Unity ticket still possible...

A meeting is going to take place on January 7th to work on a plan for "government of national unity". I'd say it sounds promising, except for this particular movement appears to be led by New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and:

Conveners of the meeting include such prominent Democrats as former senators Sam Nunn (Ga.), Charles S. Robb (Va.) and David L. Boren (Okla.), and former presidential candidate Gary Hart. Republican organizers include Sen. Chuck Hagel (Neb.), former party chairman Bill Brock, former senator John Danforth (Mo.) and former New Jersey governor Christine Todd Whitman.

It could however create an interesting spoiler factor given the way our current electoral system is created, which would potentially create a situation where the extreme end of a party ended up being a larger factor in the election win than moderates who might be lured into the idea of a unity ticket.

Lights beyond Christmas...

I've always been a fan of decorative lighting, and there are many ways to use Christmas lights year round as an easy way to provide accent lighting. Take a large silk tree and decorate it with a white or colored LED light string and you make a corner not only draw attention but provide an ambient lighting source. Or as my daughters have done, use a light rope to decorate the frame area of a platform bed or along the ceiling line where it meets the wall. One of my more daring daughters used blue lights which gave off a Sixties type blacklight affect that she found appealing during that particular decorating phase. Considering the average yearly cost for 2000 LED lights is around $50.00, it's an inexpensive way to creatively use those Christmas lights 365 days a year...

Election mischief?

I had to wonder at the choice of the term "election mischief" when reading this New York Times piece, since it really appears it would be more appropriate to call it "election fraud":

According to Kenya’s election commission, which is considered somewhat independent from the government, at least three areas from Mr. Kibaki’s stronghold of central Kenya reported suspiciously high numbers. In one area, Mr. Kibaki received 105,000 votes, even though there were only 70,000 registered voters. In another, the vote tally was changed, at the last minute, to give the president an extra 60,000 votes. In a third area, the turnout was reported at 98 percent.

When you go further into the article it's even more clear this is not "mischief":

The head of the European Union’s election observer mission said that several election officials in the pro-Kibaki areas of central Kenya had failed to publicly post their voting results, which is against Kenyan law.

“This is something we witnessed ourselves,” said Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, chief of the European delegation. “It’s clearly disturbing.”

The European Union is also investigating the high turnouts in the Kikuyu highlands north of Nairobi, where few have broken ranks with Mr. Kibaki’s party and some areas have voted nearly 100 percent in favor of the president.

Ivy League classes online...

I thought this was an informative article, since many people may not be aware of the increasing online access to Ivy League presentations and class material. One example is from MIT:

An MIT initiative called "OpenCourseWare" makes virtually all the school's courses available online for free - lecture notes, readings, tests and often video lectures. Strang's Math 18.06 course is among the most popular, with visitors downloading his lectures more than 1.3 million times since June alone.

Other colleges are providing this type of material and it is a great way to learn more, I've used several to try to stay up to date when it comes to algebra.

Save money on inkjet cartridges...

Thanks to the internet it's possible to not only find replacement cartridges for that old printer you have that used to be impossible to find one for that you really didn't want to have to replace as well as that newer model that you know there has to be a less expensive option for when it comes to replacement inkjet printer cartridges. I know I'm not alone in having been one of those that ended up getting rid of an old printer that worked fine but was impossible to find replacement cartridges for. I've also grown frustrated at the price for my newer printer and was happy to discover that thanks to places like www.inkjetdeals.info, it's easy to not only save money but find exactly what I need. They provide information on some of the top places to buy which makes your search a quick and easy one.

Empowerd parents...

Recommended article at CNN on parents who grew frustrated with a lack of resources and treatment options for their children and took action. You can view this as frustrating that the pharmaceutical companies are not doing enough research or you can look at this as a way parents are taking matters into their own hands and forcing the issue by bringing attention to the illnesses their children are suffering from and raising funds needed to push the issue even farther.

I think it's a combination of both but given there are limits to what research pharmaceutical companies can do with their bottom line being one that also includes marketability of a drug, what these parents are doing is admirable and very well could save the lives of not only their child but others...

Crime strikes next door...

We've experienced several episodes of cars being broken into in our neighborhood during the past year, but we just had a visit from our next door neighbor asking us if we heard anything last night. Evidently someone broke into their home and stole several items, including a plasma television set. It seems odd because our security system (two dogs that bark at everything) did not go off last night at all, and they also have a dog who barks at anyone who walks by. I did not get a chance to ask them if for some reason they took the dog with them, but at first glance the situation seems strange.

It does however drive home the message that even when you feel you are safe and secure, you may not be...

It's about more than the right diet meal, it's about a healthy lifestyle...

The bottom line reality when it comes to Americans is many of us weigh more than we have in the past and weigh more than what we should. This means the solution is a much larger one that just finding the right diet meal that you can tolerate to drop some of those additional pounds, it's about developing a healthy lifestyle where after the diet you don't just put the weight back on. One of the key reasons why many do weigh more is because we lead a much more sedentary life than we used to. I know this first hand, the hours I spend at my computer are not exactly helping me to achieve permanent weight loss.

I started walking two years ago, at first it was hard to motivate myself to do it on a regular basis, something always came up and I'd put it off then discover I had not walked. Part of this was my not wanting to accept how bad of shape I was in physically, when I was winded after a one mile walk it was hard to not feel like a failure. Now I try to walk at least one mile a five days a week aiming most times for two miles instead and I feel better when I come back in. I'm also doing some other basic exercises in addition to following some common sense diet tips. Websites like www.weight-loss-diet-help.com can be a huge help, not only providing information on the popular diet plans out there but also giving you tips and other advice to help you not only get to the ideal weight you'd like to be at but to be a healthier you as well.

Ron Paul on seeking Texas earmarks...

Can you be against earmarks and still realize that since they are a huge part of the way congress runs try to make sure those you represent do get something from their tax dollars? That's the basic underlying premise of what Ron Paul is doing, yet he faced some recent questions surrounding this a few days ago.

I understand where he is coming from, I'm against earmarks as well, but I believe if the system is going to exist it's in the best interest of the community to try to get as much as they can under the present system. If you state you are against earmarks and do not participate in the process it doesn't create a scenario where that money is not used. All it does do is create a scenario where some other area of the country gets the money. Until enough members of congress actually do something about earmarks it's great in theory to say you don't support them but hard to explain to those you represent why the next congressional district got x dollars and yours got none.

Court reporting is harder than it looks...

Years ago I did a brief stint doing transcriptions for depositions, and I considered at that time becoming a court reporter. It's a very lucrative profession but in this particular area it's hard to get into. That is when I first heard about Huseby, a national association of court reporters.

The reasons why you would want certified court reporters may not seem obvious at first but many times especially when it comes to appeals the information that a California court reporter could have an important role to play in future decisions, so what is written needs to be exactly as what was stated.

This means there has to be a consistency in the reliability of information, whether a transcript is being done by New York court reporters or if a transcript is being done by a Florida court reporting agency. When you use certified court reporters through Huseby, you not only get ease of scheduling for court reporting, video depositions, or video conferencing services, but you get reliable services that is critical when it comes to both civil and criminal litigation.

The birth of YouTube politics

Interestingly enough the Newsweek article gives very little attention to Ron Paul, which is a bit strange since the Ron Paul campaign has made better use of the internet than any of the other candidates out there and his campaign has also taken advantage of The YouTube Presidency factor. The only mention of Ron Paul at all is in this one paragraph:

The political videos of one user, Georgetown student James Kotecki, became so popular that Ron Paul and Huckabee showed up in his dorm room for Webcam interviews.

Can Food Magnetism help you lose weight?

Can Food Magnetism help you shed weight? It's one of the weight loss programs that are out there that many people have turned to in their quest to be thinner and healthier. The goal is to eat foods that create "invigorating magnetism" and avoid foods that are "contaminating magnetism". One advantage of this diet is it states it works for those of you have tried the lo-carb diets and found those unable to stick with. If you have not had the desired results in the past, this might be something of interest to you.

US helping Turkey attack Kurds

It's hard to see a positive outcome in the US intermingling itself even deeper into the mire that is Iraq with the recent news that U.S. Helps Turkey Hit Rebel Kurds In Iraq, the subtitle of the article reads, "Intelligence Role Could Complicate Diplomacy". I think that's a bit of an understatement given the reaction so far:

Massoud Barzani, president of the Kurdish regional government, which administers three northern Iraqi provinces, called the attack "a violation of Iraq's sovereignty." He blamed the U.S. military, which controls Iraqi airspace, for allowing Turkish warplanes to cross the border. The Iraqi parliament also condemned the attacks yesterday.

Unless of course this is meant as some type of a reverse psychology ploy where we anger Iraq so much that they order us out of their country...

Take liberties with your lighting...

I have a fondness or some would even say a weakness for unique light fixtures, nothing is more boring to me than a standard every day blah type lighting fixture. While we do live in a rental property, when the occasion has come up where fixtures need to be replaced, such as recently whenbathroom light fixtures needed to be changed, I selected something not overly expensive but with a bit of decorative flair.

We've also recently changed the kitchen light fixtures and while it might have to wait until we have our own home, I'd really love to have a chandelier in our dining room. Right how the older ceiling fan is still there and while it still works, it's not exactly aesthetically pleasing...One of the things I enjoy in visiting the Farreys website is the huge selection, as well as the decorating inspiration.

Ron Paul's latest fundraising success...

As the headline suggests, Paul 'pleasantly surprised' at $6 million fundraising haul. The campaign is reporting that it took in more than $6 million just on Sunday and they are also reporting it has raised more than $18 million this quarter.

His ability to raise funding has been a discussion point on many internet forums and blogs.

The Case for Ron Paul...

I read this from a posting on my other blog and thought I'd share it with the readers here who might have not had the chance to read it, it's called, The Case for Ron Paul. The website was developed for people who are interested in learning more about Ron Paul to be able to find out very specific details about his candidacy for president.

I found it very informative, so perhaps you will as well.

How to find the best webhosting choice for you...

I have blogs on blogspot and on their own domains, which means of course for those blogs I have to pay for hosting. It can be really time consuming to go try to search through the various hosting companies, or at least it was before http://www.webhostingchoice.com came along. Now all you have to do is enter the maximum amount you want to pay per month and the amount of disc space/bandwith you are looking for as well as what is the maximum you will pay for set up fees and you will be given a list of those hosting companies that meet your specifications with information/links to them. The web interface is easy to use and there is additional information for those of you who are new users to help you understand some of the terminology used.

Web politicting can't replace real thing?

Interesting article at Politico that even as a blogger I can't really disagree with. I think the huge advantage the internet offers is the ability to share information, yet I realize that so much hinges on the credibility of those offering the information and what agenda they have in sharing it. It's still incumbent upon voters to not believe everything they read on the internet and to care enough about their votes to pay attention...

One part of the piece written by Devin Talbott:

Just as clicks and eyeballs were no substitute for profits, Facebook “friends” do not necessarily equal votes.

And virtual connections cannot take the place of actual contact with candidates.

The Internet has changed how politics is played.

But it cannot — and should not — change what political outreach should be about. That is education on the issues and vigorous assessment of candidates proposing to advocate for voters.

Technology should supplement the modern campaign, not take its place. If technological advances help produce more voters with more access to information, then our democracy will have made progress.

But, as old-fashioned as it may be, casting your vote on Election Day will remain the most important form of political participation.

Colorado Councilwoman Resigns After Refusing to Remove Offensive Joke

Do we really have a right to not be offended? That's the basic issue at the bottom of a situation where a Colorado Councilwoman refused to remove a joke that was posted on a community message forum and resigned in protest. While it's clear that she did not have to resign and the web forum owner removed the joke that some found offensive, it's a common joke that has been out there for quite some time. How funny you find it is of course an individual taste thing.

In doing some more searching on the topic, Sandy Tucker is reported as saying:

"I'm sick and tired of all of this political correctness," Tucker told The Denver Post. "I'm not going to apologize if you don't have a sense of humor."

Posting on a community forum as an elected official was probably not the smartest move yet what's interesting is how quickly this story became national news.

New Jersey could be first state to eliminate death penalty

There is an interesting series of articles on the topic of the death penalty on NPR with the most recent one concerning the New Jersey's legislators possible decision to outlaw the death penalty in that state. This would make New Jersey the first state to make the death penalty illegal since the Supreme Court ruled on it 31 years ago. While not all states use the death penalty and New Jersey has not used it since the 1960's many advocates against the death penalty and advocates for the death penalty are watching this scenario very carefully.

Human Touch unveils new zero gravity massage chair

As someone who spends quite a bit of time in my chair at my desk typing, and doesn't sit properly in my chair, I know it's related to the lack of comfort from the chair. Reading about one of the new Massage Chairs from Human Touch, the HT 7450 Zero Gravity Massage Chair caught my attention. It looks like a very interesting concept, the chair is designed in a way to create a zero gravity sensation so that a massage works better in relieving muscle strain and pain. It's a testament to how we have taken science technology and placed it into products for the home with the memory foam and the other features this and the other massage chairs by Human Touch offers. Human Touch also has more than chairs, they carry items from foot massager's to many other accessories designed to create comfort and joy this holiday season.

Sudan protesters: Execute teacher

When we at times may believe that we do not have the rights we would like to have honored here as a nation, when we reflect on recent current events such as the one where Gillian Gibbons was sentenced to 15 days in jail for naming a Teddy Bear, "Mohammed" seems like an outrage. Yet, in Sudan there are those calling for her to be executed. Right now attempts are being made to arrange for Gibbons to be released and to be taken from Sudan. It's clear her safety is at risk given the protests today.

Get that Gun a Holster for Xmas...

Of course one of the things that comes to mind when you say "Libertarian" is guns and the right to keep arms, while of course not all Libertarian's own guns, I couldn't resist using that as a title for this post on the different holsters that Optics Planet has for sale. For those of you with a gun enthusiast in your household that might not be sure as to what type of a holster you need, one of the things I love about Optics Planet is that they provide you with a great many details and resources, such as their how to buy a holster guide.

If you are not sure what type of gift to get, you can take advantage of their Gift Guide as well as get some good gift hints from their list of Best sellers. Rather than to go through the many reasons Why buy from OpticsPlanet, they share the many reasons why they are the best on their website and on their Blog.

Beacon crosses the line to being Big Brother

What your expectations of privacy can be when using a site like Facebook is at the heart of the discussion of their new launch of an ad program called "Beacon", where recent complaints by Move On Org have brought this discussion to the forefront. It's an important consideration with today's social networking as to what your expectations are and how much control you have when it comes to sharing your personal information.

As this post on Truthout points out:

The complaints may seem paradoxical, given that the so-called Facebook generation is known for its willingness to divulge personal details on the Internet. But even some high school and college-age users of the site, who freely write about their love lives and drunken escapades, are protesting.

"We know we don't have a right to privacy, but there still should be a certain morality here, a certain level of what is private in our lives," said Tricia Bushnell, a 25-year-old in Los Angeles, who has used Facebook since her college days at Bucknell. "Just because I belong to Facebook, do I now have to be careful about everything else I do on the Internet?"

Two privacy groups said this week that they were preparing to file privacy complaints about the system with the Federal Trade Commission. Among online merchants, Overstock.com has decided to stop running Facebook's Beacon program on its site until it becomes an opt-in program. And as the MoveOn.org campaign has grown over the past week, some ad executives have poked fun at Facebook users.

While Cyber Monday is over you can still save...

More and more people are shopping online as can be seen by the recent media attention to "Cyber Monday", yet not only can online shopping be more convenient it can also save you money when you take advantage of online shopping coupons. Coupon Chief is one of the leading locations when it comes to providing a huge variety of online merchants, with many well known companies such as WalMart, where you can find some fantastic online deals and discounts. Not feeling the joy of WalMart? Then perhaps some of the deals from Target would appeal to your online shopping needs. From Apparel for Men to Travel & Luggage, Coupon Chief has the categories of stores for just about everyone on your gift list.

Every US Citizen should know these...

It's the title of the YouTube video and I agree with it. The results were very disappointing and gives evidence our educational system is pretty horrid. I recommend that you watch the video and as you watch along see how many of the questions you can answer.



I had my 13 year old watch it and her best friend watch it, thankfully due to my supplemental teachings I've done with her she was able to answer most of the questions. Her friend did not fare so well...

Mark Silva joins the misinformation train...

Late to the table and wrong comes Mark Silva with the piece on Ron Paul and the whole Moonlite Bunny Ranch story:

Hof has reported being so impressed with Paul at a campaign stop in Reno that he has decided to raise money for him. Hof and two of his prostitutes, including a woman who goes by the name of Air Force Amy, also attended a Paul news conference. The women reported liking what they saw, but suggested they still want to shop around the rest of the field.

Thankfully readers are trying to set the story straight...

Use the interface, find your cartridge...

It's never been easier to find the right cartridge for your printer than to use, Cartridge Finder. The easy to use interface is designed to not only find the right one for your particular printer or fax machine but will also use PriceGrabber's search engines to make sure that once you have the right one? You get it for the cheapest price possible, so save time and money in one quick easy step.

Tucker Carlson tries to set up Ron Paul?

Not thrilling news considering that whole little issue of the media isn't supposed to show bias...

A recent Associated Press story about Ron Paul carries a headline that was carefully crafted to turn off many American voters. The headline proclaimed: "Paul Endorsed by Nevada Brothel Owner."

The AP story began: "Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul, an underdog Texas congressman with a libertarian streak, has picked up an endorsement from a Nevada brothel owner," Dennis Hof.

"Picked up," however, is the wrong phrase, since it implies, incorrectly, that Ron Paul had solicited Hof’s endorsement. In actuality, it was a member of the media, MSNBC’s Tucker Carlson, who had done the soliciting. Carlson not only contacted Hof to ask him to check out Ron Paul while Paul was in Nevada, but he even arrived at Ron Paul’s Reno news conference in the company of Hof and two of Hof’s prostitutes. Hof’s presence, which surprised the Ron Paul campaign, then gave Hof the opportunity to be interviewed by the media.

Tucker Carlson's involvement is acknowledged by AP, though not until the end of the story. The AP story notes that "Hof was accompanied to the Paul news conference by television news personality Tucker Carlson." It then finally quotes Carlson as admitting that "Dennis Hof is a good friend of mine, so when we got to Nevada, I decided to call him up and see if he wanted to come check this guy [Ron Paul] out." The AP article, though, fails to point out that the Ron Paul campaign was surprised when Carlson emerged from a limousine with Hof and two of Hof’s celebrity prostitutes to attend the news conference. (That part of the story was covered by the Reno Gazette-Journal.)

Sad to say I used to like Tucker...

Paul says he won’t support GOP nominee

It didn't surprise me to learn that Ron Paul had stated this during one of the earlier debates, this whole try to destroy each other when campaigning then have the hand holding moment where you decide that the "other party" is really the real bad guy (or girl) and you have to now do what is best for the party never seemed to be something that Ron Paul was going to buy into.

Yet, it's made the news and quite of the blogs recently that:

Last month, during a Republican debate, Ron Paul was asked whether he promised to support the GOP nominee next year, no matter who emerges from the primary process. “Not right now I don’t,” Paul said, “not unless they’re willing to end the war and bring our troops home.”

Apparently, in the ensuing weeks, “not right now” has become “no.”

Paul called his Republican presidential rivals, including frontrunner Rudy Giuliani, “neo-conservatives” whom he couldn’t support in the general election should his own bid fail.

“They think we’re supposed to spread our goodness through force,” Paul said. For example, none will pledge not to wage war on Iran, he said. “How could I support something like that?”

Apparently, he can’t. But it means that of the top seven candidates in the Republican field, Paul is the only one who isn’t prepared to support the party’s eventual nominee. It’s not the kind of thing that will go over well within the party, but then again, Paul’s interest in the Republican Party appears nominal — it’s a venue for him to advance his ideas and agenda, not necessarily an opportunity for him to lead the party.

Many uses of LED lights...

An interesting suggestion I heard for LED light strings was to use them for wedding lights to either decorate where the wedding was being held or for the wedding reception. The ease in use of the lighting was one of the main reasons this was suggested since you can potentially connect 125 strings of lights to one plug. That would certainly cut down on trying to run extension cords everywhere. With the different styles and colors these lights come in you'd be able to find the right set to match your theme as well as being able to use them again and again for other holidays or events. You could even use them for accent or mood lighting in your home, with the lights being a reminder of your special day, considering the lights last at least 100,000 hours that's a lot of time for memories...

More on the Ron Paul coins...

The story of the coins created with the picture of Ron Paul on them are still in the news as this Washington Post article points out:

But the coins have been another rallying point for Paul's supporters, who have asked Paul to pose for photographs with the coins on the campaign trail. Jim Forsythe, a Paul organizer in New Hampshire who ordered 150 of the copper Ron Paul dollars, said yesterday that the seizure of the coins would likely fuel more support for Paul, who scores close to double-digits in some New Hampshire polls. "People are pretty upset about this," he said. "The dollar is going down the tubes and this is something that can protect the value of their money and the Federal Reserve is threatened by that. It'll definitely fire people up."

Basics of Title Insurance...

The basic premise of title insurance exactly as it sounds, it is insurance that protects you from problems that could be related to the title to your property. Before you purchased your home or the land that it sits on there were most likely previous owners and if there was a problem related to one of the previous title transfers it could create a situation where your title could be called into question. This is why the business of title insurance companies came into existence, with title insurance designed for the lender that protects the amount of the mortgage and then there is also owner’s title insurance that covers the full value of the home.

If you are planning on buying your home through a mortgage, title companies and the lender will require that you have title insurance, if you have put down a substantial down payment or are doing a purchase that does not require a mortgage, it is still advised that you purchase an owner's title insurance policy to make sure you are properly protected. Like almost every type of insurance, if you have it, it seems you'll never need it but if you didn't take the option to purchase it and run into a problem? In hindsight you could wish you would have done it differently...

Coins with Ron Paul on them seized

This is being reported by several media sources, with similar details as shared in this New York Sun piece that suggest that this could cause problems for the campaign of the very internet popular candidate Rep. Ron Paul.

Federal agents, in a move that could have an impact on the presidential race, raided the Indiana office of the issuer of a private currency known as the Liberty Dollar — and seized tens of thousands of coins bearing the likeness of a presidential candidate, Rep. Ron Paul.

As the article points out, Libertarians are reacting:

Blay Tarnoff, a former chairman of the Libertarian Party of New York, a statewide organization, said he could not think of any good rationale for the raid as long as the company issuing Liberty Dollars was not misrepresenting their coins as government currency. "People can trade anything they want of value," he said. "It wouldn't surprise me if the government would want to seize Liberty Dollars if they believed that people were actually beginning to use them."

Car visor customized for you...

When I first saw this website where you can customize your visor for your vehicle, I immediately thought of all the cute sayings I could use in buying these for various family members. You can select the color that you want, pick a background palette, add text and even add accessories as well as being able to email your design to friends and family to show them what your favorite "stuck up" is.

For one of my daughters, the saying "BUCKLE UP" would be a nice reminder right there on her visor since she has a bad habit of not remembering to buckle her seatbelt. Then there is the one who could use, "PROPER ASSURED DISTANCE" as a reminder and my other lovely daughter, "DO YOU HAVE YOUR PURSE" would be helpful since she's lost her wallet and her purse more than once by leaving it somewhere. As you can tell, the possibilities are pretty endless as to the type of messages and fun you could have with these custom visors.

Chinese spying threat to US businesses...

When I attended a recent Town Hall on US Manufacturing Job losses, the topic of the Chinese copying/stealing our technology was discussed as being a major problem for US manufacturers. This CNN report is timely considering it addresses a similar point of discussion, Report: China spies threaten U.S. technology:

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Chinese spying in America represents the greatest threat to U.S. technology, according to a congressional advisory panel report Thursday that recommended lawmakers consider financing counterintelligence efforts meant to stop China from stealing U.S. manufacturing expertise.

The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission also said in its annual report to Congress that small- and medium-sized U.S. manufacturers, which represent more than half the manufacturing jobs in America, "face the full brunt of China's unfair trade practices, including currency manipulation and illegal subsidies for Chinese exports."

China's economic policies create a trade relationship that is "severely out of balance" in China's favor, said the commission, which Congress set up in 2000 to investigate and report on U.S.-China issues.

Why make threats you can't follow through on?

No matter who the presidential candidate is or any candidate for that matter creates a feeling of distaste with me when they make statements/promises that can never come about. This recent situation with John Edwards is a prime example:

John Edwards' new ad says that when he's in the Oval Office, he'll tell Congress to act within six months to make sure all Americans have health insurance or "I'm going to use my power as president to take your health care away from you."

What's the problem? He can't do it...

Presidents can't just negate federal laws at will, and it's under law that members of Congress, cabinet members, and other government employees get health insurance.

The saddest part of all is there will be voters who will believe this and it's very disappointing that John Edwards would use this type of inaccurate information as a part of his campaign for President.

Energy Efficient Christmas Lights...

A great many of us, especially those of us who live the upper half of the country, want a traditional white Christmas with lots of snow and that beauty of snowflakes falling on Christmas day, but the additional lighting no matter where you live can increase your electric bill. If you are concerned about the environment and energy costs you might want to consider using LED Christmas lights instead of traditional Christmas light strings. Not only do the LED bulbs last longer but they also do not burn with as high of a temperature and they cost much less to operate than the traditional lights. LED lights are also made tougher so you don't have to worry about the easy breakage that can happen with regular lights. There is a very interesting article that gives you Nine Things you can do to make your holiday greener that I highly recommend reading. It gives some fantastic tips on how you can celebrate the holidays but do so with a bit more of a focus on being environmentally friendly at the same time.

HolidayLEDs has more than a huge variety of LED Holiday lights for sale, they also have many articles that contain not information and helpful tips. For this they get the Lisa Renee recommend...

Ron Paul rasies over 8 million and....

Our media shows it's bias towards or against candidates by the way it reports on stories. Take the recent news about Presidential candidate Ron Paul raising $8.1 million since November 1. It states:

Claims by Paul's campaign that it has raised $8.1 million in November, cannot be verified by CNN until fourth quarter reports are filed with the Federal Election Commission on December 31.

Dr. Paul's campaign raised a few eyebrows in Washington last week when it announced that it had raised $4.2 million in just 24 hours, on November 5. Since that announcement, the campaign has received another $1 million in donations online, his campaign announced Tuesday.

Why would his campaign lie about that? The information will be accessible to the public so it would be rather stupid to make claims that could not be proven and the media would be all over that as a story if it were not true...

Score for Math Tutoring...

There are other companies out there that offer Math Tutors and some promise the same level of results, yet the majority of teachers I have asked when discussing tutoring have recommended Score. As I've stated in the past, my son had problems with math that we did not catch soon enough and he struggled until the problem was identified. Had we acted sooner in getting him the additional tutoring he needed, most of the problems he experienced would have been avoided. As a parent, math was my weak area and I did not realize until years later that I did not stress math skills enough with my children when they were younger. All of us have our strong and weak subjects, which is an additional reason Score can be of great assistance in making sure your child excels even in areas you don't.

Betting on Ron Paul?

I found this one to be a bit unusual, Ireland's largest online bookmaker, PaddyPower.com listed Ron Paul with 8/1 odds of being named the GOP Candidate a few weeks ago and now on November 10, he came in with 5/1 odds.

Only Mitt Romney (with 9/4 odds) and Rudy Giuliani (11/10 odds) are listed higher. Romney would pay $9 for every $4 bet while Giuliani would pay out $11 for every $10 bet.

"Ron Paul has officially surpassed John McCain among Republicans where oddsmakers are concerned, even around the world," announced Payton O'Brien, Senior Editor of Gambling911.com See Payton O'Brien quoted in Chief Executive Magazine Here "He's now favored over Fred Thompson as well, who is listed with 6/1 odds at PaddyPower."

US residents are prohibited from placing bets at Paddy Power.

Richardson not giving up...

Email received from his campaign yesterday:

Dear Lisa Renee,

I just spent the last two and a half hours in our Friday strategy session and I wanted to let you know where things stand before I head out to meet up with the Governor at his 10th campaign event today.

It's come down to this. We have 54 days until the Iowa caucus and every one of us has a clear job to do. You do, too. I'm going to tell you about that in a minute.

First off, let me say this. The Democratic presidential primary is still very much in play. And Bill Richardson is still very much in it.

I was just looking at some poll numbers for Iowa and New Hampshire that show Bill gaining ground and that prove we will be competitive on Election Day.

All bets are off until those early states vote. That's really the first time voters get a chance to decide if they think a candidate can go all the way. And it's when front-runners stumble.

That's how Paul Tsongas lost his front-runner status in 1992. It got down to brass tacks and voters realized he couldn't beat George Bush. And suddenly Bill Clinton was catapulted to the front of the line and ultimately into the White House.

But here's what you need to know. Even though Senator Clinton and Senator Obama have bigger war chests, it won't make a difference when voters finally get to decide. There is only so much media to be bought in Iowa and New Hampshire. Which is why we're concentrating our energy there. And that's why I need your help now.

We have put $1.2 million in the plan for media in those two states for the month of November. But today, we only have $950,000.

If we can raise that additional $250,000 between now and Thanksgiving, we can match Clinton and Obama ad-for-ad.

When shopping online for furniture...

If you are like me you prefer to shop from the comfort of your computer as opposed to driving from location to location. The selection of Home Furniture offered by Furniture From Home is impressive. Selections range from items such as an office desk, my personal favorite is the Tobacco Finish Hardwood Computer Desk and Storage Unit, along with Dining Room Furniture, Bedroom Furniture, Living Room Furniture and accessories. The website is easy to navigate and the prices are not overly expensive when you consider the quality of the furniture offered. This is not some bargain basement shopping site where the furniture is of less than stellar quality. They do offer free shipping and go above and beyond what is considered the standard even for companies that offer free shipping, that is a huge positive that earns them my recommendation as a site to visit/shop at.

Ron Paul said he is "not interested" in a third party run for president

DURHAM, N.H. -- Texas Congressman Ron Paul said he is "not interested" in a third party run for president if he is unable to win the Republican presidential nomination next year.

"I have no intention of doing that," Paul told local reporters. "This country is not very democratic and only allows for two parties."

In 1988, Paul ran for president as the nominee for the Libertarian Party. He said that experience showed him a third party run would be futile.

On Friday afternoon Paul spoke to 350 students at the University of New Hampshire, one of the largest audiences a presidential candidates has received on this campus.

Rebecca Romanoski, a UNH student who grew up in Newton, N.H., said she came to see Paul because she heard he was a bit of a "radical". But she was turned off after hearing Paul say he would do very little to address global warming.

In the question and answer period Paul encouraged students to be "contrarians" about global warming and said the federal government really didn't have a role to address the problem anyway.

Quality faucets matter...

When it comes to faucets you might think you can get away with a cheap set for your kitchen or your bathroom. Yet in the end you will most likely spend more money than if you went with a Price Pfister faucet set in the first place. Just one example of dripping water may not seem as if it would be an issue but over time that adds to the cost of your water bill as well as the waste to the environment. Longevity of the faucet is another thing to consider, paying a bit higher of a price for quality as opposed to having to replace parts or pieces or even a whole faucet several times does not make long term financial sense. Design is an additional factor, since when it comes to that you also get what you pay for. Price Pfister is the name I've cone to trust when it comes to a good price for the quality you receive in turn...

Freedom of Speech and the Harm Principle

A highly recommended site that deals with the topic of the Harm Principle and Freedom of Speech. It is a well written piece that takes a thought provoking look at this issue.

One more voter!

My fourth oldest was able to vote for the first time yesterday, and unlike almost 70% of the registered voters of my area, voted. While she was a bit embarrassed by the applause she received from the senior citizen volunteers at the polling station yesterday, I understood exactly why they are applauding. They spend hours volunteering at the polls and in our particular district only 16.6% of the voters came out to vote so seeing a young person care enough about their right to vote to actually do it, was worthy of applause.

Quibblo adds special pages...

Now not only can you have fun taking the many quizzes that Quibblo offers, like anime quizzes, but they have added special pages of information and a way for you to discuss your favorite quizzes. The topics include a list of the quizzes related to the subject matter, like for those of us who are political junkies, the 2008 Election category is one you don't want to miss and if you don't see one that interests you? You can always create your own...

Teen Wins Fight for Antiabortion Club at School

While I can't say I agree with all of her message, I support the right for her to be ale to state it and given there are quite a few other high school clubs that are not related to education, I'm glad that the school district involved permitted the creation of an antiabortion club.

Pakistan constitution said "ripped to shreds"

The arrests of lawyers and the upheaval in Pakistan should be causing a great deal of concern here in the US, it's obvious when reading this Washington Post article, Ousted Pakistani Chief Justice Urges Lawyers to Continue Protests that there is freedom at stake here. While some lawyers are protesting, others have gone into hiding:

Under house arrest since his firing along with six other Supreme Court judges, Chaudhry reached a gathering of lawyers in the capital via cell phone and told them to "go to every corner of Pakistan and give the message that this is the time to sacrifice," the Associated Press reported. "Don't be afraid. God will help us, and the day will come when you'll see the constitution supreme and no dictatorship for a long time."

While some political opponents and rights activists also participated in the protests -- the most significant since Musharraf declared emergency rule Saturday -- it was the lawyers who dominated. In recent months, they have clashed repeatedly with a government they accuse of interfering with the judiciary, and on Monday, they voiced outrage over the president's decision to suspend the constitution and fire a group of dissident Supreme Court justices.

Equally disturbing is the reports of arrests of human relief workers and the fact that non-government owned media has been kept off the air for the third day in a row. This makes getting information about what is happening even more difficult.

Online shopping better for the environment...

Sure the title is a little bit of a stretch, but in a way it is true since by staying home and shopping from home you actually do save driving from place to place looking for just the right gift. You could even say that by using online shopping coupons you save trees since you don't have to print them out on paper...

Another advantage of online shopping is being able to get deals that you can't get at the store, like the ones offered by Tracfone, some of which include a free phone. If you go to the store, you aren't going to get a free phone...Or you can find items from Brian Tracy that would not only be a great gift but could help you improve your own life by taking advantage of his experience when it comes to personal and business success.

My personal preference is to always shop online first and to use online shopping coupons whenever possible, the money I save enables me to buy even more for the ones I love and at times myself too.

Time change increases death risk?

This was an interesting article that made some points that I had not realized when it comes to the change in daylight savings time:

It also means that pedestrians walking around dusk are nearly three times more likely to be struck and killed by cars than before the time change, the researchers calculate.

Ending daylight saving time translates into about 37 more U.S. pedestrian deaths around 6 p.m. in November compared to October, the professors report.

Considering I'm not a fan of the whole messing with mother nature as far as creating an artificial time in the first place, perhaps this is just one additional reason why our government should just leave it alone...

I've thought about freelancing...

As the writer of a popular weekly newspaper column on blogging and a self-published author of a book on Ohio History, I have often thought about becoming a freelancer. I've also thought about freelancing when it comes to advising political campaigns since many of them just need someone to do a quick fix for a public relations problem or issue as opposed to needing someone long term. For me the biggest obstacle is a time factor, not so much as doing the work but doing the promotional aspect to do the work.

Ron Paul winning the internet ad campaign...

So far it would appear that when it comes to making commercials and putting commercials on the internet that Ron Paul is leaps and bounds a head of his other presidential opponents. I've seen more of his advertising recently than I have all of the Republicans and Democrats added up together. What this will mean for the feisty independent who is also making the late night tv rounds is still way to early to tell but I'm also noticing more bloggers coming out and stating they are supporting Ron Paul as well...

Love means having to say your sorry...

Even the best of marriages run into troubled times at one point or another, yet there is this stigma that exists in some circles of society about marriage counseling that can create huge problems for a couple. You'd get a second opinion when it came to a myriad of issues in your life, so there is nothing wrong with getting some advice/assistance when it comes to your marriage. It can be extremely beneficial to have someone who is a third party give you insight into areas in which you can improve your relationship. In the end it'd be a much better option than an unhappy marriage or a divorce...

Does the Military have the right to take their land?

At times I wonder what happened to the concept of liberty, and freedom of choice. I have no problem with the military making an offer for land that they want to purchase, and as an example in this case the ranchers to sell their land but there should be no force and the price should not be what the military decides it wants to pay. Some of those ranchers families owned the land way before the military ever came on the scene and even those who came later? Where exactly are they supposed to go?

That's not even touching on the topic of the history of that area that could be destroyed...

I totally disagree with this statement:

State Sen. John P. Morse, a Colorado Springs Democrat, (said) that "patriotism is about accepting your cost, even when it is disproportionate."

That's total bunk, especially since it really is questionable why we need to train more of our troops to fight in a place where we shouldn't even be in the first place. If Congress and the President would put a stop to sending our troops to the middle east none of these millions of acres of land would be needed for desert training. Yet to attempt to question the patriotism of the ranchers because they don't want to give up their life, their livelihood and their history? I sincerely hope when Morse is up for re-election the residents of Colorado remember his lack of concern for their well being.

History of Filibusters...

As I've said before, I love history. It's an opportunity to see what has happened and many times what is happening right now has been done before. Most times we as humans don't seem to learn lessons from the past so we are doomed to repeat them.

Let's flash back to 1841 for a moment.....

In 1841, when the Democratic minority hoped to block a bank bill promoted by Henry Clay, Clay threatened to change Senate rules to allow the majority to close debate. Thomas Hart Benton angrily rebuked his colleague, accusing Clay of trying to stifle the Senate's right to unlimited debate.

The term "filibuster," comes from the Spanish filibustero, or freebooter, meaning "pirate." Which is what basically happens, one or more persons "pirates" the floor. There are even rules that outline what can be done during a Filibuster, for instance you can drink water or milk but not eat.

Both republicans and democrats have used the filibuster and when in the majority tried to change the rules for filibusters. The party in power seems to always want to stifle the dissent of the minority. Republicans are now in power, and they seem to have forgotten some of their history. Claims have been made that a filibuster has never been used to stop the appointment of a Judge, not true. Sept. 26, 1968, Washington Post; it said, "A full-dress Republican-led filibuster broke out in the Senate yesterday against a motion to call up the nomination of Justice Abe Fortas for Chief Justice." A New York Times story that day said Fortas's opponents "began a historic filibuster today." As the debate dragged on for four days, news accounts consistently described it as a full-blown filibuster intended to prevent Fortas's confirmation from reaching the floor, where a simple-majority vote would have decided the question. The required number of votes to halt a filibuster then was 67; filibusters can be halted now by 60 of the Senate's 100 members.

If you want to read more, some good articles/sites:

Washington Post article

Slate article

Senate Filibuster History

Liberal, Libertarian...how do you define it?

Like most "labels" it depends on the source:

According to Funk and Wagnall's Dictionary:

lib-er-tar-i-an, n. 1. a person who advocates liberty, esp. with regard to thought or conduct.... advocating liberty or conforming to principles of liberty.

According to American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.

NOUN: 1. One who advocates maximizing individual rights and minimizing the role of the state.

The Challenge of Democracy (6th edition), by Kenneth Janda, Jeffrey Berry, and Jerry Goldman:

Liberals favor government action to promote equality, whereas conservatives favor government action to promote order. Libertarians favor freedom and oppose government action to promote either equality or order.

According to Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2000 © 1997-2000 Microsoft Corporation:

Libertarianism, political philosophy emphasizing the rights of the individual. The doctrine of libertarianism stresses the right to self-ownership and, by extension, the right to private ownership of material resources and property. Advocates oppose any form of taxation and favor a laissez-faire economic system.

According to Libertarian.org:

While libertarians are a diverse group of people with many philosophical starting points, they share a defining belief: that everyone should be free to do as they choose, so long as they don't infringe upon the equal freedom of others.

According to David Boaz, Libertarianism: A Primer, Free Press, 1997:

Libertarianism is the view that each person has the right to live his life in any way he chooses so long as he respects the equal rights of others. Libertarians defend each person's right to life, liberty, and property-rights that people have naturally, before governments are created. In the libertarian view, all human relationships should be voluntary; the only actions that should be forbidden by law are those that involve the initiation of force against those who have not themselves used force-actions like murder, rape, robbery, kidnapping, and fraud.

According to Charles Murray, What It Means to Be a Libertarian, Broadway Books, 1997:

The American Founders created a society based on the belief that human happiness is intimately connected with personal freedom and responsibility. The twin pillars of the system they created were limits on the power of the central government and protection of individual rights. . . .

A few people, of whom I am one, think that the Founders' insights are as true today as they were two centuries ago. We believe that human happiness requires freedom and that freedom requires limited government.

The correct word for my view of the world is liberal. "Liberal" is the simplest anglicization of the Latin liber, and freedom is what classical liberalism is all about. The writers of the nineteenth century who expounded on this view were called liberals. In Continental Europe they still are. . . . But words mean what people think they mean, and in the United States the unmodified term liberal now refers to the politics of an expansive government and the welfare state. The contemporary alternative is libertarian. . . .

Libertarianism is a vision of how people should be able to live their lives-as individuals, striving to realize the best they have within them; together, cooperating for the common good without compulsion. It is a vision of how people may endow their lives with meaning-living according to their deepest beliefs and taking responsibility for the consequences of their actions.

Daily show on Turkey...

This one was a funny one that was on October 18th...

More on Ron Paul...

Ron Paul's position on Church and State taken from his December 2003 article entitled, "Christmas in Secular America", makes some points I agree with:

The notion of a rigid separation between church and state has no basis in either the text of the Constitution or the writings of our Founding Fathers. On the contrary, our Founders’ political views were strongly informed by their religious beliefs. Certainly the drafters of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, both replete with references to God, would be aghast at the federal government’s hostility to religion. The establishment clause of the First Amendment was simply intended to forbid the creation of an official state church like the Church of England, not to drive religion out of public life. The Founding Fathers envisioned a robustly Christian yet religiously tolerant America, with churches serving as vital institutions that would eclipse the state in importance. Throughout our nation’s history, churches have done what no government can ever do, namely teach morality and civility. Moral and civil individuals are largely governed by their own sense of right and wrong, and hence have little need for external government.

History of Ron Paul...

Since there is still quite a bit of discussion out there before the whole primary process begins about Ron Paul and what his presidential chances are I though it would be interesting to take a look back at some of the political history of Ron Paul...

In 1982, Ron Paul was the prime mover in the creation of the U.S. Gold Commission, and in many public speeches Paul has voiced concern over the dominance of the debt-based monetary system and called for the return to a commodity-backed currency through a gradual re-introduction of hard currency including both gold and silver. A commodity standard binds currency issue to the value of that commodity rather than fiat, making the value of the currency as stable as the commodity. Ron Paul supports the gold standard to prevent inflation. The Minority Report of the U.S. Gold Commission states that the federal and state governments are strictly limited in their monetary role by Article One, Section Eight, Clauses 2, 5, and 6, and Section Ten, Clause 1, "The Constitution forbids the states to make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debt, nor does it permit the federal government to make anything a legal tender." The Commission also recommended that the federal government "... restore a definition for the term 'dollar.' We suggest defining a 'dollar' as a weight of gold of a certain fineness, .999 fine."

Garage organization equals less stress...

One of the things I hate about doing any type of minor repair in this home is finding the tools I need. Mainly due to the lack of garage storage cabinets no one returns the tools to where they are supposed to be. This can create a scenario where the time taken to search for the needed item takes longer than the repair would have been in the first place. Car Guy Garage.com has what it takes to be organized, they have items to fit all budgets and for a quick look at what your garage could look like? Watch this video on garage storage. Considering we have zero storage in our garage right now? Any one of their items would be a huge benefit...

In support of Humanism

While I am a practicing Roman Catholic, I have questioned my faith and the existence of God. I understand the reasoning of those who do not feel there is any higher power and the battles between atheism and religion at times loose focus on what is important. I highly recommend reading this piece by Greg Epstein, in the Washington Post on Less Anti-theism, More Humanism. He eloquently shares what the real focus should be on for all of us, here is just one part of his noteworthy posting:

Ultimately, we are social animals. We need each other. Our lives are best when we take part in an ethical community that extends far beyond ourselves; for thousands of years, religion has been the best human institution at providing that community. So if all we stand for is anti-theism, we will get nowhere, even though Hitchens is right -- partially -- about the evil religion can do.

Today, the billion of us around the world who are not religious can and must join together to create a humanistic alternative to religion. And let us do so while honoring the good in those of our religious sisters and brothers who are trying to live well according to a belief system we cannot share.

For a Humanist, it is not enough to simply rage, rage against the dying of the enlightenment. Let us get involved in Humanism and make this world, though it will never be perfect, a better place.

Patriot Act violates the Constitution

For most of us the phrase, "Patriot Act violates the Constitution" is something that has been discussed, and known for quite some time, especially those of us who know we have a fourth amendment. Recently there was another court decision that confirms:

In a case brought by a Portland man who was wrongly detained as a terrorism suspect in 2004, U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken ruled that the Patriot Act violates the Constitution because it "permits the executive branch of government to conduct surveillance and searches of American citizens without satisfying the probable cause requirements of the Fourth Amendment."

Dreamed of seeing the Terracotta Warriors?

If you have had on your list of things you have been longing to do to see the Terracotta Warriors, or if you are one of the lucky ones who have seen them on display in London now or previously and are inspired to want to see more, then there's no time like the present to plan your trip. DialAFlight has put together several special travel packages that range from a three day to a 26 day tour to go to China to be able to see the full impact of the 8000+ warriors...

The packages include breakfast as well as hotel accommodations at 3-4 star hotels and dinner is included in several of the packages. My personal preference is the Ten Day Tour that includes Beijing and the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and Xian. It's an amazing package for a trip that would last in your memory forever.

Of course it's different...

I read this paragraph from the Fox News article about the lack of response to Jesse Jackson saying Obama was 'acting white':

The Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson, a talk show host and president of Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny, said there is a racial element to Jackson's comments.

"It is bad for business when [blacks] attack black folks for being wrong, when they correct black Americans," Peterson said. But he added: "Can you imagine what would have happened had a white man, or a white Republican, said that Barack Obama is not black enough? They would want to burn down America."

I can't disagree with that comment, as I know it's true...

Alan Greenspan discovers that human beings are … irrational!

Creative sub-title for an online exclusive web article written by Daniel Gross for Newsweek, The Economics of Human Behavior contains some thought provoking material, including:

Greenspan seems to argue that since the case for capitalism is so overwhelmingly rational, the opposition to it must surely stem from very deep-seated, immutable characteristics. “And that carries me to the general conclusion that if you're going to model an economy, you have to do far better in understanding how the unit of the economy functions—i.e., the human being.”

International Society for Individual Liberty on Global Warming

If you are interested in taking a look at how the Individual Society for Individual Liberty views the topic of global warming, this page of their website might be of interest to you. There are several articles that argue both the pros and the cons of global warming that I highly recommend checking out.

Student Loan Consolidation resource

Depending on the amount of student loan balance you have outstanding at the time of graduation, and the specific terms of your initial loan it can be a huge challenge to meet student loans payments. Falling behind on student loan payments is not a smart financial move as the governmental agencies are very unforgiving when it comes to a default situation. The wise choice when faced with getting behind is to consider a student loan consolidation loan. Internet resources like www.premierstudentloan.com are helpful from an informational standpoint and as a resource to help you discover if this is an option you should consider.

Liberty Food Challenge Log

I consider myself already a smart shopper and one of the initial issues I took with the whole $21.00 a day food stamp challenge that so many climbed on the bandwagon about was the way that people were not eating healthy. I knew it was possible to eat not only healthy but cheaply since I am a parent of five children and at one point in time was a single mother with five children.

That's why I found the Liberty Food Challenge to be a recommended read. Not only did Ari Armstrong and his wife Jennifer from Colorado take the challenge but they managed to demonstrate how it's possible for a couple to live within the goal of spending less than $180.00 a month on food and not have to live on peanut butter & jelly or mac and cheese as some of those who got less deserved media attention did. Ari and Jennifer came in at spending $159.00 and learned some tips on saving as well as nutrition.

Another reason for Math tutoring...

Recently I was disturbed by the discovery that while my youngest daughter was in what is considered an honor's level math class at the public school she currently attends that the book she is using in the 7th grade honors class is the same one she used at a different public school system in the 5th grade. This made it clear to me that Math Tutors would be desperately needed to ensure that she did not develop future issues when she entered high school and then college when it came to being behind her college age peers. There has been a disturbing number of students who have needed remedial help when they have entered college and I believe it is this curriculum gap and parents not recognizing it early enough to take advantage of programs like Score to diminish the affect of this school failure on their children.

“Ron Paul Is Seriously Flawed As A Candidate”

Not my words nor even the words of the Donklephant which is promoted as a Centrist blog for the other 75% but according to this blog post was taken from a Ron Paul supporter's blog. Though of course one wonders if someone writing that statement can truly consider themselves a real Ron Paul supporter but I suppose that's an entirely different question. To the meat of the post:

It’s time for us, as Paul supporters, to stop pretending his ideological flaws do not exist. We are ignoring his extreme and illogical views because we’re so smitten by his good ones. This is a problem. Our ability and/or willingness to logically evaluate him as a complete candidate is being overridden by our surprise and appreciation for his views on foreign policy and personal freedom.

In short, we’re so in love with him that we’re focusing only on his positives while ignoring the negatives.

This list is pointed out with the question asked of those who are the liberal supporters of Ron Paul if they really accept these core beliefs of his:

1. He Doesn’t Believe in the Separation of Church and State
2. He’s Not For Federally Supported Public Education
3. Yeah, That Means No College Loans
4. He’s Not For National Health Care
5. He’s Against Abortion and Would Like to See Roe vs. Wade Overturned
6. He Doesn’t Believe The Evidence for Man-Made Global Warming Is Convincing

From a libertarian standpoint I have a hard time with 5. While I as a catholic have my own position on abortion, to me one of the major reasons why I lean libertarian on many issues is the freedom aspect. I can totally understand not allowing the federal government to pay for abortions but that should be an individual freedom of the mother to decide. I'm also not really clear on 1, as again, freedom to worship should not be a basic function or involvement with religion.

More than just the weather is hot in Arizona...

While here in my part of Ohio, the real estate picture is fairly gloomy, when it comes to looking out west there is a great deal of attention on Arizona mortgage rates. While the interest rates are similar to what we are experiencing, the housing market in Arizona is experiencing much more growth than we are which is making many start taking a serious look at Arizona home loans to purchase their first home or to look at buying what will be their dream retirement home. Some opt for looking at Arizona mortgage refinance to upgrade their current home or to purchase a second vacation home or in the case of having one of those ARM's to get a better interest deal. eHomeMortgages.com has been a leader in the Arizona mortgage loan industry since 1999 and they want to make you at home...

Tape censored over fear of propaganda...

I always have to wonder when I read about decisions made by our government such as this one to censors tape of alleged 9/11 mastermind if they really stop to consider the reality of how propaganda can be used. It would be just as easy for these very same terrorist groups to fabricate what was cut out of the 40 minute tape making some especially outrageous claim that by the mere removal of information? Adds to their ability to create more speculation on why this information was cut than just allowing the truth of what was stated to be released.

It should also be pointed out that previous releases of such audio tapes do not appear to have been used by terrorists to recruit new members...increasing the speculation that by making something appear to be "too dangerous to release" they are inviting it to become a much larger issue.

The comfort of leather chairs...

Nothing says luxury more than a nice leather club chair in your living room, your den or if you are so lucky, your library. There is just something about the look and the feel of Leather Club Chairs with my own preference being Brown Leather Chairs. The best mix for any room would be a few club chairs and at least two Recliner Leather Chairs. I write two, because in this home more than one would prevent squabbles over who gets the recliner...

Yahoo unmashes "mash up"

One wonders if it can really even be called a "mashup" anymore given this:

Yahoo's Democratic debate later this week has been billed as "the first-ever online-only presidential mashup." But on the eve of the debate, Yahoo has decided not to support citizen remixing of the footage -- reducing the once-bold experiment to little more than a fancy online version of an on-demand cable television offering.

Despite the claims this will be something new, the reality is with the changes it won't and thus I predict it will not attract the young voters, it will bore them. Given the talent of most of our young internet generation, they would most likely be able to run circles around what limited video Yahoo is going to share...

Governor Bill Richardson takes issue with Bush's sense of humor

This in via email:

Dear Lisa Renee,

We cannot allow the shame that is America's involvement in Iraq to continue any longer.

3,600 American soldiers have given their lives in this botched and misguided war -- Americans, with families, whose deaths are inestimable losses for those who love them.

Meanwhile, last week President Bush told the Australian Prime Minister that America is "kicking ass" in Iraq.

"Kicking ass?"

What does our President think this is, a high school football game? Where is his leadership? Where is his sense of proportion? Where is his compassion?

This is not the first time the President's choice of humor has caused issues, not to mention the reality that given the recent report on conditions in Iraq, it's hard to support the "kicking ass" theory...

Be informed when it comes to LAP-BAND

If you are considering taking the step of having obesity surgery, it's important to have all of the facts. Not everyone is a candidate for surgical weight loss measures. JourneyLite appears to offer you assistance and information from the very beginning evaluation process to the end result which is learning how to make necessary life changes after having LAP-BAND surgery done. Their website is very user friendly as well as provides clear and factual information, which earns it my recommendation as a site to bookmark if you or someone you know is considering this as a weight loss solution.

Oprah must think Obama can't do it on his own...

I really take issue with those who are in the entertainment business who try to influence the uninformed in America by believing that somehow their opinion is more important than the rest of us. The news that Oprah plans to get more involved with Obama's campaign is the latest incident of an ego inflated celebrity that must not have much faith in their chosen candidates ability to win on their own. Further, this raises the whole question of equal time when it comes to media.

I would hold out hope that voters would have the common sense needed to decide for themselves who they should vote for based on their own personal opinion, unfortunately there have been more than a few times where it's obvious money and hype are more important than real substance.

Be a wonk...it's fun!

I received an email about a website out there designed to track information being posted by blogs on the Presidential race, it's called Wonkosphere. The top 850 political blogs across the United States in the categories of conservative, liberal and independent are included. I was honored to discover my main national political blog is included as one of the 850.

It's a great way to easily track what some of the most influential blogs in American are focusing on, so I hope you bookmark it.

Early planning for Black Friday...

As a person who considers herself somewhat of a savvy shopper, I always scout the ads to look for the best thanksgiving deals that are items that I know for certain my family needs. Thanks to the internet, it can be possible to shop right from the comfort of your own home, still get the great deals and not have to get up at 4:00 a.m. to wait in line. Or if you are one of those who loves the "thrill of the hunt", when you get home you can head to your pc to score some great online Black Friday specials.

Black-Friday.net offers you the information early and they also have links to products for you to be able to buy them directly. They also list the items that will be specials, using Best Buy as an example, which is always a crowded mess here in Toledo, I can buy their doorbuster specials without having to worry about being bruised at the door in the crush of those waiting. With my electronically driven household electronic items are always on the top list of my family. Another one of our favorite places to shop that has great Black Friday deals is Circuit City.

I recommend you bookmark the website www.blackfriday.net so that you'll know that you are already prepared to start saving money and do some smart shopping.

Soros-tied Group Fined Over '04 Ads

Personally I don't see how fining those who are wealthy really does anything to help the process of cutting down on those who violate election law, if there is going to be enforcement at all perhaps the best punishment would be to not allow them to donate at all for a certain period of time.

No officers found guilty...

One of the unfair aspects to many when it came to what happened at Abu Ghraib was not a single officer has been held criminally responsible for the mistreatment of prisoners at the Iraqi prison near Baghdad. It's a disturbing situation for those following the issue of rights given the suggestion that there has been evidence that demonstrated the enlisted personnel were not acting of their own accord. I recommend reading the full article at IPS News...

A preference for quilts...

I grew up with a grandmother who had her own loom and was really into quilting, so I have always had a fondness for the look of quilted bedspreads. To me their purpose goes beyond being used as a bedding cover, I like them as a throw over my couch and as an extra blanket option on the back of a couch for those chilly nights when we are downstairs watching a movie. Terry's Fabrics has a very nice selection of bedspreads which includes quilted. I could spend hours there looking at the variation in color, texture and style that they have online. I also recommend taking a look at their Cushions and Throws, as I've gotten a great many design ideas from seeing what they offer.

More on Ron Paul...

Another local blogger that I know has been focusing quite a bit on Ron Paul, he has stories as well as videos listed on his blog so, if you have been following Ron Paul, a site I recommend checking out is Uncommon Squalor.

Ron Paul: How a Fringe Politician Took Over the Web

Highly recommended article over on Wired about Ron Paul if you have been following his campaign, or are just curious as to how Ron Paul has managed to make a name for himself on the internet while being shunned from the regular GOP political machine.

According to Technorati, "Ron Paul" is one of the web's most searched-for terms. News about Paul has an outsize presence on Digg and reddit, two sites that allow users to highlight their preferred content. Paul's YouTube channel has been viewed over one million times, dwarfing efforts from competitors like John McCain and Rudy Giuliani. The Ron Paul internet boom has born everything from Belgians for Ron Paul to a reggae music video promoting Paul's views on monetary policy and habeas corpus.

What the end result of this internet influence will be still remains to be seen...

Vacuum heisters...

My husband and my two daughters are fanatics when it comes to keeping their cars clean, but every time I hear one of the talk about vacuuming out their car I shudder. Why? Because this means they will take my vacuum from the house and if I am lucky they will empty it and or return all of the accessories. Our next home will definitely have a car vacuum installed in the garage, it's the only way I'll actually have my vacuum when I need it.

:-)

Here's a wiki that makes you wonder about our freedom...

If you have ever wondered how far we take fear and the fear of a few people killing us, then the "how to" tip of the day I came across today on my Google home page will show you exactly where the mindset of many are:

How to Survive a School or Workplace Shooting.

Our olden times drills of being told what to do in case of a bomb, then the scariest thing being the tornado drills have now been replaced by this. Which in a way does show that fear is constant, but what changes is what people are afraid of...

Holistic Teenage Treatment

It's been something known for quite some time that encouragement of holistic treatment or other creative outlets can be a helpful facet of Teen Rehab. It's one of the many reasons people turn to Echo Malibu when their teenager needs help with an addiction or a behavior issue. Their motto is "Recovery through Empowerment", and they have staff available 24/7.

Irony...money costing more to make than it's worth...

Recommended article from the Washington Times:

As Democratic Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez of Illinois explains it, pennies are made mostly of zinc and have a copper-plated surface. Nickels are made up of an alloy of 75 percent copper and 25 percent nickel. Since 2003, world demand for core metals has driven up the price of copper and nickel by 300 percent and of zinc by 450 percent.

"At the current specifications for these coins, it costs the government 1.7 cents to make a penny, and 10 cents to make a nickel," he notes.

Federal Marijuana Ban Turned 70

I hadn't realized the ban was in place for that long, but as I was getting caught up on my reading I noticed, Federal Marijuana Ban Turns 70 on Aug. 2. I'd have to agree with the belief that this has been a total failure as Marijuana has continued to be a part of American culture and despite 70 years of a ban? It appears it's not any more difficult to obtain than it ever was:

Federal government estimates indicate that marijuana use has increased approximately 4,000 percent since the Marijuana Tax Act took effect. A study by researcher Jon Gettman, Ph.D., published in December 2006 and based on government data, found marijuana to be the country's number-one cash crop, exceeding the value of corn and wheat combined. The federally funded Monitoring the Future survey reports that approximately 85 percent of high school seniors describe marijuana as "easy to get" -- a figure that has remained virtually unchanged since the survey began in 1975. In 2005 (the most recent figures available), U.S. law enforcement made an all-time record 786,545 marijuana arrests -- 89 percent for possession, not sale or trafficking.

Given the way the Government has made such a large amount of money in taxing those who smoke tobacco and those who drink alcohol, it's surprising after 70 years that they still consider this particular herb to be any different.

My top furniture piece...

Staying somewhat on topic as to something that is "tops" would be this about my favorite piece of furniture from Gallery furniture store, but first I'd have to say that what makes this website enjoyable to visit is not just pictures but most of the furniture selections also have a video uploaded to You Tube so you can do more than just look at a picture at one angle. They are one of the only places I've seen do this and I think it's a great feature.

After spending quite a bit of time browsing various pieces of furniture, I came across one that I thought was beautiful and unique, this particular bed would be one I would have to consider my top piece of furniture:



If you want to take a look at the video for this bed, it's as easy as clicking here to watch. It was the color of the bed that caught my eye first, and I am a fan of the four poster bed look but I'm also very far from being a traditionalist. This bed with it's unique design would be a real center piece of attraction in any bedroom. You'll also notice the play area for children and how huge the showroom is of Gallery Furniture when you visit them online. If you are near the Houston area, I highly recommend taking a look at what this Houston furniture store has to offer.

Top ten reasons Ron Paul will win the Republican Primary...

I'm not sure how true these will end up being but it was an interesting item from the Libertarian Forum to share:

#10-“Ron Paul” is the second most searched term on Technorati, which measures blog search traffic. (38% of Americans as of 04 rely on the internet for information about politics, political issues and elections. 15% of all Americans use the internet as a primary source for political news)

#9- Ron Paul’s website attracts the most visitors out of all the Republican candidates.

#8 He has won almost every Republican debate according to the polls, and came in second for the ones he hasn’t ranked 1st in.

#7- Ron Paul is leading the Republicans on popularity on Social Networking sites and Meet up groups. With over 55,000 friends on Myspace, and over 25,000 subscribers onYoutube, Ron Paul is clearly the most popular candidate amongst internet users.

#6- He has currently has more cash-on-hand than John McCain. Ron Paul has the funds to compete with the “tier 1 candidates”

#5- He has 75% Support of the Libertarian party (The third largest political party in the nation)

#4- He has a dedicated base of supporters. With a mere 25% voter turnout in the last election’s primaries, Ron Paul’s dedicated supporters can make a big difference. It’s fair to assume that 75% of Ron Paul supporters will vote in the primaries. Unlike traditional voters, Ron Paul’s supporters seem to be a bit over zealous to say the least. Libertarians also tend to have a higher voter turnout then traditional political parties, and with recent surveys showing that 75% of Libertarians support Ron Paul over their own Libertarian presidential candidate, its safe to say that Ron Paul has been heavily underestimated.

#3 -Ron Paul won an early New Hampshire straw poll put together by the Coalition for New Hampshire Taxpayers. Ron Paul placed in 1st with a remarkable 65% of the votes. Giuliani came in second with a mere 8%

#2 -He has support from the U.S. Military. Military contributions among Republican presidential candidates place Ron Paul on top at 49.5%, which is nearly as much as all the other Republicans combined.

#1- America will vote for freedom, Ron Paul.

Ron Paul more libertarian than republican...

I consider myself to be a "liberal libertarian", that said I do enjoy many of the works that Ron Paul the Congressman from Texas has put out through the years. He has proudly proclaimed himself a Libertarian in the past then turned to the Republican party in Texas but he's never lost those libertarian roots. This seems to be both beneficial in that it attracts people who are not traditional republicans but it also seems to be a problem in that he does not get the same level of support from the traditional GOP machine.

For even more information on Ron Paul, I suggest visiting wikipedia.

Teach your children to be financially responsible...

For some of us the desire to help our children learn to be financially responsible can a situation where it would be great to be able to have some helpful hints in succeeding. I think we all realize that at times parenting teens can be a challenge. I've been there four times, with one more teenage episode before my parenting days are on to adult children issues. There are many more resources for parents now and I recommend taking advantage of those like the Chores and Allowances blog.

Public service or public nuisance?

I was reading this story from Amsterdam where it appears two Dutch bloggers who were taking risque pictures using a camera phone up women's dresses and skirts as a way to warn women that they were not being careful enough are now in trouble themselves. It appears their motive as stated in doing this might not prevent them from prison time. This leads to the question were they really performing a public service or were they a public nuisance just the same as those who take pictures for more nefarious reasons...

Increasing awareness of trains...

Recently here in North Western Ohio there have been several situations where a person was killed when walking across the train tracks at a rail road crossing, appearing to be because they ignored the train horn. It's not just pedestrians that do this though, time after time car drivers deciding to be impatient cross the flashing crossing guard rails and drive around. Most times there is no collision but is it really worth the risk? Our last residence before this one we lived very close to a railroad crossing, at night we would hear the train horn blow as the train approached the intersection, each time to warn those driving the train was coming. There are still crossings that have no lights or arms to come down to warn you when a train is approaching, only a sign warning you one is ahead so that you will use your own common sense judgment of what I was taught years ago as a driver, "Look, Listen then Cross".

Alex is On the Edge...

Alex Krige has a new blog On The Edge that he'd like you to know about. The blog has lots of news though I do have to disagree with Alex's one story on how to strip the DRM from Netflix Movies, other sources carried this story as well and it's been stated that Netflix has already made changes that makes this not possible. There are also some questions as to the legality of it, and not something I'd recommend people do. However, reporting about it and linking to it does give people information as well as can make for some interesting commentary.

Confirmed...GOP no show at LOGO

As a quick update to the earlier post...

Dems to spar, GOP no-show at landmark gay debate

GOP no show at LOGO

We won't have confirmation until the actual debate happens but it's being reported that none of the Republican presidential candidates have agreed to appear at the debate being sponsored by LOGO, a gay and lesbian television network. On the democratic side, Biden and Dodd have claimed to have scheduling conflicts.

For me what's sad about it is that not all gays are Democrats, I know several very politically active Republicans who are gay. While it is true that gays make up a small percentage of Americans, it is something we should not be afraid to talk about issues such as civil unions. I support the concept of civil unions for everyone, marriage should be what it was created, a religious ceremony that should have nothing to do with the State or the Federal Government.

Race and dating...

There was a time when interracial romance was not something that was accepted here in the US and those who dated outside of their race did so either in quiet or faced harassment in certain communities. Society has progressed to the point where there are now online dating communities that focus on connecting those who are interested in interracial dating to each other. For some, the cultural aspect of interracial dating makes race a determining factor when looking for love. Because of advances in technology and in making use of a user friendly format as well as free membership, interracial dating is as easy as going through profiles and finding just the right cultural background and person that interests you as a friend or companion.