Bill Maher - Christian 'Values Voters'?

I haven't posted anything in SO long! My sleep issues have been bad lately. I haven't had enough energy to "fight the good fight". :) But, Bill has inspired me once again. So, if I'm too tired to bitch, I'll let him do it for me. He's so funny!

Republican Marriage: One Man, One Woman (and how many hookers?)

David "Family Values" Vitter (R-LA) provides a new twist for that tired Republican slogan. I love that this guy was the first one caught in the "D.C. Madam" scandal. I'm sure there will be a variety of Democrats and Republicans going down before this is over, but you have to love the irony of this story. In 1998 Vitter demonized Bill Clinton for his affair, demanded his impeachment and called him "morally unfit to govern" [New Orleans Times-Picayune]. He won over the "Jesus" voters and was elected to Congress in 1999 to fill U.S. Rep. Robert Livingston's seat. Livingston was also heavily involved in calling for Clinton's impeachment, but he was embarrassed into resigning after being caught in his own sex scandal. Vitter commented, “I think Livingston’s stepping down makes a very powerful argument that Clinton should resign as well and move beyond this mess,” [Atlanta Journal and Constitution, 12/20/98]

He continued to play to the conservative, "family values" crowd by co-authoring H.J. Res 56, the "Federal Marriage Amendment" in 2003. This was an amendment to change the constitution to define marriage as only one man and one woman (ha!). Then while running for office in 2004, his main campaign promise was to "protect the sanctity of marriage". (Apparently, keeping gay people from having any rights was far more important than applying any values to his own marriage.)


Perhaps hypocrisy is a Vitter "family value" because his wife seems to be full of it as well. She was asked by an interviewer in 2000 whether she could forgive her husband if she learned he’d had an affair, as Hillary Clinton and Bob Livingston’s wife had done, Wendy Vitter told the Times-Picayune, “I’m a lot more like Lorena Bobbitt than Hillary. If he does something like that, I’m walking away with one thing, and it’s not alimony, trust me.” As far as I know, David still has all of his body parts and Wendy's not walking anywhere. At a recent press conference she said, "I forgave David. I made the decision to love him and to recommit to our marriage. To forgive is not always the easy choice, but it was and is the right choice for me. David is my best friend. Last week some people very sympathetically said to me, 'I wouldn't want to be in your shoes right now.' I stand before you to tell you very proudly, I am proud to be Wendy Vitter." Bitch, please.

Bush-Cheney 2008 Election

To my regular readers, I apologize (to all 8 of you ) for not updating lately. I've been out of town for a few days and there's been SO much going on with Cheney, Bush and Scooter that I don't even know where to start. I'm sure I'll be back to my bitching and rambling soon. For now, here's bumper sticker to make you laugh (or cry). ;)

9/11 Heroes: Describe WTC Explosions Before Collapse

When I first started hearing about the 9/11 conspiracy theories, I thought it was the most ridiculous thing I'd ever heard. I started investigating to prove just how ridiculous it was. Ironically, the more I looked into it, the more I realized there were a lot of things that just didn't add up.

I started with WTC building 7, the Salomon brothers building. I watched video of a news reporter from the "BBC" talking about the collapse of this building several minutes before it actually happened. You could see it very clearly in the background as she gave "live" details that the building had just fallen. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. "Google" and "YouTube" quickly removed the video and the television station released a statement saying it was an "error" and they no longer had a copy of the tape! (Sure, that makes sense, accidentally predicting the future, happens all the time and television stations never keep more than one copy of tapes.) To be fair, click here to read exactly what the "BBC" said and I guess someone eventually found a copy of the tape because it's back on "YouTube" click here to see that.

Anyway, I could go on and on just about this one building. I could talk about the police and firemen that gave statements saying they were told to clear building 7 because "it was gonna blow". I could talk about what was in that building (SEC investigations, Enron documents, etc), I could talk about the huge insurance purchases made just prior to 9/11. I could talk about the crazy stock market activity involving United and American Airlines just days before the attack. I could talk about Bush's brother, Marvin, and how he was in charge of security for the World Trade Center, Dulles Airport and United Airlines and how he has on the board of directors for "Houston Casualty Company" (one of the main insurance carriers of the WTC). But, I'm sure all of these things are purely coincidental. They HAVE to be, right?

Well, there are so many "coincidences", contradictions and questionable events that it would take me all night just to share what I've personally discovered. I've also come to realize these are the kind of things you really need to check into for yourself, sometimes you just need to see things with your own eyes to believe them. It's easy to dismiss something that some "crazy, liberal" tells you, so investigate and judge for yourself. You can start by watching this video that hit "YouTube" today.

BREAKING NEWS: Rosie's Daughter Plays Dress Up

It's absolutely ridiculous that a little girl playing dress up is "breaking news". BFD. If this were your son or mine, no one would even notice. But, a little girl, especially Rosie's little girl, well, this is an outrage! She must be stopped!

I would be willing to bet money if Rosie weren't so politically active (if Republicans weren't scared to death of her), you would have never even seen this photo. Unless, of course, you read her blog... where you would also see the same little girl in a dozen different costumes! Funny how none of those made the evening news.

My sister and I used to play "Cops & Robbers" and "Cowboys & Indians" all the time. People really need to lighten up.

read more | digg story

King George Vetoes Stem Cell Research Again

For the second time, George Bush vetoes a bill that would have eased the restraints on stem cell research. Once again, he chooses his personal, religious views over the views and wishes of the majority of the country. I swear this guy thinks he is King! He says "Destroying human life in the hopes of saving human life is not ethical," "And it is not the only option before us." I find those statements incredibly ridiculous, not to mention, hypocritical considering what he's doing in Iraq. First of all, we're not talking about "human life", these are embryonic stem cells, that have no hope of life outside of a uterus. Secondly, isn't he responsible for destroying the lives of thousands of American soldiers?! Was it his only option?! It seems that he only values human life from conception through the first nine months.



He also said, "If this legislation became law it would compel American taxpayers for the first time in our history to support the deliberate destruction of human embryos. I made it clear to Congress and to the American people that I will not allow our nation to cross this moral line." Again, so absurd, he makes it sound like they are ripping apart babies for science. We're talking about extra eggs that will end up in the trash cans of the fertility clinics. And, how ironic that he doesn't have a problem with compelling taxpayers to support his ridiculous war that kills real, live human beings!

Hillary Clinton Sopranos Parody

Sneak Peak at Michael Moore's "Sicko"

I can't wait to see Michael Moore's new movie "Sicko" on 6/29. (Being a "bleeding-heart liberal") I loved "Bowling for Columbine" and "Fahrenheit 9/11", but I hear even Republicans are praising this movie.

Here's a sneak peak about a guy that cuts off his fingers and has to choose which he can afford to reattach. Can you imagine?! This one definitely goes in the "WTF" category.

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New Study Shows Sleep Deprivation Can Kill You

The following study shows that a sleep deficit built up over just five nights can significantly stress your heart. Let's see, 365 days X 9 years...it's a wonder my heart hasn't exploded.

From the AFP

Chronic sleep deprivation can do more than leave you short-tempered: it can also stress your heart and raise your risk of cardiovascular disease and death, according to a study released Wednesday.

The neurological and behavioural effects of long-term sleep loss have been well-documented, ranging from lowered concentration and hand-eye coordination to poor mood.

But the study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine adds to a growing body of evidence that there is also a physiological price to be paid for insufficient time under the sheets.

The study found that a sleep deficit built up over just five nights can significantly stress the heart.

The researchers tested the cardiac function of their 39 volunteers twice -- once at the beginning of the study, after a night of 10 hours' sleep, and again after five nights when they got a mere four hours of shut-eye each night.

The electrocardiograms revealed that all of the volunteers had a much faster heart beat and significantly less heart rate variability following the nights of sleep deprivation.

Reduced variability can be a marker for cardiac problems and other diseases and has been linked to high blood pressure.

"If our finding is sustained by a larger group and further analysis, it may suggest why short sleep duration is associated with a heightened risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality."

Tony Soprano is Dead?

Have you heard about this theory? People are wondering if the fade to black was symbolic of Tony's death. There was a scene with his brother-in-law, Bobby, saying "At the end, you probably don't hear anything, everything just goes black". HBO spokesman, Quentin Schaffer, called that a "legitimate hint". But, he's being very vague, saying "While he (David Chase) won't say to me 100 percent what it all means, he says some people who've guessed have come closer than others".

I suppose that could be what they were going for, but to me it makes no sense because the story was never told from Tony's viewpoint. If that's really what was meant to happen, the whole episode should have been seen through Tony's eyes. Otherwise, how does it make sense for our view to end when his does? Maybe that's just the only thing they could come up with after receiving so much criticism?

United States Arming Our Enemies (Again)

If we can't beat them, join them?! We are now arming Sunni groups that "promise" to stop killing us and start fighting Al Qaeda instead. Brilliant. We've already spent $15 BILLION arming the Shiite groups, now we will arm their enemies too. (Basically, we are funding both sides of a civil war. Meanwhile, in the US, we have people with no healthcare and kids going to school in trailers.) And, what happens after they get our funding and weapons and decide to break their promise?! WTF?!

Paris Hilton News Tops Peter Pace Replacement

Controversial Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Peter Pace, will not be reappointed, forget the details, Paris Hilton is getting in a car.

The Sopranos Finale

Is it just me or was that the worst series finale ever? I was so tired tonight, dozing off, fighting to stay awake for all the excitement. (Normally, I would pay to be dozing off so early but, I didn't want to take a chance on hearing what happened before I saw it.) Then the whole episode seemed pretty slow, finally, we're near the end. I'm on the edge of my seat, trying to decide if Meadow will be capped or spared due to her lack of parking skills. I think everyone that comes through the door of the diner is going to take out the whole family, then nothing. NOTHING. I was so pissed. I thought for a minute that my DVR locked up at the most crucial point of the evening, then I see credits. CREDITS. Still not believing it, I rewind and watch again, I go on-line to find out what I missed and it's still NOTHING. I'm so disappointed. I can't believe I missed sleep for that.

39 "Ghost Detainees" Disappear (?!)

It seems that people turn a blind eye to any news involving the mistreating of a "terrorist". If they truly are terrorists, fine, lock them up and throw away the key. But, what if they are not terrorists? What if they are not guilty of anything? What if this was you or one of your family members? The following people have not been charged with any crime, there have been no legal proceedings, some of them are women and children, yet they were held for three or more YEARS and then they "disappeared". Why the hell is Paris Hilton the top news story again today?!

From the AP -

WASHINGTON — At least 39 people from a half-dozen countries have been held in secret U.S. detention centers worldwide for three or more years, and their fates remain unknown, six human-rights groups say in a report being released today.

Human rights advocates said the document, which they called the most comprehensive account yet of so-called "ghost detainees," raises new alarms about the Bush administration's practice of secretly detaining suspected terrorists without any legal proceeding.

The report says that in five instances U.S. authorities detained the wives or young children of suspects held in secret prisons. And in four instances, terrorism suspects in U.S. custody may have been transferred to Libya, once a major adversary of Washington.

"It should be a sobering alarm bell that rattles us all out of our collective slumber," said Curt Goering, a top official at Amnesty International, which helped prepare the report.

One of the reports' authors said she wasn't convinced that the sites were ever emptied, and claimed a program of secret detentions was ongoing.

"We wanted (the detainees') names in the public eye because of the impression that this is over, this is finished, and they're not doing this anymore," said Anne Fitzgerald, a senior adviser for Amnesty International. "That's clearly not the case."

Daily Show: GOP Debates

Republicans agree the only thing worse than another terrorist attack is a gay hero stopping it.

Republican Debates

I was planning to summarize my take on the Republican debates today but I still haven't been able to stomach the whole thing. I actually went away from the Democratic debates feeling a tiny bit of inspiration and hope (first time in a long time). But it is literally giving me a headache to watch these so-called Republicans. I went into it with an open mind, praying someone would give me hope. I watched part of it last night, part of it today, I'm going to try to finish it tonight (but I can't make any promises). From what I've seen so far, I think Mitt Romney will probably be in the primary. He looks the most "Presidential" and that seems to be the most important thing, right? That scares me. He gives me the creeps and looks like a male version of a stepford wife (just not sure who's controlling him). But, I would be willing to make a wager that unless there's a big scandal between now and then, he will be on the ticket, probably with Giuliani. Put those two together and the creep factor goes through the roof. I really hope I'm wrong. I hope Jim Gilmore doesn't have a chance either, he was my governor a few years ago and he did a suck-ass job. He's just another "Bushie" and would make a horrible president. I have lots of other complaints about the other candidates but I need a break from these guys at the moment. The only positive thing I've seen so far is that Ron Paul does give me a little hope. I don't agree with some of things he said, but I do agree with most of his views. I plan to do more research on him and see where he stands on all of the issues, but in my opinion, he is by FAR the best candidate the Republicans have to offer.

Bill Maher Vindicates Ron Paul's Argument

Predictions

When Bush "won" the election in 2000, I predicted to my brother in law (a hardcore Republican) that he would screw things up so badly that Hillary Clinton would be president in 2008. He laughed hysterically and said that would NEVER happen, Bush would do a wonderful job and Hillary wouldn't even have enough support to run. I knew things were about to go way downhill with Bush, but even in my wildest nightmares, I never imagined he could do this much damage to our country. And after watching last night's debate, I'm thinking Hillary may just have a little support (and I may have missed my calling as a psychic). I still haven't decided who I'm voting for but I don't think there's any question about who won that debate. Hillary won by a landslide, I put Barack in second and Edwards in third. I don't think any of those other guys stand a chance. I'm personally torn about Hillary, there's just something about her that makes me not want to like her, but I have to admit she was absolutely brilliant in the debate. She looked great, sounded strong and made a lot of sense. One of my favorite parts was how she talked about being united. We need to be united, I'm so sick of mud-slinging, nasty campaigns. I applaud her for being positive and finding common ground instead of just bashing her opponents. I pray that all of the candidates will adopt and keep that attitude throughout the election. We need to pull together and put an end to the twisted Republican regime we have now.


HRC June 3, 2007 -

"Everybody on this stage, we are all united, Wolf. We all believe that we need to try to end this war. In two nights you’re going to have the Republican candidates here. They all support the war. They all support the president. They all supported the escalation. Each of us is trying in our own way to bring the war to an end. . . .

And I think it’s important particularly to point out; This is George Bush’s war. He is responsible for this war. He started the war. He mismanaged the war. He escalated the war. And he refuses to end the war.

And what we are trying to do, whether it’s by speaking out from the outside or working and casting votes that actually make a difference from the inside, we are trying to end the war. . . .

The differences among us are minor. The differences between us and the Republicans are major. And I don’t want anyone in America to be confused."



I don't want America to be confused either. It sickens me how many people vote without even knowing what the candidates stand for. I used to go around begging everyone to vote. I thought it was so important, every vote counts, blah, blah, blah. I've now come to the realization that I don't want everyone to vote. Uninformed people voting is exactly what got us in the mess we are in now. I want to barf when I hear someone say they voted for Bush because he "seemed like a good guy" or he was a "Christian". If you looked at his background or his voting record for two seconds you would see that he was never qualified for the job (by the way, "talking to Jesus" is not equivalent to actually ACTING like a Christian). So, if you don't know your candidates qualifications and exactly what they stand for, then do the country a favor and just stay home. I want as much information as possible on everyone that is running, their voting records and what they plan to do with the most powerful office in the world. For that reason, I will also be tuning into the Republican debates tomorrow. Even though most of them just sound like parrots of Bush, I do hold out hope that someone might have an original thought. Ron Paul is running on the Republican ticket, he's actually a Libertarian and so far, seems to be the only one making much sense.

Linkin Park - What I've Done

Way to Go Mr. Carter

I used to of think of President Carter as kind of wimpy, but his remarks to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette this weekend totally changed my mind. He didn't impress me much as President, but I knew he did great works for peace and his humanitarian efforts since leaving office have been remarkable. Finally, someone is showing the backbone that most in Washington lack. Many people share his views of the Bush administration, but few are brave enough to admit it publicly.

From the AP

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Former President Carter says President Bush's administration is "the worst in history" in international relations, taking aim at the White House's policy of pre-emptive war and its Middle East diplomacy.The criticism from Carter, which a biographer says is unprecedented for the 39th president, also took aim at Bush's environmental policies and the administration's "quite disturbing" faith-based initiative funding.

"I think as far as the adverse impact on the nation around the world, this administration has been the worst in history," Carter told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in a story that appeared in the newspaper's Saturday editions. "The overt reversal of America's basic values as expressed by previous administrations, including those of George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon and others, has been the most disturbing to me."

"We now have endorsed the concept of pre-emptive war where we go to war with another nation militarily, even though our own security is not directly threatened, if we want to change the regime there or if we fear that some time in the future our security might be endangered," he said. "But that's been a radical departure from all previous administration policies."

Carter also offered a harsh assessment for the White House's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, which helped religious charities receive $2.15 billion in federal grants in fiscal year 2005 alone.

"The policy from the White House has been to allocate funds to religious institutions, even those that channel those funds exclusively to their own particular group of believers in a particular religion," Carter said. "As a traditional Baptist, I've always believed in separation of church and state and honored that premise when I was president, and so have all other presidents, I might say, except this one.

Farewell Falwell

I'm sure you've heard the Reverend Jerry Falwell has died. I have mixed feelings about writing anything negative about someone after their death, but after the past 24 hours of hearing what a "saint" he was, I have to speak up. I'm not glad that he died, I'm never happy to hear of anyone dying. I feel bad for his family and anyone that loved him, but with that said, I hope people remember who this man truly was.

This is the man that referred to Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Civil Rights Movement" as "Civil Wrongs Movement". He referred to Ellen as "Ellen Degenerate" and demanded sponsors yank their advertising from her show. He claimed the "Antichrist" will be a Jewish man. He called Noble Peace prize winner, Desmond Tutu a "phony". He called AIDS God's punishment for homosexuality. In case there's anyone who hasn't been offended yet, I'll leave you with a few of his quotes.

Falwell on segregation: "If Chief Justice Warren and his associates had known God's word and had desired to do the Lord's will, I am quite confident that the 1954 decision would have never been made."

Falwell on schools: "I hope I live to see the day when, as in the early days of our country, we won't have any public schools. The churches will have taken them over again and Christians will be running them."

Falwell on Bush: "I am such a strong admirer and supporter of George W. Bush that if he suggested eliminating the income tax or doubling it, I would vote yes on first blush.

Falwell on Ellen: "Vice President Gore recently praised the lesbian actress who plays 'Ellen' on ABC Television...I believe he may even put children, young people, and adults in danger by his public endorsement of deviant homosexual behavior...Our elected leaders are attempting to glorify and legitimize perversion."

Falwell on global warming: "I believe that global warming is a myth. And so, therefore, I have no conscience problems at all and I'm going to buy a Suburban next time."

Falwell on terrorists: "God continues to lift the curtain and allow the enemies of America to give us probably what we deserve."

Falwell on 9/11: "I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way -- all of them who have tried to secularize America -- I point the finger in their face and say you helped this happen".

Falwell on civil liberties: "The First Amendment is not without limits." " The ACLU is to Christians what the American Nazi party is to Jews."

RIP Jerry

Sappy Mother's Day

I've always hated Mother's Day. Well, not always, just since I was seven and my own Mother died. It was probably the most dreaded day of my childhood. I don't know if it's a tradition everywhere, but where I'm from you spend the day at church with a rose pinned on your dress. The lucky girls got red roses, red meant your Mother was alive. I got a white rose, white was the "dead mommy" rose. I hated that damned rose so much. I hated the attention that it brought. I hated the stares and I especially hated the questions, questions I didn't want to answer. I tried to get out of wearing it but my bitch of a stepmother insisted. No matter how hard I tried to pretend I was invisible, all eyes were on me. I ended up being teased by other kids, cornered by nosey adults and running into the house crying after church. I thought when I was an adult I would make things different. I would have my own kids and we would skip church that day, skip the stupid roses and just have fun. But after actually having my own children, I ended up missing my Mom more than ever. We didn't go to church and we didn't wear roses but I still spent the day feeling sad. I felt sad for my kids not having a Grandma, I felt sad for my Mom never being able to meet my sweet kids and I felt sad for not having her to go to with my own questions. I wanted so badly to be happy, but I had so many painful memories tied to this day. I also felt guilty for even trying to be happy on a day honoring mothers when mine was dead. But this year something changed, I changed. I decided the day would not be sad. I would not be sad. I would find a different way to honor my Mom's memory and I would make this day about myself and my family. I promised only to focus on the good things we had, with no thoughts of what was missing. I wouldn't allow a single negative thought on this day.

My husband got up early with the kids and let me sleep in. I woke up thankful for a rare rested feeling. I was immediately showered with hugs, kisses and told how much they "missed" me while I was sleeping. I asked my husband in advance not to spend any money, but they still managed to fill my arms with gifts. I took time to really enjoy and appreciate each one of them. There were beautiful homemade cards and presents, my favorite flowers and a very thoughtful automatic can opener. (That probably sounds funny to most people, but I have arthritis in my thumb and forefinger and I was too forgetful or maybe too cheap to ever buy one for myself, so it was a very welcomed gift.) I just kept focusing on how sweet and thoughtful my family was and how they made me feel so special. I thought about how much I loved each one of them and how lucky I was to have them. I felt so thankful for my wonderful husband, so grateful to have healthy and happy children. I finally let go of the past and allowed myself to feel all of the joy and love in the present. Everyone kept asking what I wanted to do. They said it was my day and we could do anything, but I knew it didn't matter where we went or what we did because I already had everything I needed. For the first time I can ever remember, I felt at peace on Mother's Day.

We finally decided to go for a drive on this perfect Spring day. We had a picnic with food from my favorite drive in. We ended up back home soaking up the sun on our deck and watching our beautiful children play on the most beautiful day I can ever remember.

Pink Says It All...

No Child Left Unsolicted?

I've had problems with the so-called "No Child Left Behind Act" since the beginning. For example, the funding promised is not equal to the funding received. The yearly progress is based on the total number of students in a school with no exception for students with disabilities (that need special help or are unable to even take the tests). You've probably heard of these and other unfair parts of this bill, but did you know military recruiting was also slipped into this mess? Schools now HAVE to allow military recruiting (starting in middle school) in order to keep their funding! Not only do they get to talk to your children without your supervision, they also get a list of names, addresses and phone numbers. Unbelievable...

SEC. 9528. ARMED FORCES RECRUITER ACCESS TO STUDENTS AND STUDENT RECRUITING INFORMATION.

(a) POLICY-


(1) ACCESS TO STUDENT RECRUITING INFORMATION- Notwithstanding section 444(a)(5)(B) of the General Education Provisions Act and except as provided in paragraph (2), each local educational agency receiving assistance under this Act shall provide, on a request made by military recruiters or an institution of higher education, access to secondary school students names, addresses, and telephone listings.

Faux News

Last night I watched a documentary that left me completely stunned. "Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism" really opened my eyes to what goes on with the "news" today. How is it possible for one man to own and control such a huge percentage of our media?! Even worse, he encourages twisting words, lies, omissions and outright propaganda to put his personal slant on the news. I don't have much time to elaborate but wanted to at least add the link to watch this movie for free. Please make time to view and let me know what you think. Does anyone else find this scary? If you do, please look at this of just a "few" of the other things this guy owns...

Myspace.com
20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox Espanol
20th Century Fox Television
Fox Studios Australia
Fox Studios LA
Fox Studios Baja
Fox Television Studios
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Sports Australia
Fox Television Stations
Fox Movie Channel
Fox News Channel
Fox Sports Espanol
Fox Sports Net
Fox Sports World
FUEL
FX
National Geographic Channel
SPEED Channel
DIRECTV
FOXTEL
New York Post

The Blues

Tonight my daughter was playing the harmonica. Every time she did it her little brother cried. He's 15 months old and normally LOVES music. Anyway, she would play, he would cry, she would stop, he would stop. I said, " I can't figure out why that music makes him cry" and she replied, "Duh, Mom, because it's the blues". :)

Is Anyone Else Sick of the "News"?

I'm not sure when or how it happened but what passes for "news" is this country is getting rather disturbing. My husband and I are both news junkies, we read Internet news, watch all the news channels and even read old-fashioned news papers (gasp). I've thought many times about how real news is being replaced by "entertainment" news, but I didn't realize just how bad it was until this week. One night recently I finished watching the evening news and went into the kitchen to make dinner. My 8 year old daughter came in and asked if she could turn off the "news" and watch a cartoon. I said, "sure, the news is over". She said, "Oh, I couldn't tell the difference, it looked just like the news". It turned out to be "Entertainment Tonight". I realized how right she was, sadly, there isn't much difference! Take away the few seconds about the war, a couple of minutes about extreme weather conditions and you've basically got the same show. Why do we put up with being fed this gossipy, unimportant bullshit? Celebrity adoptions, rants or "feuds" (the real ones and those made up from sound bites taken out of context) get far more coverage than important things like healthcare, jobs or schools. How in the hell did this happen? And, am I the only one that cares? Isn't it sad that events like Anna Nicole Smith's "baby daddy", Don Imus and Sanjaya (or whatever his name is) get more coverage than anything that might actually have an affect on our lives?! I'm not sure if most people are even aware that the Supreme Court changed it's ruling on abortion this week. First time that's happened in over thirty years and it didn't even make front page news in many places. It's your prerogative to be for it or against it but I hope you at least know about it. There really should be more attention brought to ANY issue that actually changes our constitution!

Another thing that really bothers me is the 24/7 coverage of this Cho Seung-Hui guy at Virginia Tech. I mean absolutely no disrespect for anyone killed, injured or saddened by this awful tragedy. As a parent, I can't imagine ANYTHING worse than losing a child! What bothers me about the coverage, is being force-fed his photos, videos and rambling manuscript. Isn't that EXACTLY what he wanted?! That's why he did this! He referenced "Dylan and Eric" (the Columbine gunmen) as MARTYRS! He was proud to follow in their footsteps! I hope and pray that I'm wrong but I really believe his "fame" just perpetuates this cycle! Can't you see another twisted young kid thinking about trying to outdo him and be even more "famous"?! Surely someone in the media has given this some thought. Apparently, trying to up the ratings outweighs trying to prevent this from happening again.