Since I cannot comment on another user's blog about cutting Pell Grant funding (seems I was pre-emptively blacklisted), I would like to offer an opposing point of view. While I commend anyone who rises above the difficulties life has dealt them, giving credit to government programs diminishes that person's achievement. I, too, came from a low-income family. College was not an option for me unless I earned it. Instead of applying for a government grant, I strived from my very first day i...
We have a pet parakeet named, Druscilla, or Drew for short. We named her after a character on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." For any of those that never watched the show, Spike and Druscilla were evil vampire mates. Drew had a mate in our house too named, Spike. Now before anyone reads the title, my first paragraph, and pronounces me an evil animal hater, I beg you to read on. We have had 4 parakeets over the years; three of which we loved. Druscilla will be the last parakeet we ever claim as...
On Thanksgiving Day, my family (all five of us) are expected at my in-laws house at 1pm for lunch. Here's what the day will look like. My alarm will buzz at 8 am. It will buzz, but I will not get up. Eventually, the kids will complain about starvation prompting me to stumble into the kitchen, put on a pot of coffee (priorities), pour juice and take breakfast orders. My husband says I run a short order kitchen. He thinks I am a pushover for making three different meals for breakfast. I thin...
My mother started the tradition about 31 years ago. She made up a song containing my name which she sung to me every night. This song brought comfort and love and joy to me, even when I was in labor as a young woman. The song went like this: Heather Leigh, Mommy's pretty Heather You are Daddy's, too. Heather Leigh, sweet and pure, Pretty Heather Leigh. Simple and beautiful. She would sing it over and over until I fell asleep or my fears dissipated. When my oldest son was born, I a...
Why are so many things offending and annoying me today? Either everybody I come into contact with is depressed or angry, or I am viewing the world through depressed and angry glasses. Most of the articles I have read on JU today appear angry or sad or depressed or "doomsdayish." I say "appear" because I am still not sure it was the articles themselves, but maybe my state of mind when I read them. I feel persecuted too. Well, maybe persecuted is a bit strong. What makes people "different...
Below is an excerpt from an article about quotes made by CBS's Andy Rooney recently: Rooney also attributed voters' reliance on religion in the recent election to ignorance. "I am an atheist," Rooney said. "I don't understand religion at all. I'm sure I'll offend a lot of people by saying this, but I think it's all nonsense." He said Christian fundamentalism is a result of "a lack of education. They haven't been exposed to what the world has to offer." Rooney said he a...
A new video game allows players to simulate the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy. The release of "JFK Reloaded" is timed to coincide with the 41st anniversary of Kennedy's murder in Dallas. Designers wanted to demonstrate a lone gunman was able to kill the president. Traffic Games said the objective was for a player to fire three shots at Kennedy's motorcade from assassin Lee Harvey Oswald's digitally recreated sixth-floor perch in the Texas School Book Depository....
Who are the real bigots? Right-wingers? Red state constituents? I think not. Below I have cited comments made by White House Bureau Chief Helen Thomas, now a syndicated columnist with Hearst. Asked about the election result, the sharp-tongued reporter simply put her hand on her face and said, "My God, the man is a fascist -- a fascist, I tell you." She warned that Bush's victory will mean one thing: more war. She expects Iran to be next. In reference to Condoleezza Rice's nominati...
The clever conniving began around 9am. Evil Genius (J.J.-the kid next door) was the mastermind behind the scheme. Mom and Dad's children were co-conspirators, all to eager to carry out the hijacking. Evil genius signaled Oldest Son through the window to open the front door. Ringing the doorbell would have immediately alerted the unsuspecting, drowsy parents who had not yet sipped the morning caffeinated nectar. In hushed voices, the terrorist children plotted the demise of the typical rela...
As most of you know, I am a conservative, but in the spirit of equal opportunity criticism, I have to expose the stupidity of some people in the Christian community and unfortunately Texas. It seems a school in Spurger, TX had a tradition of a dress up day called, "TWIRP Day." (The Woman Is Requested To Pay) On this day, boys dressed as girls, and girls dressed as boys. It was a role-reversal day of fun where girls asked the boys for dates. Enter Liberty Legal Institute, a right-wing Ch...
I'll take a Venti Americano Bud, please. I just found this article about a new beer/coffee concoction. I want to know where I an be a taste tester? Oh and where have I been? I have never had a vodka Red Bull! Do I live a sheltered life or what? Gourmet Brew or Hangover Cure? Fri Nov 19,10:39 AM ET Oddly Enough - Reuters LONDON (Reuters) - A beer flavored with coffee beans may serve as a hair-of-the-dog hangover aide or pick-me-up with a kick but that's not really its p...
Tuesday, November 16 12:00 PM ET Bush to Abolish Government By Adam Tan Washington DC - In what is believed to be the most ambitious second-term agenda in recent presidential history, George W. Bush announced yesterday he plans to abolish the federal government "in its entirety" by the end of 2005 and then rule "by decree." Bush stated that his program reflects "the overwhelming and unverifiable mandate" he received in the election. Administration officials have already made g...
Call me crazy, but I prefer active research. What is active vs. passive research? Well in the words of my favorite comedian Eddie Izzard "Active research is exploring and discovering. Passive research is when you let the research come to you." (ex. through the TV like The History Channel, A&E, or The Science Channel) The other day as I was driving my son to school in the morning, I saw a dead possum (we live in a heavily wooded area). This possum was not marred or disfigured in any way; ...
I think I have experienced my first ever blacklist. I am not sure, since I have never experienced one before. I went to read someone's article (someone I usually enjoy reading). I was reading the comments and was about to post. Then I realized that there was no link for me to comment. Then no link on any other article to comment either. Does this mean I am blacklisted? If so, I have no idea why I would be. I don't remember any confrontation with this person. We do have different political ...
Call me crazy, but I laughed, I cried, I twiddled my thumbs. As I watched the opening and dedication ceremony of the Clinton library, I laughed when former President Carter apologized for a stumbling block he may have created in Clinton's rise to power. I teared up when Bush 41 talked about Clinton's tenacity at overcoming difficulties of childhood to be the man from and of "Hope." When Clinton droned on and on and on....I twiddled my thumbs. After about 15 minutes, all I could hear was th...