Bin Ladin's neice in racy photo spread!

And her last name isn't Bin Ladin any more. She doesn't want anything to do with them. She's an American! She's got American values. I don't believe she's well liked in Saudi Arabia, either.

We love you! What a SLAP in the face for Osama!~ Of course most of us would like to do a lot more to him than SLAP him - but it's a start....

F.O.F. C.D. in your Christmas Stocking?

Or was it a "Holiday" goodie bag for the kids? You either love F.O.F. or hate 'em. Even they claim that this C.D. was to be distributed at the discretion of the Littleton School District. Regardless, you certainly can NOT claim F.O.F. is a secular organization!!!!

Look, I'm all for common sense for handling Christmas in schools. You SHOULD be able to mention Christmas and even wish someone a MERRY CHRISTMAS. But F.O.F. is a Religious / Political organization. A lot is being made of the assault on Christmas. I agree that in many cases the secularists are going too far. We sometimes forget that the other side goes too far as well. Let it not be forgotten that we are now a far more diverse country then when we were founded. Let's give the Buddists, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Agnostics Atheists and others a little respect as well.

As far as many of the standard symbols of Christmas, such as the tree and red and green colors - they have little religious meaning. Trees, wreaths ornaments and lights are not necessarily inappropriate in schools. Having kids understand the main reason for the holiday is acceptable, too. But when religious materials are sent home with the students, this author thinks they have gone too far.

As a rebellion to this whole thing, I am announcing to everyone Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah and Joyous Kwanza and NOT Happy Hollidays. Hannukah starts on December 25. Most Jews I know are most gracious about Christmas and are NOT the ones trying to ban it. They just believe in "live and let live" and go on to quietly celebrate their holiday. I just wish the other side - Dobson and F.O.F. would show equal respect!

Cheney Breaks Senate Tie on Spending Cuts

It is always interesting when the V.P. has to come in and be the tie breaker. I guess he was called back from overseas to do so. You NEVER really know what you are getting with any of these bills. If it indeed means some fiscal restraint, then it is a good thing.

I'm not sure how I feel about opening up the artic refuge for drilling. Can I believe them when they say they will do it in an environmentally safe way? It sure did not happen on that beautiful land around Hovenweep Canyon where our property lies. You can see the pads where the wells are quite clearly from the google earth photos.
Still, I suppose energy independence is important. I just wish we could do more of it through alternative energy sources.

I predict a new REVOLUTION in energy sources is right around the corner. It may not happen under the Bush Administration and it may not come from the government at all. It will be aided by the computer technology and create a lot of new jobs. Cars will actually clean the air as you drive around. There will still be a power grid, but many homes won't be connected. Countries with lots of sun, like Saudi Arabia will get most of their energy from it, while countries like Norway may supplement their power with turbines powered by ocean currents.

DENIAL is a River in Egypt....

Goodbye Julie! Oh, you've got another job; fantastic! It wouldn't happen to involve working with a computer, would it???? Soooo, you've got all this experience as an Executive Assistant do you? Ready for a REALLY stressful job!!!!

All I can say is GOOD LUCK! Also, I hope you don't show up at your NEXT job completely LOADED on pain pills! Of course, I know you have MIRACUOUSLY recovered from your ailment and don't need them anymore!!!

I'm glad I never got addicted to pain killers. The more you take, the more you need! Your mind just turns up the volume. It also turns down the volume when you don't take anything. It doesn't work perfectly, I might add, but it works!!!

Still, I need a couple every now and then - however, I start feeling strange if I take too many. Bizarre thought patterns. It's great for the couple of hours they work and then bad on the way down as the effect fades. I think when they are fading is when my B.P. goes up. I'm not too crazy about eating Tylenol or Aleve, but most certainly I DO NOT take more than recommended dosage. It's worrysome even taking that much, because pain just doesn't go away in a couple of weeks if you have this kind of chronic pain.

Hey, if you can function on pain meds, then fine. I guess Rush Limbaugh did for quite a while and then it caught up with him. I'm not sure, maybe Julie THOUGHT she was functioning????? I'd give her a D - minus.

Focus On......

Ken Salazar? I think F.O.F. is getting carried away in attacking Salazar. The guy hasn't even made up his mind on Alito! I hope Ken stays out of the fray this time and doesn't call them AntiChrist again. He sounds like a pretty moderate Senator and gains points with me by working with McCain in the Senate.

He's certainly not the most elequent public speaker I've heard, but he's smart so that should count for something. Besides, I recieved a Christmas Card with a hand written message and signed by Ken, his wife and two daughters.

Merry Christmas, Ken

Senate Rejects Extension of Patriot Act

I'm not exactly sure whether this is good or bad. I understand that there is always the possibility that the Patriot Act can be rejuvinated if need be. Checks and balances can be written into it as needed. So far, our intelligence gathering has been so inept that it would be easy to say: "just drop it". I don't believe it should be scrapped altogether, but important safeguards NEED to be implemented. Common sense needs to be deployed in enacting legislation. This IS America after all!!!

Several key Senators, some my favorites, voted NO! Way to go Frist, Hagle and Salazar! Let's rewrite it right and get the job done without us loosing our freedom.

Success!

I read that record numbers of Iraqi's went to the polls. Great! We'll see what they get with it. But hey, it's THEIR country!!! I have the feeling that soon these calls for with withdrawl from Iraq will be a mute point. Sure, there are bound to be some tussles in the new legislature; as long as things don't disintigrate into civil war, WE can go home. Yippee!

Iran's President calls Holocaust a "myth"..

Jeepers, the pictures from that sad era sure look real! I think I'm more concerned about what Holocausts they might be perpetrating within Iran! Why the hell is Iran taking jabs at Israel all the time? They aren't even neighboring countries!

That guy is a loose cannon! Obviously the U.S. can't afford to invade any more countries (I think even Bush realizes that), so all we can do is support those in Iran hoping to overthrow the government. I've heard there are a LOT of disgruntled people there - I sure hope that is true.

McCain, White House at impasse over detainee treatment

I heard on this one they had reached a compromise. On this, just out of respect for the Senator, I think HE (McCain) should be the one that gets what he wants. Is there anyone more qualified to know about torture? I don't think so.

The fact that there is ANY difference at all illustrates why the country made a mistake in 2000. I don't know whether McCain has the oomph to run again, but certainly we need him as a key player in the Senate.

Now that's my kind of line!

Well, I was a stressin' out over nothing. The desire to "get it over with" and print lables, postage and box stuff up at home wasn't warrented. I went down to the Post Office to try and drop off some packages and lo and behold; the damned thing was open on Sunday and there was NO line!!! Nobody knew it would be open! I ended up sending a flat rate box, because that is what I grabbed. It cost me about $4 more than regular Priority mail. Oh well, the bulk of it is done!

About CHRISTmas!

Granted, there are a LOT of other celebrations mixed in this time of year from the Winter Solstice to Hanukah to Kwanza to New Years... But Christmas dominates the month of December and at least in this editor's mind there's nothing wrong with Merry Christmas! Just don't start until after Thanksgiving... Sure, it makes absolute sense to buy presents in July to save money - Just remember it is then we are celebrating summer and the 4th of July.

I also think there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with say a Manger Scene in public.
Just don't get carried away with it on government property.

For me, Christmas in essence is rembering the birth of the Christ child. A lot of other stuff got thrown in there along the centuries. I got the real full European / Danish tradition of Christmas as a child. I think my parents could have emphasized the Christ in Christmas a bit more. You would've thought we were worshipping the FAT guy in a red suit! Still, it was an exciting time of year as a child and I look back on it with mostly fond memories. Once Granny and Aunt Jane died, I think in reality Christmas did too for us! Of course, at least with Janie, she died long after we stopped believing in the fat guy!

This year it will be different. Oh sure, I've got the usual cards to send out, but it will be nice to have something to actually do on Christmas! It's been boring for the last few decades. This time, if I can drag Toan in, we'll have a nice service to attend - then maybe go out for Chineese food!

And also....

My condolances to the wife of that guy that got shot. I'm know she didn't mean for him to act up and get shot. I'm sure her holidays are downright miserable for her this year! Sorry, I haven't changed my stance on dealing with people threatining the safety of airliners. I hope security can become more efficient someday so we can tell if there really is a bomb inside a backpack. I like the procedure they have now to park the drink cart to block the aisle to the front when the pilot comes out to use the restroom. None of those cockpits I've seen look that big, so it is probably hard to fit a restroom in there.

And when you feel a bit down....

Just think about it for a moment. Do the holidays get you down? What about the people affected by Katrina who lost everything? Especially the ones who are still without ANY kind of perminent housing. I suppose I ought to mention the poor villagers stumbling around in the cold of the mountains in Pakistan. Not good! Let's also not forget some of our troops - the ones over THERE or the ones in a V.A. hospital over Christmas.

Marshal shoots passenger on boarding bridge at Miami airport!

Good! Of course they don't want to shoot just everyone who mutters something inappropriate. But if someone is rushing onto (or off of) a plane yelling they have a bomb and they don't stop - shoot the S.O.B!

I'd also like to see a pilot or marshall shoot an in-flight hijacker, but hopefully the bullet won't exit them and puncture the fusillage or injure another passenger. I guess if I had to stop a hijacker, I'd take off my belt and try and slip it over their neck and choke 'em.

Yes, I KNOW the guy had mental "issues". Hey, as far as I know they didn't mean to kill the guy, so don't get mad at me for my hardline stance!!! They can't mess around with these people. El Al Airlines!

How many days to go?

Geez, I lost track! Today is December 7th, isn't that the day that will "live in infamy"? It's kinda like my brother's birthday of December 24th - it gets overshadowed by Christmas. Speaking of it (Christmas, that is), I miss the real ones we used to have. Especially when Granny and Aunt Jane were alive. Now it's pretty much of a Non-Event. The brother's don't wan't to get together on Christmas Day or Eve. They always want the "family" get together like a week or so before. I guess it is so they can celebrate with their immediate families without the burden of outsiders such as myself.

Sooooo, my big plans are to go to Church. It's a good one, I hope. The United Church of Christ on Sixth Ave. in Denver. The Church has a good mission statement and I can feel free to plop down a nice bill on the collection plate. We'll see how the congregation is - friendly, I hope!

Ain't America a Great country!

In writing this, I could quote some obscure Biblical scripture. I'm not a Theologian or Biblical scholar, so I can only listen to or read people's interpretations of the Bible. I think we all look for some kind of legitimacy in this lengthy set of documents. What I like about America is you have the freedom to worship Jesus or any other religion in any manner you see fit. What's even better, you can usually find a Church who supports your views. So, who's right and who's wrong? I have this attitude that each person must look within their hearts to interpret the meaning of the scriptures.

Et Moi? I just get turned off by all the condemnation and fear-mongering by some. Where is the simple love and kindness shown by my (Lutherin) Granny and her Pastor? By Jesus? I get the feeling Jesus' story would not have survived had he acted like Geghis Kahn or Hitler. Love trumps hate every time!

O.k., I have a link here. Some might consider this guy to be rationalizing the Bible, but it sounds good to me. It talks about one of the pressing issues of our time:

http://www.soulforce.org/article/639

Also, Kudos to Joel Osteen - a positive message trumps a negative one every time. When I do watch, I can lay down my remote control and not fear him getting my blood pressure up. Muchas Gracias, Amigo!

World Aids Day 2005

It is always interesting to see the progress, or lack of it, in fighting this disease. I can see the progress in the fact the President of the United States has no problem in talking about the epidemic and compassionate solutions for it. This wasn't true when the epidemic was starting and Ronald Reagan was president. Then, it was taboo to say the word AIDS. Now Bush (yes, the Conservative Bush) talks about solutions and manufacturing overseas with distribution of medicine in Africa and elsewhere.

On the negative side, the pandemic grew last year and large numbers of new infections occured in many countries. This is one tough nut to crack!!! Believe me, it's no picnic to take all this medicine, yet it works! The only easy thing about the disease is preventing it (educating people how it is transmitted). I don't like to dwell on this disease, I just live with it and forget the fact that it could kill me. I'm doing o.k. and am lucky to have access to healthcare. I have a dream of a world where all people have access to the medicines and the medical supervision they require. I also think we'll stop this one, sometime in my lifetime! If we don't cure it, it will become more and more manageable. Poor countries will attain manufacturing capabilities and a new green revolution is right around the corner with better nutrition for all!