« March 2005 | Main | May 2005 »

April 29, 2005

A comment from Jody at

A comment from Jody at Common Sense Runs Wild:

I know I know. I am supposed to be on break, I just had to say terrific post [re: A Debt To Society That Can't Be Repaid]. My blog is blessed to have your words on my site. I noticed in the comments at thebandwagon you mentioned that your anti-death penalty stance was faltering because of these crimes. I understand completely, however, because of Terri Schiavo and the fight for the worth of life I believe that you being against the death penalty is the right belief. After supporting it, then being on the edge for a while, I finally made the decision that life can not be devalued no matter how much we want the life to be gone.

This is truly a faith issue, as I discussed in both of my posts that referenced Sarah and Jessica. We have to believe that God is the perfect Judge and justice will be done eventually, if not in this life then in the one to come. Does that give us solace or protect our children now? NO.

A "leper" island for the perverts to go seems ideal but the liberals would never let it happen. I guess the only thing to do is tighten laws to keep them in prison longer. To have zero tolerance for crimes against children and to be willing to give a life sentence for taking away a child's innocence. In some ways even if they do not take the child's life, they kill who the person they were and it takes so much rebuilding to restore that life.

If you'd like to blogburst this a bit, then count me in. The more attention given the subject, the better aware we are to help protect our children.

If you didn't know, I'm "blog sitting" for Jody this weekend.

I've been struggling with the problem of sexual offenders lately, and this was her response to my angst.

Here's my question to YOU: What is you're solution, or even a suggestion? Do you think a blogburst would help? Do you know of any web sites that are particularly insightful? If you are a parent, what are YOUR precautions to protect your children?

Please, I've been thinking about this a lot lately and I need YOUR insights! What do you think we can do as a society to stop this epidemic?

Posted by Jody at 11:47 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Some victims of child molesters

Some victims of child molesters are "luckier" than Sarah Lunde and Jessica Lunsford . These children may live but they spend the rest of their lives dealing with the repercussions of what they've been subjected to. Meanwhile the molesters and rapists who commit these crimes do their time, if convicted, and then head back into society. Theses animals live in our neighborhoods and wait for their next innocent victims.

Some statistics for you to think about:

• The typical offender is male, begins molesting by age 15, engages in a variety of deviant behavior, and molests an average of 117 youngsters, most of whom do not report the offense. -Dr. Gene Abel in a National Institute of Mental Health Study

• About 10% of violent offenders with child victims received life or death sentences and the average prison term was 11 years, somewhat shorter average sentences than received by those with adult victims. -BJS Survey of State Prison Inmates, 1991

• Recidivism rates range from 18-45%. The more violent the crime the more likelihood of repeating. -Studies by the state of Washington

• Like rape, child molestation is one of the most underreported crimes: only 1-10% are ever disclosed. -FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin

Here's a story that caught my attention today: Freed child molester returns to Santa Rosa

A high-risk child molester on parole has been moved back to a Motel 6 in Santa Rosa from Redwood City, where his presence prompted outcry from residents and police.

"We are really pleased that he's back in the county where he committed his crime, which is where he should be released to,'' said Redwood City police Capt. Ron Matuzak.

Thomas Earl Putney, 36, was released from the state's program for deviant sexual offenders at Atascadero State Mental Hospital in February, 15 years after he attacked three children. His presence in Santa Rosa drew death threats, prompting parole officers to move him last month to the Garden Motel in Redwood City. On Tuesday, Santa Rosa police warned residents that Putney was again in their midst.

If it were Capt. Matuzak's child who had been molested 15 years ago, do you think he would be "really pleased" with Putney's return?

[Cross posted at Common Sense Runs Wild]

Posted by Jody at 05:33 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Yeah I've completed about four

Posted by Jody at 02:02 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

We hardly knew you... Yeah,

Posted by Jody at 01:37 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 28, 2005

Kathleen Garret's lawyer, Thomas Egan

Posted by Jody at 08:29 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

My Blogroll is out of

My Blogroll is out of control.

But there are so many good blogs...so little time. Here are a few of the recent additions:

American Warmonger
An American Housewife
The American Princess
Flaming Duck
Ogre's politics and views
Prying 1

Can you blame me for having these blogs on my blogroll?

Oh and just because we're on the blogroll topic, Aimz and Reggie have both moved to new sites which I updated on my roll. Click their names to check out their new homes...

And yes. The number on my blogs on my personal blogroll is an even number...but you guys really didn't need to know that did you?

OH! And I added the "blogroll me" linky thing to my sidebar so now you can one step blogroll "thebandwagon" (HINT HINT!)...

Update: What has 8 eyes and 8 legs? 8 pirates!! heehee... and my favorite pirate of all has reminded me that he too has moved, so check out the new and improved Pirate's Cove... and update your blogroll's!!!

Posted by Jody at 08:08 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 27, 2005

Either this blogger is an

Either this blogger is an absolute genius or a total retard...

Either way, the scariest thing?

I totally get it.

Posted by Jody at 11:31 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

It's funny because it's

It's funny because it's true!

Posted by Jody at 11:24 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

I don't think any constitutional

I don't think any constitutional admendment could be passed to "save" this marriage:

Kuttiyamma, 29, a rubber-tapping worker, and her relative, Laura, 25, had been in love for the last 15 years. When they realized they were inseparable, Kuttiyamma, who was born with inter-sex features, decided to go in for 'sex deformity correctional' surgery. After a treatment spread over 18 months, Kuttiyamma underwent an operation at Kochi's PVS hospital last month. That's how Kuttiyamma became Binu. Binu then approached his lover to talk about their wedding plans, only to be told that his lover was already engaged to another man.

Um.

I guess the moral of this story is to just be yourself?

Yeah. Okay.

And what's a rubber tapper?

(ht: BobG @ Sweet Spirits of Ammonia)

Posted by Jody at 10:13 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 26, 2005

Posted by Jody at 11:31 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 25, 2005

Give peace a chance? The

Give peace a chance?

The two peace protestors who attacked and punched a 5ft. 2in. 49-year old woman holding signs supporting the efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, would do well to follow their own protest.

How can you go to a "peace rally", hold signs about "peace", chant and sing about "peace" then go and punch a woman who disagrees with you? The "peace" can't stick with you longer than it takes to cross the street? And they wonder why we don't take them seriously...

Hat tip: Michelle Malkin

Posted by Jody at 10:55 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Until this blog is cleaned

Until this blog is cleaned up and all the comments are even!!!

Well I have been enjoying my blog break and it has been fun to watch Janette take over and "steal" thebandwagon. She did a great job, even if she instigated a coup and savagely made my poor readers post odd numbered comments. It's okay, I'm back now. Everything is okay. You guys can once again normal comment posting procedures...

I've noticed that Janette may have picked up a few new readers here that might be disappointed that I have regained control (hey, ya'll might all be disappointed; just don't let me know, k?). But that too is okay because Janette has her own blog which she does a fabulous job at called Common Sense Runs Wild. It's a small upstart blog with a few readers, but I certainly see potential. ;) Ha ha... thanks Janette!

So, yes, I'm back. In case you want the boring details: I went to a church conference (which wasn't boring at all), then I lurked around the internet and enjoyed a few more days of non-blogging...ahhh

So now that I'm refreshed, I am sure my readers will see an increase of quality on this blog by at least...oh... 2%.

So stay tuned!!

Posted by Jody at 08:55 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Muzzy of Blogizdat and Cindy

Muzzy of Blogizdat and Cindy of Wheelz Life Notes have posted their answers to the "If I could Be .  . ." meme that I asked them to participate in. Go check out their answers

[Cross posted at Common Sense Runs Wild]

Posted by Jody at 04:34 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Malachi, born 20 weeks premature

Malachi, born 20 weeks premature on February 15th, is holding his own so far reports The Ledger-Enquirer.

The newborns parents said they chose the name Malachi because it's one of the smallest books of the Bible, and Malachi means "messenger of God."

"He's so small, and he's sent a message to us of what love is," the father said.

Why do I get the feeling that abortion activists can't be very happy that babies are surviving at lower birth weights and earlier gestation periods?

Hat tip: Free Republic

[Cross posted at Common Sense Runs Wild]

Posted by Jody at 03:58 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 24, 2005

What do the following people

What do the following people have in common?

• Abraham Lincoln
• Albert Einstein
• Barack Obama
• Bill Clinton
• Cesar Chavez
• Condoleezza Rice
• Ellen DeGeneres
• George W. Bush
• George Washington
• Hugh Heffner
• Marilyn Monroe
• Mel Gibson
• Michael Jackson
• Michael Moore
• Nokola Tesla
• Dr. Phil McGraw
• Tiger Woods

After tallying more than a half a million online nominations these are part of candidates for the Discovery Channel/ AOL Top 100 Americans.

You really need to check out the full list. It looks like someone opened a history book and a People magazine and threw darts to pick the nominees.

Michael Jackson? Ellen DeGeneres? Jimmy Carter? Honestly people, if you've every wondered about the intelligence of some of your fellow Americans, this list should tell you all you need to know.

That I had to check the nominee "John Edwards" to determine if it referred to the former vice presidential nominee or the television psychic tells you a little about how absurd the quality of this list is. (For future reference, there's no "s" at the end of the tv psychic's name. I'm so glad I cleared that up.)

Hat tip: David Schantz of A Republic, if you can keep it

[Cross posted at Common Sense Runs Wild]

Posted by Jody at 01:46 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 23, 2005

If you didn't think that

If you didn't think that political correctness was idiotic before you will after reading this story. Check out We Have Ways of Making You Walk at Sweet Spirits of Ammonia.

[Cross posted at Common Sense Runs Wild]

Posted by Jody at 09:30 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Did you know that 11

Did you know that 11 1/2 percent of Mexico's population lives in the United States?

Did you know that somewhere between 3,000,000 and 7,000,000 are registered to vote illegally?

Did you know that Mexico's President Vincente Fox encourage them to vote in both countries?

As of Apr. 15, 2005 — Stats regarding illegal immigrants:

• Arrived since general amnesty of 1986 13,538,691
• Arrived Since 9.11.01 3,686,140
• Arrived this week 57,400
• Will arrive next week 57,400
• Will arrive today 8,200

Also check out Firewolf's Blog for a story on how our government is failing to adequately supply border patrol agents with the bullet proof vests that they need.

Statistics via: Laughter Genealogy

Hat tip: Crystal Clear

[Cross posted at Common Sense Runs Wild]

Posted by Jody at 03:17 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 22, 2005

Cross posted from Common Sense

Cross posted from Common Sense Runs Wild

Jody from The Bandwagon tagged me with the meme "If I could be . . . "

Immediately following there is a list of 18? 19? 20?different occupations. You must select at least 5 of them (feel free to select more). You may add more if you like to your list before you pass it on (after you select 5 of the items as it was passed to you). Each one begins with "If I could be..." Of the 5 you selected, you are to finish each phrase with what you would do as a member of that profession. For example, if the selected occupation was "pirate" you might take the phrase "If I could be a pirate..." and add to it "I would sail the 7 Seas, dating lasses from around the worlde." See how easy that is?

Here's the list:

• If I could be a scientist...
• If I could be a farmer...
• If I could be a musician...
• If I could be a doctor...
• If I could be a painter...
• If I could be a gardener...
• If I could be a missionary...
• If I could be a chef...
• If I could be an architect...
• If I could be a linguist...
• If I could be a psychologist...
• If I could be a librarian...
• If I could be an athlete...
• If I could be a lawyer...
• If I could be an innkeeper...
• If I could be a professor...
• If I could be a writer...
• If I could be a llama-rider...
• If I could be a bonnie pirate...
• If I could be an astronaut...

I'm adding:

• If I could be a politician . . .
• If I could be a kid again . . .
• If I could be an animal . . .
• If I could be a tree . . .
• If I could be a celebrity . . .

And here's my reply:

If I could be a scientist I would save Schrodinger's cat. It's a stupid theory and quantum physicists have been spending too much mental energy on it for way too long. Move on! There are more sensible and exciting things to explore.

If I could be a chef I would weigh about 500 pounds!

If I could be a writer I would be very mysterious and anonymous. I would write one book a year, which would be a bestseller, but I would never make public appearances. I would live in a small cottage in a coastal town and none of the residents would know who I really was.

If I could be a lawyer I would make certain that, once a person was found guilty of sexually abusing a child, they'd never step foot outside of a prison again.

If I could be a bonnie pirate I would sail the Bahamas and the Caribbean. I would fish for most of my food, catch my fresh water and only occasionally demand fresh vegetables and vodka (or beer, or wine) from the obnoxious weekend cruisers who crossed my path.

Now, who to tag????

Stacy who's NotADesperateHousewife

Muzzy from Blogizdat

Cynthia at Wheelz Life Notes

A big thank you to Ogre who not only came up with this fun meme but he's also trying to find out how far it goes. When you respond be sure to send him a trackback or e-mail so he can update his chart.

Posted by Jody at 08:12 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 21, 2005

The ACLU . . .

The ACLU . . . just the mention of that organization's name is generally all it takes to raise the blood pressure of most conservative Americans. We realize that there is an enormous disconnect between what the ACLU claims their purpose to be and what they actually do in real life.

The ACLU is our nation's guardian of liberty. We work daily in courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Our job is to conserve America's original civic values - the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Of course it always seems that the ACLU is far more concerned with preserving "the individual rights and liberties" of criminals, perverts, criminals, illegal immigrants, criminals and criminals.

It's interesting how liberal the ACLU's interpretation of the 1st Amendment is. The actual amendment reads like this:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Instead of referring to the amendment as being one of freedom of religion and speech, the ACLU refers to this amendment as "Freedom of Expression." It's under this broad sweeping interpretation that they defend NAMBLA, flag desecration, pornography, sexual and religious oriented art and strippers. (Yes, the ACLU argues that city ordinances regulating and taxing stripping violates our Constitutional right to free speech.) I don't see any of those things mentioned, do you?

Pretty liberal interpretation of the First Amendment, right? You would think that they would be just as generous with their interpretation of the Second Amendment (the right to bear arms), right? Wrong. The actual amendment reads like this:

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

What is the ACLU’s position on gun control?

The national ACLU is neutral on the issue of gun control. We believe the Second Amendment does not confer an unlimited right upon individuals to own guns or other weapons, nor does it prohibit reasonable regulation of gun ownership, such as licensing and registration.

They claim to be "neutral" on the subject of gun control and then they not only do they interpret the amendment as strictly as possible, they also choose to ignore the part that says "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." Hardly seems fair, does it? One amendment is interpreted liberally to enable them to support as many of their pet causes as possible. The other amendment is interpreted as strictly as possible, even going so far as to ignore part of it.

The ACLU does not represent me! I'm a law abiding, gun toting Christian American . . . but part of my tax dollars go the ACLU. I don't believe that I should have to pay to support an organization that, for the most part, represents the antithesis of my beliefs.

I've signed this petition to keep MY tax dollars from supporting the ACLU, but I'm always looking for ways to defeat and minimize their impoact. If you have any suggestions,please, let me know.

For more information on this subject check out StopTheACLU.

For more information on the ACLU and the Second Amendment, please see the Stop The ACLU blogroll located at the bottom right of this page.

[Cross posted at Common Sense Runs Wild]

Posted by Jody at 05:14 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

I hereby decree that from

I hereby decree that from this day forward all threads on this blog must end in an odd post.

An odd numbered post, not an actual odd post. JeffH, I mean you, k?

Posted by Jody at 04:55 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Jody only thought that her

Jody only thought that her technical problems were the fault of FireFox! The truth is, I, Bloggerella, was staging a coup!

Of course, with her being French, the takeover was remarkably easy. She surrendered immediately. But she left behind some really fabulous wine!

( . . . now if I could just figure out what all of these little button thingies are for . . .)

Posted by Jody at 04:37 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Well I guess since everyone

Posted by Jody at 07:42 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Remember this post? The meme

Remember this post? The meme tagging thing? Well it is no longer a candidate for the bonfire of the vanities, because now it is the coolest post I've done all week!

Thanks to Ogre the creator of this meme. He is TRACKING, yes keeping track, of all the responses...(Janette...hint,hint).

So if you want to know how far a lame...um cool...idea can go out on the blogosphere. Look no further. Well you have to look a little further, just click here and then look no further.

And no, this is not too much time on your hands; this is creativity at it's finest. I am jealous.

I know. But statistics, and graphs and matrices are so cool to me. That's normal right?

Posted by Jody at 12:04 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 20, 2005

Who can I go to

Who can I go to request an extra day or so? Is there a committee? A form I need to fill out? Someone let me know...

Posted by Jody at 11:19 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Per Rightpundit: Statements such

Per Rightpundit:

Statements such as democrats are going to use Terri Schiavo for political advantage. Such as Republicans are evil. Such as, “You think the Republican National Committee could get this many people of color in a single room? Only if they had the hotel staff in here.” Such as calling Republicans “brain dead”.

Per the MSM: Not a whole lot.

Hmmm...sounds like they're both right to me... ;)

Posted by Jody at 06:30 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 19, 2005

This story is posted over

This story is posted over at papercut chainsaw about the marathon runner who ...took a...um... rest stop during the race:

Radcliffe, who broke British hearts when she tearfully dropped out of the Athens Olympic marathon last year, shocked viewers and commentators alike when she pulled over to the side of the road and crouched.

Fans feared a humiliating repeat of her Grecian failure, when, as the hot favourite she staggered off the road and out of the race with cramps.

Instead, it was an embarrassment of an entirely different kind as the world record holder made a televised toilet stop.

She then quickly recovered her stride and romped to victory, breaking the line at Buckingham Palace in one of the fastest women's times in history.

Well I guess her persistence should be admired. There's a picture too...but yeah, wasn't going to post that.

Posted by Jody at 09:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

I only had to take

I only had to take my driving test once.

Seo Sang-moon of South Korea had to take his driving test 272 times to finally pass it.

Posted by Jody at 09:44 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Not only did Marc over

Not only did Marc over at hubs and spokes, predict that there might be some disagreement "among the media and the progressive elite" about the new choice of the pope. He also predicted that the pope would be Catholic. I am impressed.

Posted by Jody at 09:31 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

It is hard to

It is hard to believe that it has been ten years since the Oklahoma City Bombing occurred.

I wasn't alive to remember when JFK was shot. But I have lived knowing that his assassination was engraved permanently in the memory of our country. The Oklahoma City Bombing is one of those incidents. Growing up I remember where I was when the space shuttle blew up (the Challenger) and when I first heard the news of the Oklahoma City Bombing and of course, 9-11.

I remember Baylee Almon. Pictured here below:

This one year old child died because of an evil man. This picture reflects the bombing more to me than any picture of a building does. In one moment, it shows the results of evil and it also shows the goodness of that poor fireman who I'm sure lives everyday with the memory of holding Baylee in his arms.

We have as a country been through a lot since this incident. 9-11 has placed a shadow upon the Oklahoma City Bombing. When we think of destruction and terrorism, the two twin towers comes instantly to mind. The evil that can be done by man is no longer unknown to us. We are not ignorant that so many want to harm us. No good reasons required.

I remember the shock and the total loss of security I felt when we found out that the Oklahoma City bombing was not a foreign terrorist threat. It was one of our own. The betrayal of an American caused this pain and destruction.

Yes we can go on and place these incidents in the back of our mind but they are there. Engraved. Only a few moments of reflection takes us back to where we were, what we were thinking. The shock. The pain. The destruction. The utter helplessness and despair.

So much of the incident showed the evilness of man, but so much of the recovery gave us hope.

The fireman doing all he can to save a child. The survivors. The resilience of a city. Of a country. The doctors and nurses who in one instance were transported into war ravaged conditions. The people, who after losing their daughters and sons, their mothers and fathers, who can never forget; but still they can live. The volunteers who never rested until all who needed assistance were helped.

I will never forget. I can never forget. It is not an option and if it were, I would not choose it. We as a nation can not forget. To forget the pain, would be to forget the bravery and the people who stepped beyond the call of duty to help complete strangers. To forget would be to deny that it occurred. To forget would mean that Baylee and her brave fireman would be forgotten as well.

Update: Michelle Malkin has insights as well. Firewolf's blog relates this incident with immigration (interestingly enough, it makes sense).

Posted by Jody at 07:43 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 18, 2005

William Teach, the famous blogging

William Teach, the famous blogging pirate has tagged me for this fun meme. Here is how it works:

Immediately following there is a list of 18 19 20 different occupations. You must select at least 5 of them (feel free to select more). You may add more if you like to your list before you pass it on (after you select 5 of the items as it was passed to you). Each one begins with "If I could be..." Of the 5 you selected, you are to finish each phrase with what you would do as a member of that profession.

For example, if the selected occupation was "pirate" you might take the phrase "If I could be a pirate..." and add to it "I would sail the 7 Seas, dating lasses from around the worlde." See how easy that is? Here's the list:

If I could be a scientist... If I could be a farmer... If I could be a musician... If I could be a doctor... If I could be a painter... If I could be a gardener... If I could be a missionary... If I could be a chef... If I could be an architect... If I could be a linguist... If I could be a psychologist... If I could be a librarian... If I could be an athlete... If I could be a lawyer... If I could be an innkeeper... If I could be a professor... If I could be a writer... If I could be a llama-rider... If I could be a bonnie pirate... If I could be an astronaut...

So here is my reply, and yes this is a cop out...

If I could be a librarian, I would read a book on how to become a llama-rider. Then I would travel the world as a llama-rider because if I could be a llama-rider I am sure I would be unique. And with such a unique adventure, I am sure I could find enough material to write a book. Then if I could be a writer, I would be invited to teach at an university although my only qualification is that I put a few sentences together about llamas no less. If I then could be a professor, I would torture my students with excessive pop quizzes and required essays on a meaningful life changing event in their lives. And I would not grade on a curve. At all. Then I would quit mid-semester and take all my grading notes and rolls and leave the students and the faculty to have to recreate the course work from scratch in order for them to receive credit (and no, haven't thought about this much). After that fiasco, it it is only obviously that I would have to be a bonnie-pirate and sail the 7 seas and tag 3 other people to do this awful meme...

Let's see....

basil

janette

kris

YOU ARE IT!

(Thanks William for the thought, now just wait for my turn to "tag" you with something...)

Update: Kris has hers up and she even did it like it was susposed to be done. Go check it out.

Update2: Haha! My cunning ploy worked and I have been linked on basil's website. Go read his thoughtful awe inspiring answers ...well they're answers....

Now we wait for Janette at CommonSenseRunsWild... and wait...and wait... ;)

Posted by Jody at 11:06 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

I first saw this at

I first saw this at Jeff's place, then it spread to Stacy. Janette caught up with it over there and when I finally thought maybe I could ignore it, Beth posted it too. So now I officially must jump on the "bandwagon" and confess to all my good readers...

Your Inner European is French!

Smart and sophisticated. You have the best of everything - at least, *you* think so.

Sigh. Who would've thought such a thing?

Posted by Jody at 09:58 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 17, 2005

A week ago, the

I guess the only thing that we can do is pray. Pray for Sarah's family and her church family. Her friends and youth group. They have experienced a tremendous loss that only few can imagine.

Posted by Jody at 11:38 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 16, 2005

What's the quickest way for

Posted by Jody at 09:54 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 15, 2005

In celebration of this

In celebration of this special day, I hereby declare this blog, "a tax-free zone!"*
Yep 100% tax-free!
Go on, knock yourselves out.

* Certain restrictions apply. Not applicable in the lower 48 states and Alaska and Hawaii. Void where prohibited.

Posted by Jody at 07:41 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 14, 2005

It's not the fanciest in

It's not the fanciest in the world, not the fastest either, and it doesn't hold as much as some of the newfangled ones these days; but this has been my best friend for the past few weeks. My reason for being able to come home from work. Because I could take my work with me. Thank you, wonderful, thumbdrive. Because of you, I have a life (well actually, I guess that is questionable since I am doing a post dedicated to my thumbdrive).

Besides the PC and DSL and the big things, what small piece of technology (like my thumbdrive) is your favorite or most helpful gadget?

Posted by Jody at 11:10 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Girly Girl What kind

Girly Girl

What kind of little girl were YOU?
brought to you by Quizilla

Considering the majority of my readership appears to be male, I won't even ask that you take this quiz... hat tip: My favorite Angry Girl (Janette, over at CSRW)

Posted by Jody at 09:33 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 13, 2005

First I asked everyone to

First I asked everyone to play the interview game. Beth graciously agreed and I ignored her responses and never linked to them!

Second, she emailed me and asked me to do a South Park Character for her wonderful gallery.
Which she promptly posted, again, I never linked to her. Here is my caricature of myself, by the way. (Yes, it would not have been me if my mouth was not open.)

Then she does a phenomenal bonfire of the vanities, which I completely ignored (yep, no link!). You have to make bad blog posts sound at least interesting, that takes talent, for sure. The only reason that I didn't submit one is because I couldn't choose one of the many of last week's posts...although I think "the one that shall not be named" would have been a fine addition...

Of course now, if I do an all things Beth post, I really should do an all things Jeff post for all the non-reciprocated links. And an all things Janette post for all the unanswered emails...and an all things Reggie for the hundred tips he's given to me...and an all things Dave because of his tireless campaign to save the hubble...and an all things Stacy because of all her insightful comments...and an all things Darlene to once again tell her how much I appreciate the web design and the haloscan image (oops, another unanswered email)...and...

Well I'm out of time. Guess that will all just have to wait. ;)

Posted by Jody at 10:48 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

I almost feel sorry for

Posted by Jody at 10:13 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 12, 2005

LarkNews.Com, I'm not sure how

LarkNews.Com, I'm not sure how to take this page. It is very funny. EXTREMELY funny. But it does seem to be a bit on the edge. It is like the Onion for Christians. I guess Christians can read it and laugh at themselves and non-Christians can read it and laugh at...well...Christians.

I think this satirical article about only two people making it in the rapture actually after the laughter provokes some thought as well:

Posted by Jody at 09:07 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Oh? Nope. Just checking. Would

Oh? Nope. Just checking.

Would it matter?

Considering the email I received this afternoon,"We will work all weekend if we have to...".

Um. Ok.

Posted by Jody at 03:27 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

I meant to mention this

Posted by Jody at 02:37 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Gee. When I disagree with

The wording on this shirt, in case you are as blind as me says,"Dear Tom Delay, Please Commit Suicide. Sincerely, Everyone."

HT: The Long and Short of it.

Posted by Jody at 01:48 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 11, 2005

I am going to post

I am going to post today. Later. (Yes, technically this is a post, but I am not referring to this post. In fact I will never refer to this post.) Update (4-12): Ugh. Nevermind.

Posted by Jody at 11:47 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 09, 2005

In a moment of weakness,

In a moment of weakness, I bought the baby a Betta fish. Similar to the one pictured below:

Well actually it doesn't look much like that one at all, but you get the idea.

Now does anyone have any suggestions how to tell a 2 year old why she can't hold it?

Posted by Jody at 07:38 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 08, 2005

Not exactly. Why was Terri

Not exactly. Why was Terri Schiavo's battle so important?

To protect those who could not protect themselves. We have failed miserably. Just ask 81 year-old, Mae Magouirk.

Her living will states that she does not want to receive nutrition through a feeding tube only if she is terminal or in a vegetative state.

Mae's diagnosis?

Glaucoma and a heart condition which her doctor says is "contained and non-life threatening."

She is not terminal. She is not in a vegetative state. Yet, she has been denied food and water to survive against her orders; just because her grand daughter who does not have medical power attorney thinks that her grandmother's life is not worth living.

Her 36 year-old grandaughter's rationale for letting her grandmother suffer this horrible death?

"Grandmama is old and I think it is time she went home to Jesus. She has glaucoma and now this heart problem, and who would want to live with disabilities like these?" (emphasis added)

I am sure the millions of people truly living with disabilities would like the opportunity to explain to Beth Graddy why her grandmama would want to live. I am confident that so many people with the same medical conditions as Mae Magouirk would like a chance to enlighten this truly narrow view of life presented by Graddy.

Of course, Mae's other family members are fighting against this granddaughter but they are racing against a clock.

First, the helpless with no voice; then the elderly; then the disabled...then...

Why should you be concerned? Because ultimately when life becomes nothing more than a commodity then it can it be valued and devalued according to the whims of society. I for one, would rather trust in God than trust in man to make my life and death decisions.

(H/T: NIF)

Update (4-12): I meant to update this Saturday but that didn't happen. This story has a happy ending in that Mae has been given a chance to live. Mae was airlifted to the local hospital and immediately given nourishment after 10 days of being denied food and water. Click here for the complete story.

An interesting aspect of this story is the fact that the family members who supported Mae's right to live, give credit to the blogs set up to support Terri Schiavo's fight for getting out the message. BlogsforTerri was an instrumental component of helping save Mae's life. It is nice to know that the organization to support life and to fight against euthanasia can now branch out and help others.

Never is the work for good done in vain.

Posted by Jody at 11:10 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 07, 2005

Me. At Work. Drowning.

Me. At Work. Drowning.

Me trying to balance: Family. Work. Friends. Church.

B l o g g i n g.

This blog for awhile until I can reprioritize and pick up the balls again...

I will be around, just not as much, pray for me. I need it.

Posted by Jody at 06:54 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 06, 2005

Found via It's A Pundit:

Found via It's A Pundit:

Quite possibly the coolest search engine since Gizoogle:

It's like the breath mint: 2 Search engines in 1 !

Posted by Jody at 01:23 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 05, 2005

Maybe to the bloggers and

Maybe to the bloggers and readers emailing you that they will no longer read your site, Lashawn, your untimely comments regarding the pope were the last straw. Maybe the ME ME ME posting on what used to be a fairly informative and reliable blog has gotten a tad bit too much or the mentioning of your status on the ecosystem in so many of your posts and cable TV appearances has become very repetitive. Or maybe it was because of your comment policy that no one who disagrees with you can be guaranteed to have his or her comment remain on your blog.

You might be disappointed at the amount of bloggers who agree with you on political issues who now do not want to be associated with your posts; well you can't be more disappointed than faithful readers such as myself who have become disillusioned by your arrogance and pride.

No one has a perfect blog (I of all people realize this) and personal posts are fine. It is your site, do what you will, but when you have to say that you're saying something "without puffed up pride", then maybe you need to examine your own heart. And I'm sorry, but if you can take the accolades from people you "don't-know-me-like-that" then you must realize that in this type of open forum; you have opened yourself up to criticism and dissent as well.

I am sure you know that being a Christian is more about labels. More about than saying you are one. It is about spirit and about humility. It is about showing kindness, love and charity. Yes, there is certainly a place to discuss doctrine and it is good to do so; but do you really think you will convert Catholics by criticizing and demeaning something important to their faith? You and I may not agree or even understand their idolization of the pope, but they are hurting and need time to grieve before tearing apart their faith. Compassion leads more to the full revelation of Christ than Criticism any day.

You are more than welcome to disagree with me.

Posted by Jody at 10:26 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Or a miscellaneous post just

Or a miscellaneous post just to complain:

Haloscan is not counting my comments right, so now do I get upset even though I know there are an even amount of comments on the post if it is showing an odd number? I think I will stand with the actual manual count...I can live with knowing there are an even amount of comments even if stupid haloscan says there is an odd number. Maybe I am starting to improve?

I am exhausted because I have been working a ton of hours. I like to think this is what is sinking the quality of this blog and not just my natural tendency to ramble and go on about uninteresting things and make a big deal about the mundane.

No, it must be because I am working loooonnnng hours. We have been in meetings about the impending computer system change occurring next year. These meetings have been informative (not), interesting (yawn!) and quite a valuable resource for everyone (a complete waste of my time). I just can't wait until work tomorrow.

Okay that's it. See? If I had organized this post with bullets I would've had to think of a third thing!

Oooo! Wait! Just thought of something else! Why does blogger's spell check not have words on file like: Trackback, Haloscan and...oh... B L O G?!

Posted by Jody at 09:49 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

December 3,1963 - March

December 3,1963 - March 31, 2005

Terri Schiavo. A life. Not a political campaign. Not a contest. Not a game. Not a reason to be right or wrong. Not even a reason to argue. Not a reason to throw stones and to threaten others. She is not a symbol or a martyr. She is a disabled woman that someone deemed had no worth. Let us show her worth through her memory, not by who said the most clever thing or wrote the best article. Certainly not by arguing and fighting among ourselves or viciously attacking others. But by respecting life and living. By coming together and giving a voice to those who cannot speak and by not letting her die in vain.

Terri Schiavo passed away this morning, March 31,2005. Please take a moment to remember her family in prayer.

(also posted at Common Sense Runs Wild)

Originally written March 30,2005; this message will appear on top of this blog for a while to serve as a reminder to anyone who would like to read about Terri Schiavo. Thank you.

Posted by Jody at 12:55 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

April 04, 2005

With the help of Darlene,

With the help of Darlene, who writes Blogger, Can you Spare A Dime?; my little space on the web is no longer a blight on all that is good and creative. I hope you like it, but if you don't, just keep it to yourself. ;)

Thanks, Darlene for all your help and creativity!

Update: I have also sold out, (see sidebar). I don't expect it to make me much money but Janette over at CommonSenseRunsWild told me that it was the quickest way to become noticed by Google. And I want to be noticed!

Posted by Jody at 11:16 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

What if something newsworthy

What if something newsworthy occurs on a weekday that must be covered and needs my immediate attention as a service to my readers, of course?

Oh wait. We always have Instapundit!

Which by the way, can't get an "instalanche" to save my life but I have received lots of attention on the very funny parody site, It's A Pundit.

Hmmm...maybe I should just rethink the quality of this blog...I can be a serious relevant blogger. Honest.

But do I want to be?

Posted by Jody at 07:14 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 03, 2005

Well I guess the big

Well I guess the big news is Sandy Berger pleading guilty to taking classified documents from the National Archives.

You remember Sandy Berger, right?

The Cliff Note version just in case you've been living in a cave:

Sandy Berger, was one a national security advisor under the Clinton administration and was caught taking classified documents pertaining to Al Qaeda actions against the United States before September 11th. He had the highest security clearance granted by the government. So he had access to just about anything.

Now read the papers about these documents he took and the MSM will helpfully suggest that these were all copies of a particular document. Captain Ed brings up the excellent point that:

They were not exact copies; each memo started off as a copy of an original draft by Richard Clarke, but the memos had handwritten notes from each recipient as comments, requests for revision, and suggestions for possible action. Each document was unique, and their destruction by Mr. Scissors means that we will never know what some did with Clarke's information. All we know is that it must have reflected badly on Berger, Clinton, or both. Otherwise, why would Berger destroy them?

You know what really bothers me about this? Not that someone from the Clinton Administration would pilfer or destroy something not belonging to them or have no respect for the rules. Seriously after eight years living under that reign of incompetence, I've come to expect no less.

What really bothers me is that the safety and protection of the American people was not as important as covering his own butt and all he is set to receive as punishment is a $10,000 fine and he will have to surrender his security clearance...for three years.

Really? So after three years he can resume stealing classified documents from the archives?

Why not? It's not like he intended to destroy documents related to the national security country and that these particular documents were being asked for by the 9/11 commission to determine how to better secure this nation. Really, it's not like he committed treason or anything.

Oh.

Posted by Jody at 09:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

My *new* car has

My *new* car has a 6 disc CD player. In my CD player there are:

1. Britney
2. Maroon 5
3. Harry Connick, Jr (I love Harry...)
4. Wow 2005 Gospel disc 1
5. Wow 2005 Gospel disc 2
6. Garth Brooks Greatest Hits

I don't even want to think about what this eclectic mix of music says about me.

What are you listening to?

Posted by Jody at 02:45 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 02, 2005

I rode Thomas the Train

I rode Thomas the Train this afternoon with the baby. Let me tell you: boring. Extremely boring; the twenty minute trip seemed like eternity. The only redeeming quality of the entire experience was that the baby enjoyed herself and the fact that very few people get to say that they rode Thomas the Train... (No Comment.)

Posted by Jody at 11:26 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Well spacemonkey posting over at

Well spacemonkey posting over at IMAO has convinced me. I am now going to blog only on the weekends. No need for those high traffic weekdays anyway, the traffic rarely gets here anyway. So from this point on, consider this your blog source for weekends. And weekends only...

What do you think?

Posted by Jody at 11:14 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

I admit that this

I admit that this Pentecostal girl doesn't think too much about the pope. I have difficulty understanding how someone with just a title can be held in such esteem above all humanity when afterall he is just a man. He should be respected of course, his office requires this but should he be exalted above men?

However saying that does not negate the good man that this pope is and the sadness and tremendous loss Catholics and many others will experience at his death. I think Marc over at hubs and spokes expresses my sentiments exactly and so much better than I could, so please take a look at this thoughtful post:

He stood by his principles even when they were unpopular. And now as he reaches the end of his journey, we see his commitment to the truth that all human life has value, even in suffering, from the very beginning to the very end.

Read the whole thing.

Posted by Jody at 08:04 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 01, 2005

A 2005 Honda Civic

A 2005 Honda Civic LX Special Edition. Silver, of course. Cool and reliable.

Posted by Jody at 11:29 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

I just emailed Beth, Drew

I just emailed Beth, Drew and Dave who agreed to play my interview game these questions:

1. When did you first hear the word blog? Or which was the first blog that you regularly read?

2. If you had to change one event in history, what would you change?

3. The dinner party question: Name two people living or dead that you would invite. And why?

4. Name a major influence in your life.

5. What do you think your blog says about you? And what do you think it omits?

I will let you know when they respond, in the meantime, if you'd like to answer my questions, please do so either in my comments or on your own blog and leave a trackback!

See we can all play! Isn't that fun?

Update: Drews very interesting responses can be found here. And Dave has sent me an email of his responses but he won't post them on his blog because he can't follow the rules! :)

So I guess I am just waiting on Beth...and all of you commenters!

Update2 (4/3): Dave's answers can now be found at his blog: Save the Hubble. Go check them out.

Posted by Jody at 02:27 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Speaking of going bad,

Speaking of going bad, here are a few sites you should check out:

Instapundit

IMAO

ht: basil's blog

Posted by Jody at 07:51 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack