phonetic** and others. Those are really terrific horses, also. The orrigional breeding and training, I suppose, was done in Slovenia and were named after the orrigional town name there which was similar to Lippizia. Maybe. 16th century, I believe, mostly for royality, not really for battle.

So now I have to look up war horses. Somehow.

And McCain looked embarased about all that money for Sarah's clothes.

It seems that

Obama got a million or so donations from hedge funds or some stock market things. McCain only about 1/2 a million.

Does that mean the majority of money men like Obama's economic plans better?

It was mentioned as a slap at Obama. It's always a problem to not understand things. It's too easy to be swayed by other's interpretations. How are they said, which bits of information are they using and which are they omitting?

And what do I know or think I know?
It's always who do you trust. If motives become suspect, as with Elisabeth, then they're impossible to trust. I know enough to back away from the mean. Just saw it on a Fox reporter's face. So, what's going on with him? Someone else not to trust.

I don't know why anybody trusts a politician.

when is white grey?

In horseworld.

The Queen, I read, was just gifted with a Lippezanner *sorry* in Slovenia, I think, and asked that he be kept there and cared for. She got a placque.

Those are the Spanish Riding School horses. All white. Or are they?

Born black, they, at least the males, turn white. But in horseworld, horses that look white are really usually greys. A horse has to be albino to be called white and that's more rare a condition.

So, are those horses called white or grey? I have no idea.

And the Spanish Riding School was in Vienna last I heard.

There was a fun Disney movie about their move during WWII to hide them from the Germans.

There's a similar school of them who perform based in Las Vegas, I believe. I saw a show once. Good stuff.

They're war moves taught to war horses in the middle ages. The Knights used them to stomp and jump over and around ground troops. I hear that those horses then were not so nice, very dangerous and mean. The killed people regularly.

Horse colors are very complicated. I can't even begin to delve the topic.

But here's the other thing. Bob Beckel said that compaigns always buy candidates clothes, or often do. Gergan said he's never heard of such a thing being done.

Is it grey or white?

O'Reilly on the View

It was ugly. Elisabeth is impossible to like or respect. She's mean and it shows. Joy is a little different. Impassioned, but has the comic's ability hit back in the mean. O'Reilly was ugly and mean to her and Elisabeth liked it. She's so nothing.

I didn't find

The Chivelry info I was looking for either. Eleanor's grandfather, William IX did start writing Troubadour music which is connected to Chivalry in theme, but no mention was made that I could find of Eleanor's connection to it.

hmmm

Elisabeth mentioned the military support of McCain as argument against the poll that shows Palin's negativities as rising from 37% to 47%. But we must disregard the military opinion since they only support McCain cause he's a Vet. Like Powel's endorsement of Obama is only because he's black.

All that arguing they just did again. The issues weren't discussed. Turns into a fight and meanness.

PBS - it's a good thing.

so we'll see

O'Reilly's on The View today. I just have to stay awake.

Oh, that's right. I wanted to look up Eleanor's grandfather. I think it was she who introduced Chivelry to England, and that she got it from her Grandfather who's name I can't recall. They just mentioned it on Regis and Kelly.

I should have looked up the spelling before mentioning it.

I've been remiss

About the View. Kinda like Fox hasn't mentioned anything about Palin's clothes purchase by the GOP. Or maybe they did and I missed it.

I haven't mentioned Joy on the View. She's just like Elisabeth from the other side. Just as loud and agressive and insistent and opinionated and harsh.

Whoopie, Sheri and Barbara are able to discuss things from a more objective point of view and don't retreat into shouts and insults.

Both Joy and Elisabeth make it difficult to hear the ideas and shut down others voices.

Pretty human. Aggrivating and human.

So why didn't I? I'm not really sure. Maybe cause she can speak up to balance Elisabeth. Maybe it's all the years of ugly Republicanistic attacks and I'm defending the picked-on. I don't agree with Joy all the time either.

I really don't like all Democrats or hate all Republicans. I'm not anti-church or patrioticism. According to the right, I'd be considered a Nazi, though, and that's the problem.

good morning to me!

And how am I this fine morning? Why, I'm just fine, thank you.

I guess I could cogitate (see: cognate) the charge of indoctrination and brainwashing and appropriateness of the use of children in the pro Obama internet ad.

And there's the insistence of connecting Obama to Ayres now through a radio interview which shows Ayres is unrepetent. But Susan Estridge made my point. Prove Obama heard it. Prove that Obama and Ayres ever discussed the bombings or Ayres continuous beliefs. They were working on education with many other people of both parties.

But the brainwashing and indoctrination is of somewhat more interest to me at the moment.

I wonder what O'Reilly and others think of taking kids to church and supporting the Pledge of Alliegence is? It's brainwashing and cultural indoctrination.

Parents usually teach their kids their beliefs one way or another. The problem here is that the kids who went to the gay wedding aren't being taught what O'Reilly believes in.

Do parents have a right to teach their kids what they believe?

Does O'Reilly?

We have no rights without extending those rights to others *always within certain limitations*

And what did he do to his hair? It looked cauffed last night. Very odd.

apparently

there was some cross over possible between the jitterbug and Elvis. When did he start singing? The jitterbug's a swing variation. I just googled it.

The kids just did a jive. People everywhere should always jive.

The song, however, was wrong. I insist.

I'd google Elvis, but I don't want to. They were jitterbugging on american bandstand around l954. It just doesn't go with Elvis somehow to me. Now see? I'm gonna torture myself, and you, trying to figure this out. Except I won't be able to since I've no idea which song it was even so I could google it.

2 judges went for the second kids. Len picked the first pair.

A dance troupe is up. They're doing a historical of dance. Starts with the Nicholas Brothers in the 30s I think they said. Then to the 60s? Then maybe the 80s, don't remember what they said. Geeze, so far the only thing I recognize is the Nicholas Brothers. Ddon't know what period this part is. robotic stuff. I guess they did some break dancing I recognized. Can't say the last sections are favorites of mine. I prefer the Nicholas Brothers. But don't tell anybody.

Allright, you caught me. I'm not an Elvis fan and that's probably the problem I had with that song.

Wonder what's on tv tonight. No way to tell. That's what I use comercials for. To check the remote schedule. Or should I say, he schedule on the remote. The first can cause confusion if people don't know the comcast digital remote. The second would be more clear, yet lack of information on the reader's part would still render it meaningless.

Cody's safe. And Maurice.

I don't have any guess about who's going home this week.

Brooke's safe. bottom 2, toni for one. Safe...Lance.
Susan in bottome 2.

We all know who I pick. Both of them.

Toni's off the show. It's a real shame.

I'm thinking the second kid pair will win. We'll see.

Results!

The worst part of the show. The only bad part of the show. Somebody goes home.

Michael Flattley's the subsitiute judge next week. I saw him on PBS a couple of times. I happen to think he and his show are very good things. Be fun to see him. I just have to remember to stay awake. And this, is a mighty challenge.

Samantha's got the nicest dress tonight. Very Grecian.

Warren and Cloris both safe. Excellent.

I hear

that the Republicans spent l50 thousand on clothes for the Palin family. Apparently, campaigns never buy clothes for candidates and their kin. I hear that the Republicans are so very good at budgeting. As long as it's their personal money. We can all take a lesson from them on that. A lesson of what sort I'm not entirely sure.

oh, ya

The important part of the day? I got a real long nap. Guess I didn't need to wake up this morning but go back to sleep.

And I didn't go to the store for fun food. I went to McDonalds. Why? Because, that's why.

The McDonald's by my house is closed. It's so closed that it's boarded up. This is an alarming sight. What does it mean for the neighborhood if a McDonald's isn't making it? The other one close by is still open.

Warren's making me smile again tonight to see his dance. He's a treat to watch.

And I did google Western Swing. Developed from Black jazz dancing in the l920s. Spread across the country and there are several variations, a Tulsa dance, country swing, etc. The Western was named by someone in California. Who's the dance studio guy? Arthur Murry? Anyway, he had people from his studios check local dancing and the person in California named the west coast type Western in the l940s, I think it was.

And of course the jitterbug was before Elvis. I knew the music bugged me. It was just wrong. Nice song, just wrong for the dance. I do have my ways. Change it.

reruns

Yes, I do like them. Barely caught the recap of last night's Dancing. I lost my cable box, replacement due in a couple of days. I didn't know they break. All day the tv was on and off and I thought it was a cable problem. Glad I called. I've got some cable channels, but no schedule now so I just lucked out for the recaps. The online tv schedules won't run for me. I got just real dependent on the remote schedule and reminder function. I'm struggling trying to remember how to use a tv normally. It's really weird.

Wonder what the critics will have to say about this hour. They often aren't overwhelmed with interest and approval. They're obviously wrong when this happens.

see?

They were trying to talk about the Michele Bachman remark about investigating congress to see who's pro-america, and Elisabeth right away goes into her anti-Obama side instead of the nature, purpose of the Bachman remark.

The discussion was the remark, not the rightness of either political side. We get sidetracked very easily and don't understand the nature of debate and discussion which is often to examine ideas, not policies.

Everything we do is political. All relationships are all political. We all aruge for our own way. And it's just as often as not, manipulative and dishonest. Why exactly should we go to the movie I want to see instead of the movie you want to see? I'd come up with some reasons to out argue you if there was a movie I wanted to see. Really it means that I want to see this one and not that one. There isn't much more to it than that.

huh. Maybe Elisabeth wants to trust Republicans with her money cause she has a lot of it. She's done well. How many people haven't? I don't think she knows or cares about the numbers. But it's all about her money, isn't it? The Christian right.

Well, I don't know what to think about it. There apparently is nothing to think about.

oh, this was it

Maria Schriever*sp* (I'm gonna quit bothering with the official recognition of spelling variations real soon) said last night on Larry King that they've asked Palin several times to hire the intellectually impared. Apparently jobs, or the lack of them, is a big issue for them. She still hasn't hired anyone in the Governor's office.

I wonder how much help and of what kind she'd ever really be for the handicapped. She perhaps has been busy persuing her political career and she'll think about it later. Someday. Who knows? I can't predict the future either. A lot of what they say is campaign hype, trying to sell themselves.

Never trust Republicans at all, I guess.

Kelly Rippa

Was just talking about Stove Top Stuffing. It reminded me of making stuffing with Pepperage Farm or Stouffers dressing mix for a side without a bird. It's really good.

I sauted celery(yes, there it is again) and onions, added the mix and a chicken boullion cube with the water and extra sage or poultry seasoning and salt probably cause that's how I am.

I'd forgotten. Easy to do and tasty.

I'm hungry. Need to shop. I did got shopping the other day and didn't get the one thing I wanted cause they didn't have it. Bubble bath. don't bother asking or thinking about it or questioning this type of purchase. Please.

What I got was Halloween candy. Which was a good thing since I'd forgotten about it earlier. I went to the dollar store and they have things sometimes and sometimes they don't. I didn't persue the bubble bath. But since I need bubble bath, I can go shopping AGAIN and look for something fun to eat. And get gas.

There are many things I can do. Mostly I don't have to check my phone messages cause I checked the calendar and don't have an appointment till next week. See? Organized and on top of things as usual not at all. And I'm still not awake.

Orson Bean

He's on Fox. Another major favorite. He told a story years ago about his kids walking in on him and his wife at the wrongest possible marital moment. He's very funny. He's done lots of tv. Apparently he did some of the orrigional What's My Line shows. I haven't seen him on any of the reruns I caught. Did he used to be on Carson a lot? Sitcoms and maybe other shows. He's optimistic about politics. Wisdom of experience. I just sure hope so.

It seems to me that people went on talk shows just to talk. Now they go on only when they've got a project out. So there's a lot of people who are fun on talk shows that I don't see anymore much. Like Orson Bean. And a lot of guests I've never heard of cause I don't watch much network shows and movies. But talk shows are where I do get to see them. And yes. I also don't have Tivo. Which means what I'm not clear about at all.

Is there an Arabia

Google has it that there's an Arabian Penensula. But what I was really thinking about with Persia was Arabian Nights, or One hundred and One Nights. Ali Baba, Scherizade, etc. Lovely, fun, mysterious stories that I grew up hearing about. Probably has nothing to do with Persia.

the map of the Arabian Penensual I saw isn't clear where it is. Any print on map images is never readable and this system can't make adjustments much so they're unusable anyway.

Was there a big battle with Persia and Greece? I am really dim on history, a few scattered memories. I really need a book. There's something with Sparta, but I may be thinking of a different battle.

But Persian carpets and Oriental rugs are a big deal. I like both those words and Oriental is politically incorrect mostly anymore. It's a pretty word. More magic and mystery connected to it. Ya, well, lets not dwell on what I don't know about Asian history.

And maybe I'll wake up here in a minute.

Oh, ya. The Moors. Beautiful tile and archechture in Spain. Did you know that the Arabs were using recongizable surgerical tools in the middle ages while Europe was using leeches? And aren't our numbers from the Arabian system? And wasn't it Venis who stopped the Muslim invasion in those days from spreading further north? See? Dim bits and pieces. They have the best horses, though, and that's a fact. Wayne Newton breeds/shows them in Las Vegas. That name took me 2 or 3 months to remember and I grew up seeing him on tv. See how I am?

Brook's up

and I'm awake enough. this is good. haven't tipped over into crankyness yet.

they're real good. fun routine, but gotta see what the judges say.

tom's funny. said derek's hair was declared a bird sanctuary. i know, you'd have to see it. but I never said that Americans aren't funny, too.

judges: loved it. 2 10s and a 9. she is so good.

isn't the jitterbug before elvis presley? they used his song, but i could have sworn he started after. ah! something else to google.

one more couple? must be, 10 minutes left.

Cody's up. jitterbug.

fun routine, has humor and moves.

Bruno: likes it, good slapstick, added his acting.

Carrie Anne: good dance for him. likes it

Len: fun, entertaining, energy, likes it.

2 9s and a 10. excellent scores.

and it's all over.

cloris

scores...3 7s...very good.

Maurice - Salsa.

he seems awkard and not having fun nice routine, though.

judges say...Carrie Ann loves it Len: gave it his all. Bruno: master of theater - I must have been watching a different channel. and I've the sad feeling that the judges are right and I'm not. hard to believe, huh?

scores: wow...3 9s. I'm real off on this one.

jitterbug's next. that's a fun one.

Salsa! great music, too. Spanish. nice costumes, but why are his pants so short? is it a style issue? I think she's doing great, fun, looks like salsa, entertaining as usual.

judges have to wait till I get my toast.

they like it. see? fabulous judges.

I might make it. only a half hour more. i'm channeling awakeness. connects to awakenings, kate chopin. you can google it. i already did.

forgot the scores

2 8s and a 9 for Warren.

Cloris is next.

And I'm hungry.

Toni

West Coast Swing:

She looks good so far. Nice song, too. This looks more like the swing to me. Well, I liked it.

Bruno: likes it. the actual swing. doesn't like the moon walk bit.
Carrie Anne: difficult dance, a little over danced,

Len: things not happening. guess he doesn't like it too much. she's not showing her potential.

2 7s and an 8. I liked it better than the first one.

wonder what part of the swing makes it west coast. bet i can google it.

oh, no. there's gonna be a guest judge. Len's taking off.

Susan's up. the hustle. geeze, she's got a bone fracture in her ankle fro the injury before.

smooth moves. makes me laugh...good old days, brings back memories. Upside Down.

i was missing in thought again.

judges...len wants her partner to quit treating her like a china doll.
bruno: did all the steps and I totally spaced on Carrie Anne's remarks..positive generally, I think. I did have to go let the dog in, after all. After all what? I'm just trying to stay awake here, maybe alert is too much to expect. 2 7s and an 8.

Warren's up...Hustle. I love this song. Nice routine. Warren's looking good. He's just plain entertaining. I hope the judges like this one. I do. And I love having my opinion verrified even though I'm always right anyway. or something like that.

judges say...Len: likes it! fun, enjoyable Bruno: knows how to funk - likes it. Carrie Anne: likes it, nostalgic quotient met.

time to dance

And I didn't get enough nap. Five or ten minutes. I forgot till a while ago that it was on tonight. And they're doing 4 new dances which will be very interesting and fun. If I stay awake. Well, it'll be interesting and fun whether I'm awake or not, I just don't want to miss the fun.

Lance is up first. West Coast Swing. I think Lacy's doing most of the dancing. I'm not getting any idea of what this dance is, either. I'm really enjoying her part, though. Weird song, too.

We'll see what the judges say.

Len: Lacy needs to show off partner more

Bruno: Lance window dressing for Lacy

Carrie Anne: Lacy excellent. Make Lance the champion instead of self.

See? She did all the dancing.

And next will be????? 3 7s for Lance.

Toni's next.

Aryan

An English word derived from Sanskrit meaning noble or honorable. The Persian equavalent is the word Ariya and has something to do with an ethnic self-designation of Proto-Indo Iranians, which I think has to do with the Proto-Indo languages. I got confused pretty quick. But it's very interesting. Especially the part about 4000 years of continuous civilization.

Maybe we should think of them as Persia to get the whole picture. When we know where people have been, maybe we can better understand who they are. Or maybe I just like Persia better than Iran. They probably know who they are.

I wish I had a map. I'm not sure where Arabia is, or ancient Arabia was and pictures don't work well on this system. Is anybody called Arabia anymore? Were they ever? lol, who am I and why am I here?

cognate

words with a common orrigion like skirt and shirt. they can be from within a language or across languages. So I still don't know how the words Iran and Aryan are connected or what Aryan means, but I can google it. And I think I will.

the right

Is developing arugements to prove that Powel's endorsement of Obama is either racial or emotional. He either wants to vote for the black guy or he's mad at the Bush Administration for things that happened around the Iraq invasion.

What he said about it makes no difference. They know better. They can read a person's mind and heart. Would this be character assignation? A person of no brain power. Anyone with half a brain would always stay with the party no matter what? I guess that does take half a brain.

The Republican Party had better take a good look at what it is and where it wants to go. It's killing itself.

Colin Powel obviously had brains, integrity and dignity when he supported Republicans. I hate politics.

But back to the important stuff. Iran changed it's name maybe around 1979 when it had a revolution. Is that another see the French and Russian Revolutions moment? I don't know what it was about so can't make comparisons.

But the name is The Islamic Republic of Iran. At least in English it is. But the word Iran is a cognate if the word Aryan which means Lands of the Aryans. Aryans is a much prettier word and I don't know what it means. Are the Aryans a people?

They have 4000 years of continuous settlement and history. One of the few areas that does. I told you it was a terrific history that I don't know too much about, just bits and pieces, but even less than I know about Western history.

And now I have to go look up the word congate since I can't remember what it means. There's always something.

oh.

I didn't think of that. Germany is Germany in English and Deutschland in German.

I don't know what name Iran uses for themself. I don't know why we call it Germany when they don't.

See? I pretty much don't know anything at all. I just have questions I can't answer.

oh, ya

The numbers of electors from each state vary. I think it's based on state population. But I'm not sure. Is it a simple majority of electorial votes that wins the presidency? I think so.

They know who's won on election night because they know how each state's numbers of electors falls. I think some states might have some for each party to vote and others don't? huh...maybe if I paid attention I'd know stuff.

McCain wants to continue Reagan's Republican Party with Bush's economic plan. They won't work in this brave new world. They already haven't been.

Pick your electors well. But greed will out. See: the last 8 years. Stick and a carrot. Everything is simple. And everything connects to everything else and is very confusing. And complicated.

Oh. It's Michele Bachman I was talking about earlier, from Minnisota maybe. Did I say Marilyn? Is she from Minnisota? Who am I and why am I here?

The only really important question, for today anyway, is why are 40% of American workers making incomes too low to tax?

Oh, you already wondered that, did you? You're much quicker than I. I am slow, it's true.

Did you know that that those levels, they often don't have any health insurance? Any retirement is probably social security which everyone is taxed on their paychecks. More than likely no paid vacations and sick leave? What the hell's going on?

Romney

He's wrong about taxes. I'm not sure why exactly. Except that the tax cuts to the rich didn't get more money down the line. People can't afford medical care.

Are the rich providing more jobs? At what pay rates? What benefits? The rich make more and more money and nobody else gets anywhere. In fact, they keep loosing ground.

But see? They swear their policies work even when everyone can look around and see that they don't. So everybody chases the dollar cause that's the standard.

The Free Market isn't working right. They're doing something wrong. The Republicans hold fortune over our heads as bait. Chase the carrot.

What is on top? Thin air?

Did you know

That the popular vote doesn't elect the president? The Electorial College does.

Popular vote determines how many electors vote for each candidate. Maybe.

I think, under different state laws, some electors are able to vote their choice.

The President doesn't always win the most popular votes.

Ya, I don't understand it either. I'm still working on trying to remember how to spell states' names.

Iran needs to change it's name back to Persia. I have no idea why they changed it to Iran in the first place. Can that be googled? Some information is burried deep and hard to find.

Persia is a much prettier name - in English, anyway. I don't know how the names sound in Persian.

Iran is kinda bland and uninteresting a word sound. But Persia congers up in a musical way, ancient mysteries and myths of Arabia. It has historical context and continuity. I think I've discussed the importance of continuity before. It's a true thing.

The people of Iran might all feel better about themselves if they were restored to themselves. I wonder how they feel about it.

I've been thinking

Yes. Really. I do try to think and even do it sometimes. It may not work.

They interviewed Brittain Spear's mother on Fox and Friends this morning. At the end of the show, Steve Doocy said something about making dirty laundry public.

Brittany very much made her life public.

The Alec Baldwin tape, however, was not. It was a private converstion that was illegally leaked. The media played it publically and discussed it endlessly.

This is a different thing altogether. In my thinking, anyway.

There's the Charles and Diana tapes, for example. Those were private conversations, illegally, immorally, unethically (you pick the sin) tapped into and sold and ran publically.

So. Do people have a right to privacy. The tabloids say people ask for this by becomming celebrities and public persons. Do they, or is this just what the tabloids have decided?

The debate then, is does Alec Baldwin have privacy rights. His daughter obviously does as she's a minor and a private citizen.

We have no sense anymore.

These are very interesting ideas and I'm always grateful for them.

has anyone noticed

The congresswoman from, I think, Minnisota(sp), Marrilyn something (really wish I could remember names and spellings)?

She always has the same fixed smile on her face. She answers a question and reverts to that expression. It's very Stepford like. It's the oddest thing.

She's very right wing, I think. She said something about how interesting it would be to find out exactly who in Congress is pro-America. Does that remind anyone besides me of McCarthy?

And then there's Willa Cather. O, Pioneer! and My Antonia among other other novels. Excellent stuff. She wrote turn of the century northern mid-west pioneer/farming stories. Lovely writing. Don't skip this one.

Eudora Wealty? I think so. Southern, approxamately the same time as Willa Cather, give or take, I think. Yes. I know I could google it.

She wrote a short story that, apparently is popular to teach. It's all symbolism and junk. Completely uninterested me in further reading. Years later, I read one of her novels. Yes, I've forgotten the title, although it may be in one of my bookcases somewhere. It uses a blend of fairy tales to tell the story. Much, much better than the stream of symbols. For me, anyway. Another great Southerner. Check her out. Or not. It's up to you.

so why

shouldn't the Catholic Church tell congressmen how to vote? What a good question.

Because, congressmen aren't elected as Church representatives.

We don't, surprisingly, have a religious government. If we did, there'd be assigned clergy possitions clearly laid out. There aren't any government positions held for clergy.

Biden and others have to representent their whole constituancy, not just the church. They aren't elected to be churchmen.

If the Founders had wanted a religious government, they'd have devised one.

The churches are way over the line trying to impose their beliefs on everyone. Jesus said something about us choosing him or not. Our choice.

God'll take care of the babies. Doesn't he already know the abortion's comming anyway? Don't know.

I don't know the mind of God.

well.

Obama's side isn't refuting the refund checks to people who don't pay taxes. I have to agree that this is a dumb idea.

I really don't get all that's going on. I don't know enough to have any ideas of how to do things better, either.

I'm so very helpful.

this is why and what:

from the Runamock Ranch blog:

"Why learn Mvskoke and not Spanish or French? When Boo was diagnosed with Type I diabetes, the continuing medical costs were just about wiping us out financially - even with health insurance. We took Boo to the Indian hospital and we have received the kindest and best care. She will continue to receive that care her entire life as long as she stays near an Indian Health Services provider. "

There's a little more at the site if you're interested. I don't have a computer so links and things are difficult. Hard to explain, but I am accurate in this detail.

People cannot afford to live. Something's wrong somewhere.

um...

Never trust Republicans with money and religion.

And I don't know why they talk to compaign workers so much. All they do on both sides is spin their camp. They're rarely honest about much of anything.

They can help us understand where the communication problems may be if we don't just wholesale believe them. They're trying to get votes. They misrepresent the other side. They misrepresent their side.

But all people respond emotionally. That includes fear and hope. I'm afraid of Republicans. Unless party philosophy changes, I don't see much hope of successful leadership.

I hope Democrats can get it together, but don't really have a lot of faith in them.

I still don't get where Joe the Plumber got the we get leaders forced on us when we got to pick them before thing. And I really am thinking about it.

All the media dogs stories, too. Fox is taking Joe the Plumber's side which, I suppose, supports their thesis that mainstream and other cable news is on the left and dogging him for political reasons.

But Fox, like everybody else, publicized the Alex Baldwin phone message to his daughter tape without any thought how that would effect the girl. Everybody was all shocked and outraged at the abuse against the girl by her father, when one, it wasn't that bad in the scheme of things, and two, with no regard at how abuse it could be for the girl to have her privacy invaded publically and endlessly. He's her dad, no matter what. Fox was glad to have another thesis confirmation of their Hollywood stand.

But Fox also filmed inside Martha Stewart's house when she got home from jail. This is wrong, intrusive, possibly illegal and they didn't see it.
It's a papparitizi culture and it effects everyone. What is on top?

I give up.

well, this is interesting

I was watching a program on CNN, and no I don't know the name of the show or host, he interviewed the Queen of Jordan today, though, in case you want to check.

She's always very interesting and informative on the middle east. She said something about the international community not supporting the 2 state solution between Israel and Palistine. I don't know the rational for not doing so. They don't like each other. Do they need to be one country for any reason? Please, tell me.

She also said that Hamas(sp) offered services, like food, for the people so they supported their election.

I heard something interesting about Hitler once. Apparently, the Allies destroyed the German economy after WWI and the people were starving. Hitler got food on the tables.

(I'm not calling Hamas Hitler in any way - just saying.)

Americans, some of them, tend to think that we should do the things that are in our self-interest, i.e. voting for Republicans who promise to reduce taxes.

Americans, some of them, refuse to see that people are mad at us for our foreign policies over the last 100 years, give or take.

They also, some of them, don't understand that what we do effects others a lot. See: European anger. They think it doesn't matter.

They don't see that terriorism is in our best interest, in that case. It's at least half our own doing.

Cause and effect. Think things all the way out to the very end first.

It's always about attitudes more than anything else.

At the end of the program, he said some interesting things about the election. McCain, in his opinion, is too locked into cold war thinking and that doesn't exist anymore. He's too hawkish and too likely to go to war. He's to old-time Republican with his economic plans which probably won't work in the future. The world's changed and he hasn't.

The thing about Obama is Lincoln. I think Obama is too far left, but I also think that no president is ever to impliment their plans and they all say things while campaigning that people want to hear.

Lincoln didn't want to free the slaves. He didn't want to fight the Civil War. He was pushed into it somehow that I don't remember. It may have been the South ceceeding (I tried a couple of spellings for that one and nothing looks close to right.)

He did what circumstances and limitations allowed. They all do. Some are smarter than others and more flexable and luckier, maybe.

I just think that McCain will make the wrong picks.

Why did the South want to keep slavery? It was the basis of their whole economy and we see today how important that is.

The North then proceeded to destroy their economy further.

What was that? There's nothing new under the sun?

The South turned to story. They're still very, very good at it. They know suffering.

Obama's right about the lowest economic levels. People can't make enough money to live. They get to decide monthly whether to pay rent or buy food. The descrepancies are too great between rich and poor.

That 40% who don't pay taxes? It's the working poor. Do they really want to tax people who might make between 12 and 24 thousand a year? The Republicans sure bitch about them. But that's what companies pay them and Republicans support business. They're not even raising hell about all the mortages. Most of them blame the home owners. Who's gonna prosecute the exeutives? The government just AIG and others a bunch of money.

I wonder how much people have to make before people pay taxes? I know it depends on whether or not they have children and other deductions. hahahaha...there's a mortage deduction, isn't there? I don't know why this is so funny to me but it is.

Democrats really need to get a grip on economic matters. They can talk to Clinton. He seemed to have it pretty much together. He was pretty good at working with people. Still is.

Top Gear

I'm watching Top Gear on BBC America. While I don't know exatly what they're talking about, it sounds like the cost of living is killing them, too, and they might be frustrated with their government as well.

And they're funny.

The British are funny. I keep telling you.

I don't know anything about cars, have moderate interest, yet am entertained. Go figure.

oh...

Maybe Joe was talking about the investigation into his life and status and the criticism he was getting.

We don't have any restraint about checking into people's personal lives and revealing it publically.

He's not a public person, but came under the general papparitizi system.

The papparatzi has been getting away with things and many seem to accept the endless invasion of privacy.

That kid recently broke into Sarah Palin's e-mail. People don't know not to anymore.

It's more corporate corruption and unethical behaivor. Editors buy the stuff, the public buys the stuff, the papparatzi gets paid big bucks for it. So everybody does it cause everybody does it.

People get into bad mortages and live over their financial heads cause they see that's the way the rich do. And that's a life of excess.

Why do actors get 20 million for one movie? Cause that's what the market will bare and that's free marketing.

It's always about attitudes. And self image and it's hard to resist the size 0 standard.

oh, I know

I'm still trying to figure out Eddie Izzards remarks about the anti-British stuff from America.

Problem is, I don't know what they hear from us.

People do use European examples of why socialized medicine is a bad idea. Do they take that as anti-British? They might.

I've heard a couple of people on Fox say they'd never tolerate a Royality, running things and not working and stuff. People here don't understand how it works and what they do. They just see pictures of them at events and things, and maybe hear how expensive they are.

That is a mistake to criticize those things without knowing anything about them.

Royality is part of others' cultures, not ours. Nobody asked us to have a royal family so it's not even an issue.

People are afraid of more taxes (I know, here we go again) so criticize those systems in other countries and say they don't work. Do they? I don't know.

Europe also pracitices capitalism.

We added welfare and other social services cause there was need. Everybody wants the homeless out of sight and mind. And out of their pockets.

Cavuto recently slammed Sweden for it's social systems. He heard from a couple of American swedes about it.

Teach culture. Or more importantly, learn it.

Joe the Plumber

He really is an Everyman. Teach culture.

He said that when he was a boy, people could pick their leaders and not have them shoved on them.

Possibly, the loosing side always felt that the leaders were shoved on them and the winning side felt they got to pick their leaders. I'm not really sure where he's comming from with this statement.

Also, he said people should be able to ask their leaders questions. He did ask and was answered - see: Obama wants to spread the wealth around debacle. I'm also not sure what this statement of Joe's means. Nobody stopped him from asking.

I'm often lost like this. People are hard to understand a lot of the time. Usually, most often.

We've been voting for a couple hundred years or so. We have a history of picking our leaders. I think George Washington was the only unanimous choice. And some people then may have disagreed.

Republicans, I hear, have a history of voter suppression.

Everybody wants to win and nobody wants to loose. And everybody forgets their Sunday School. And their King Arthur.

and and and

I'm real tired of Acorn and taxes and this election. It's been going on for the last 17 years now. AND, the media even ruined the surprise of who the vice presidential picks were gonna be. It's like losing Christmas.

Maybe the election results will be a fun surprise. Either for something to cheer about or moan about.

Whatever.

voting felons

I can't make sense of laws against felons voting.

I don't know what's wrong with it. What it hurts.

People pay society for crimes, get out of jail and have another chance. Voting disenfranchaisment is a life time punishment.

I don't know if I care that they can't vote. Many of them may not want to anyway. But it seperates them from society instead of re-incorporating them.

Corporations. They've abused theirs rights and broken trust. Felons of the new age?

Whatever.

so

Cavuto was just on. He said we're a capitalistic society. It's people's own fault for financial ignorance.

I don't know what to think.

All I can say is teach culture.

The Depression might be of interest to all parties involved.

My mother didn't want to pay taxes for libraries even though she used one, but the woman could budget.

She had an advantage. She was a bookkeeper and understood numbers. She worked for a real estate company for years, then got her license to sell. She understood mortages.

She complained that I read too much and had too many books. I asked her one time what bank points are. She got mad at the question. "Points! Points!", she said.

She understood spending, lost a lot on the market from risky investments cause she didn't read and study investing. Many things she never understood.

She used the library for free books to read to put her to sleep. She never appreciated them. I don't think she ever learned anything in her whole life.

She put her estate in trust and there were no inheritance taxes.

That was then and then is now. Greed never changes. It's in the Bible. Teach it.

AIG doesn't understand that it has no rights to the money. Only duties with it. Nobody ever taught them.

welfare

Huckabee, and a couple others, think that taxes are punitive, punishment for success. He mentions inheritance and, I think, progressive type taxes. I wasn't really listening.

People don't see taxes as civil duty and the responsibiliey of participation in our society. People complain no matter what the taxes are. Nobody ever wants to pay any of them.

I don't know quite what to think. I can't even figure out what people want. Maybe it's just to see their ideas lived out in society cause, of course, we're always right. We suffer the most, pay the most dues. All of us. No matter where the philosophy comes from.

It makes it complicated to form an idea of one American mind. There isn't just one. There's lots of 'em. All thinking opposite things.

Who am I and why am I here......


hahahahaha....that's a quote from the guy who ran with Periot. Nobody understood what he meant.

Teach culture.

Politicians

Don't really understand the psychology of these things at all, do they. They all want to apply party ideas to American life without acknowleging the fall out. They justify a troubled population with endless repetition of ideology.

They aren't the least bit practical or even rational much of the time. They don't adjust their political philosophy to suit reality somehow.

I don't really understand what I just said very well, but it seems true at the moment.

I think things are really more simple than the complexity suggests.

But I can't prove anything since I never understand anything anyway.

Ya, know. This is just plain true of people. I continue to do the same thing that causes me grief (like not checking phone messages) even though it causes me grief (missed appointments.)

Change is really hard even for something positive. It's much easier to function out of habit. Plus, nobody likes to think they've been wrong about stuff. Especially me.

huh. I need to go to the store, but maybe I'll play some Animal Crossings.

so why

do I say all these contrary things? Because I understand the resentment the wealthy have for doing, seemingly, all the heavy lifting and the endless responsibilities.

It's not really true, but I know it seems that way to people.

The middle class do a lot of the work to give the rich their money. Secretaries, bookkeepers, laborers (really more on the poor side).

For everybody, it's really about attitude. Gratitude and personal responsibility. That's where we seemed to have lost track.

We should be grateful to corporations and small business for jobs. The government paperwork alone is killing people. But it's hard when they downgrade, outsource and take home multiple millions in bonuses while also cutting benefits.

See? This is always such a problem for me. Think I'll sit awhile.

There may not be any solution.

how interesting

Is it Terri Keehan? On Fox right now said maybe it's fair for the people who don't now pay taxes to pay at least a small amount, one to two hundred dollars.

Yes, I think so. People should participate. Instead of taking, understand the purpose and duty in giving. Even if a token amount, rights have obligations first.

See? People give me ideas all the time. It's the same for everyone.

Because no man is an island, nor new under the sun.

Bleeding Hearts

Did you ever read Marilyn French (is she Canadian? think so. She wrote The Women's Room and Bleeding Heart among other things. Both excellent reads, as I recall.

And then there's Lisa Alther, possibly another Canadian, Kinflicts. Very, very funny parts mixed with shocking tragedy.

It's been a long time since I've read much. I remember doing it.

Ideas come from many sources and whilepeople perhaps don't want to give me any more, I deeply appreciate it.

Huckabee

Said something interesting this morning. They were talking about the spread the wealth deal, said that that's welfare and it's wrong to charge people, basically, to pay for others' lives. That, hopefully, there will be religious groups to fill in and help those in need as is their appropriate job, not the government's.

But what if church groups aren't there? Do we let people sit there and starve or bleed to death because churches are the only groups to officially have the duty to help others?

This is a very interesting idea. I don't know why yet, though.

Exon

Obama wants to raise taxes on big business. Sarah Palin started the oil companies in Alaska, didn't she? Don't quite remember. Cut their discounts, or raised their rates or something. She's very Republican and religious.

I really wish I understood this stuff.

The best option is so often some from here and some from there. People get so focused on their ways that they can't see any differently. It's a mix and match kinda deal. Works well in fashion, too.

spreading it thick

Maybe the spreading it around really means just spreading the tax burdern. Obama's tax plan my just mean lowering the costs for people with less than the 250 thousand. Obama never said he's gonna send checks with the bonus money.

But see? I don't understand taxes either and don't know any details. People are using buzz words to discuss this. Socialism, spread the wealth, which are intended to pursuade, not inform. Classic debate tactics. We all us 'em.

Joe and the taxman

From what I understand, Joe's extra taxes over the 250 thousand would be on net, not gross, amounts over that limit. Is that a lot of tax increase? Beats the hell out of me.

politics

Everybody should try fense-sitting for awhile. It's how you see things.

I googled

Prufrock. I read about it. Nobody undestands it. Now I needent bother re reading it since I didn't want to and probably wouldn't have anyway. You needent either.

I read about the Free Market. Maybe somebody will explain it sometime.

Oh, the Plantagnats. I do want to read about that.

ah,

Murder in the Cathedral, T. S. Eliot. Did you ever try Prufrok? I wouldn't. I tried. It made absolutely no sense to me at all whatsoever. Everybody else seemed to have something to say about it in class. Not me and I always had stuff and more stuff to say. Wonder if I'd understand it better now? Does it make sense? I should google it. Somebody likely has pages on it.

I didn't google it

I looked it up. Yes. That's right. I have a book.

The American Spectrum Encyclopedia, The New Illustrated Home Reference Guide, 1991

Very handy for names, dates and spellings. It often provides leads to other people and topics of interest.

Henry II, married Eleanor, had kids. But, he also founded, according to this book, the Plantagent line, which is a story of much further interest, War of the Roses, I think, although I'd have to look it up.

But also the king of Becket politics.

Murder in the Cathedral. Wonder who wrote it.

There's Mary Steamburgen. Southern. She and her husband, Ted Danson did a Gulllier's tv miniseries. Watch it. See? We're back to Kelsey Grammar and connections (another tv show I liked a lot) Why? Murder in the Cathedral and she and Craig Ferguson are doing a Murder she Wrote spoof. Loved that show, love Angela Lansburry. Connecting dots goes on and on. It's fun.

So who wrote it? I saw it once. It was staged in a church and I was the only one who laughed. That's so weird. The cast looked at me, expectantly, I think. I laughed at the funny part and nobody else did. That happened at another play. Something about Tuna, Texas. That had to do with 'dead dog'. That connects to Jennifer Crusie's Getting Rid of Bradley. I know, you have to be there. But nobody laughed but me and that's just the weirdest thing. That's a very funny play.

Now I have to go google Murder in the Cathedral. And I think the Plantegants lost out to the Tudors, Richard the II or III, Shakespear's hunchback lost at Bosworth. Maybe. Look it up.

but

See what I mean? The left are Marxists and the right are Americans according to the right. It's all over the place. I've been hearing this for years. It's gotten so loud that I don't want to hear anyone anymore most of the time.

and

I've never heard any of the democrats say that they're gonna send checks to the 40% who don't pay taxes. Is that a bit of Conservative imagination and story telling?

I don't follow politics closely enough to know this stuff. More fear mongering by Republicans?

Larry King

Asking if Omama's spread the wealth being Markist, does that make the right wing Fashist, the Lars guy said no. The right is about the individual.

One, I thought the right was about patriotism and being good Americans.

Two, Individualism may or may not be Fashist (although there's that little touch of the business end of Nazi belief), but it is narcissistic. Me, Me, Me. It's all about Me. Me first, not country first.

What? Huh? This constant confusion really has my brain spinning which isn't good since I have enough problems understanding anything.

It's Free Marketeering, isn't it. It's all about my profit. My money, no taxes. It steals my private property. Money is life and identity.

Somebody said it's the love of money. Conservatives thump us with lots of stuff, never that part.

Just saw

a bit of McCain's speach today. He told the same Obama's measuring the drapes joke I've several times in the last few days. His wife laugh like it was new to her.

I bet it's a tough job to be a politician's wife. They have to be dedicated to their mate and a source of endless energy and suport and encouragement.

I really admire them. And wouldn't do it in a million years for a million dollars. Political spouses are priceless, aren't they.

The sacrifice. Their lives are totally taken over by the politician's life. Or a lot of it for sure. Not sure that all the husbands of politican wives give up jobs, etc. The women mostly seem to, but I'm uninformed on the matter...only know of a few couples. huh.

No, I wouldn't want to do that.

I wasn't paying attention

It that Bill Bob Thornton on Regis and Kelly? Great band, he's singing. I'm not sure if it's Blue Grass or not, but I really like this kind of music. Southern music. Storytelling. Southern stories are some of the best stories ever written, word or song. It's the Boxmasters. I've never heard of them before. Mark Twain, Faulkner (hard to read, but good), Carson McCullers, Harper Lee, lots and lots of 'em. Truman Capote and who's that guy who wrote Streetcar? I was just talking about him and totally blanked on his name again. Figures. FUBAR or something.

Oh, it's rockabilly/modbilly whatever those two things are.

oh, ya

It was about Robin Hood. King John was bad. The population was supressed and suffering (see the French and Russian Revolutions). They needed a hero, as people always do. They turned to story. Robin Hood may have been based on a real person, a rober, but people aren't sure.

As things got better, Robin turned into a figure of fun, and idiot and bumbler.

All people are about the same as people always have been. Everyone has the same needs and goals. Details vary from time and place, but there's only so many ways to be a person.

Robin Hood and King Arthur may or may not have been made up, but we still respond the same way people always have to them and their stories. We need heros. Someone and something to believe in that's the 'right way'. The honorable way.

I saw that comic, has an HBO show now, on Larry King last night and I just can't remember his name. He recently released the religion movie and he says it's all made up.

But Jesus is the same. Ultimately it doens't matter if Christianity is true. Jesus is the hero that people need. He provides the honor and guidance we all look for and always have. The problem is that people aren't always so good at following directions. It's the nature of human nature to be human.

Politics

Both McCain and Obama's sides have misrepresented the other whether deliberately or through misinformation I couldn't say.

See? I'm busy misinforming people. I'm not sure where in France Lionheart was. It might have been The Aquitain since that's where his mother was from. A major French family. Her first husband was the French king. They had 2 daughters, she divorced him and married Henry, also of France. She had a bunch of kids with him. Never saw her first 2 daughters again, I believe. People had different ideas about kids then, I think. Some people, anyway. Don't know how the general public felt about their children. She was pretty powerful for a woman then. Although, women had different amounts of power and rights in different places at different times.

Michele Malcan*sp* is ugly in her discourse. She'll never see through her ideology or see that it's there. The left are the enemies and destroying American life. That's pretty much it for all ideologes. She's a right wing problem just as much as the Daily Cos and others are left wing problems. Both sides cover for and support their members. They kinda have to. It's competition. Everybody wants to win. That's just human.

The lady

American married to a Peer is on again. She's married to a Rothschild. That's a major family, going back to the middle ages, maybe I think but could so easily be wrong.

It's a Jewish family who rose in power because Christians were baned from lending money/banking and Jews were not. (that was about Jesus chasing the money changers out of the Temple) So the Kings and Queens of Europe used them, hated them and seriously abused them.

They all abused each other in the old days. But it's a very interesting family. I sure wouldn't have wanted to live there then.

Taxes: Bad King John started it all. Lionhearts brother. John is the king of Magna Carta Fame. He was pretty bad. The beginnings of civil rights maybe. It only applied to Nobles, but it was a start on the change of thought. People might have human rights. I like to think so anyway. I, of course, don't know. When was that? 1200s maybe. I could, possibly, google it. John and Richard were sill part of the French line of English Kings. Richard never learned English, was, I think, never in England, hated England and spent his time in Normandy and at the Crusades. His mother was Elanore of Aquatine. The Lion in Winter is about her and their father, Henry II or III maybe. I forget.

Elanore is a very interesting character. And I can't spell her name. But you probably know who I mean and likely know more about her the that situtation than I do anyway.

Tearing Joe the Plumber down? Liberal politics? Conservatives are spending a lot of time investigating Acorn and Ayres (I saw the name printed) to tear Obama down.

It's all this politics? Politics as usual?

Is it liberals investigaing poor Joe, or is it Americans? Doesn't media, which includes all outlets, do investigations? Why hasn't Fox investigated Joe like they've been investigating Acorn?

These and many other questions dawn daily. Stay tuned.

Joe, the Plumber

Americans don't like taxes. It kinda started with the Boston Tea Party. It's just part of us, like all people have cultural paticularities.

Some people believe in honor killing.
We, however, do not. If people want to act out parts of their cultures after they move to cultures with different beliefs and laws, they should go back home or should have stayed there.

Joe the Plumber, following his American culture, doesn't like taxes. Apparently, he doesn't pay them either. He's deliquent on his taxes. We don't like the taxes we pay, but we pay them.

I wonder what happened to that couple who barricated themselves in their house, refusing to pay their taxes. They had the authorities at bay with guns and I don't remember hearing if they ever got them out. They must have by now. That might have been a couple of years ago. Of course, with my memory, it could have been last week.

yesterday

I saw the Judge on Fox, can't remember which show, and he said the Acorn thing is a political manuever (sp). It has to do with privacy rights the Ohio Governor (not sure who's balking at leasing the names) and says she doesn't have time to change her computer system now anyway.

That didn't make any sense. I've forgotten the details, but he said the Republicans and Democrats are both using the acorn thing and that the Ohio person isn't really in the wrong. It got to the Supreme Court real fast.

There's probably easy access to the Judges appearance yesterday and he works at Fox so they could all find out.

O'Reilly was making the Acorn argument about Acorn and I should have told him about the Judge. People are basically saying it's a Democratic plot to steal the election.

Oh, I know. The Republicans want a complete list of voters which violates privacy rigths, but it's for political reasons. And other stuff.

Why do we have to get back to relgion? Abortion. My position finally became clear to me and it was a struggle.

Anti-abortion is a religious belief. Religious beliefs apply to believers to follow. The anti-abortion side wants to impose religious observance on everyone. The believers should refrain from aborting themselves.

And should the Catholic Bishops be telling people who to vote for? Should they be telling Biden and other Catholic politicians how to vote legislation? Do they pay taxes? Are they breaking federal law while accusing others of breaking church law?

Where are we? I don't know where I am. I'm still trying to wake up.