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.