Vodka & Cupcakes

Ford Allows Parents to Parent

Howard Stern, Playboy Radio, and Raw Dog Comedy are just a handful of satellite radio's hundreds of channels and, with satellite becoming a popular (if not standard) feature in vehicles, it's time to evaluate the value of the aforementioned raunchy channels.  Should they be allowed on the air?  Absolutely.  Should they be allowed in a teenager's car? Absolutely not.

Welcome to one of the dilemmas of modern parenting.  While the government would like to classify "children" as anyone under the age of 26, I'll stick to the standard age of 18.  Do you remember when you got your first car?  For me, I was 16 and thought I was invincible.  My little red coupe had 4 cylinders and every safety feature available at the time, so my parents felt it was a responsible choice but I saw it as my ticket to freedom.  I could go wherever I wanted, listen to whatever I wanted however loud I wanted, and cruise around with friends after school.

I was an idiot.  And I'm sure you were too at that age.

Sharing the road with teenagers is risky as it is, so do we really want inexperience mixed with immaturity while listening to adult-content satellite radio behind the wheel?  Most drivers and, more importantly, parents don't, which is why Ford has announced its new MyKey System.

Adult channels on satellite radio have a specific code for their content; Ford has developed an ignition key that senses this code and blocks it from playing through the speakers in the vehicle.  Using this key, parents can also set limits on speed and stereo volume.  When this key is used, the stereo volume is significantly reduced automatically until the seatbelt is buckled.  If it's a family vehicle, the parents can still use standard ignition keys and have access to all of the raunchy stations, fast speeds, and excessive volume they want.

Ford listened to its customers when 60% of parents surveyed indicated they had concerns for their teenage drivers in these areas.  It's reasons like this that the motor company will not only survive, but thrive in a free market.  Creating quality solutions for real problems, as well as developing a reputation for reliability and responsibility, are reasons that Ford is going places.

If you haven't seen the newest Ford product lines, stop by a dealership and check it out - even if you're not in the market for a new car.  My guess is the dealership will be so thrilled that you just want to see what they're up to, that they'll gladly take a few minutes to show you what they've been working on.

Original Source: USA Today, December 29, 2010
More information on Ford's MyKey System
Diagram of MyKey System courtesy of auto123.com

So Napolitano, DHS, and Orwell walk into a Walmart

The Department of Homeland Security has teamed up with Walmart to launch the “If You See Something, Say Something” campaign.  Essentially they want you to report suspicious activities that you witness as a means of promoting “hometown security”.  

A great deal of responsible Americans do this anyway and we don’t need “Big Sis” Janet Napolitano to tell us to.  However, there are some Americans who need a gentle nudge to come forward either because they don’t want to cause trouble, they aren’t sure what they think they saw, or they’re afraid they’ll get in trouble.  This “gentle nudge” should come from your local law enforcement, not the Federal Government.

The reason this is such a big deal isn’t because DHS fears a terrorist attack on Walmart, but because they are looking to activate the drones.  Not everyone who shops or works at Walmart are drones, but c'mon, a solid chunk of them are.  If we’re being really honest with ourselves, we know that most of Americans are sheep who aren’t energetic, concerned, or smart enough to think for themselves - Hello Mr. 44th President.

If the Feds tell these people to do something, they’re going to do it.  They’ll probably think they’re getting a reward for it or something.  What we have on our hands is something straight from the pages of George Orwell.  This is Big Brother at its finest.

The Federal Government is using this whole “If You See Something, Say Something” load of you-know-what to activate their eyes and ears on the ground.  Each totalitarian government in history has established one of these.  They scare people into thinking there’s a huge threat to their personal security and that they need to turn those responsible (or who they think might be responsible) in.  

I’m not saying that the United States is a totalitarian state or they are going to start detaining people for no real reason, but what I am saying is this is the path to that nightmare.  Janet Napolitano has said “Homeland security begins with hometown security” and since our homeland is in danger, clearly it’s because of our hometowns being threatened if you use Federal logic.  Forget about “Homeland security begins with profiling, searching foreign cargo, and closing the borders” - that’s a bunch of nonsense!

Moreover, Walmart is the nation’s leading discount retailer; it’s private for the time being, but we all know what happens once the Feds get their fingers in the cookie jar.  This is the making of a dangerous situation.  Libs out there will say I’m a fear-monger, but I prefer to be called a student of history. 

This Chick & Her Football Talk

It’s that time again: the days college football fans live or die by.  Did your team win 6 games or not?  Are they going to a bowl or not?  If they are, is the bowl’s reputation one worthy of their own?  Is the opponent’s talent deserving to play on the same field?  These are questions that torment avid fans late into the night as they toss and turn in a cold sweat.

As a tried and true fan of the Baylor Bears, I can tell you these questions have never given me an ounce of grief in my life.  No, seriously, the Bears have been pretty awful in the past 20 years.  Sure, they’ve been to 3 bowls in the last 20 years but all 3 of those were as members of the Southwest Conference?  Remember that?  Yah, neither do I.

 

The fact of the matter is Baylor has been the underdog of the Big 12 ever since they joined in 1994.  I went to school there knowing we wouldn’t be tearing down goalposts, rushing the field, or making ridiculously long road trips for a 3 hour game of glory.  And I was okay with that, although we did rush the field 3 times and tear down 2 goalposts in my day.  But what happens as soon as I graduate?  They get a new coach and, whadjaknow, they’re good!  I’d like to think it’s all because of my financial contributions to the University as an alumni.

Today the Bears were invited to and accepted a position in the Texas Bowl, a feat that hasn’t been matched since 1994 when Baylor went to the Alamo Bowl and put up a measley 3 points to Washington State’s lackluster 10.  They will face off against the Illinois Fighting Illini  in Houston on December 29 at 6pm, so mark your calendars to witness history in the making.

Why is this game important to non-Baylor fans? It’s relevant to the Big 12 and even beyond that, but one point at a time.

The Big 12 has had a rough year: Colorado and Nebraska are leaving, Texas fell into a pit of shame, and Kansas got worse.  Sorry rock chalk jayhawks or whatever it is.  Anyway, while the conference appeared to be in disarray, the Baylor Bears were rising from next to last (thanks Colorado!) in 2009 to a 2010 record that tied both Texas Tech and Kansas State.  Whoever thought that Baylor would be on par with Tech?  No, really.  

The overall level of talent among the teams in the Big 12 is growing.  Texas will rebuild and recover; Kansas, well, let’s hope they do something along the same lines; and Mizzou will continue to excel in the North, especially now that Nebraska is out of the way.  Baylor will be there with the rest of them to play Big 12-caliber football, as long as Art Briles and Robert Griffin III stay.  While the university will not allocate crazy funds to the program, Briles knows how to win and RGIII has the skills to appeal to recruits.  Baylor football has a future for at least the next two seasons. 

As for the rest of the collegiate football realm, the more competition out there, the better.  Having stellar teams in all conferences ensures that bowls will be worth watching.  Sure, there will be blow outs, melt downs, and no shows, but the probability of witnessing train wrecks like that are slimmer.  Competition is the answer in just about every conceivable situation, including NCAA football.  I think watching Baylor and Illinois will be a solid 3 hours of athleticism that will do justice to long-suffering fans and those just looking for a good game.

Keanu Reeves vs. TSA

Not since Speed has there been a threat to national security on a bus and, even then, that “national security” part is debatable. 

So why is the Department of Homeland Security trying out enhanced security screening methods like pat-downs at bus stops in Florida?  Did you know they are also developing protocols for other crowded areas, like sporting events?

What past occurrences warrant these enhanced security measures?  Because, in case you haven't noticed, TSA hasn't thwarted anything.  Ever.

Using advanced technology, the Department of Homeland Security is taking another step in keeping America safe.  Or is it another step to taking over our individual liberties?

We need to evaluate whether the Federal Government is being proactive or intrusive because there is an overwhelming difference.  Proactive to me is the Fed saying, “Why, yes, we’re profiling, checking all cargo coming into the country that originates in these countries, and enforcing our No Fly lists like nobody’s business.”  Intrusive is the government groping nuns and looking at near-naked pictures of minors, harassing a mother for not wanting her breast milk exposed to radiation, and searching checked bags not for explosives but for cute fashion finds that just happen to be in the screener’s size.*

The Fourth Amendment protects American citizens from “unreasonable searches and seizures”:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

How can the feds justify searching 90 year old women or patting down 4-year old girls when Michelle Malkin pointed out quite clearly that violent jihadists don’t come from a “broad strata of society”?  Our Constitutional rights are being violated right in front of our eyes and, while we’re outraged, most of us don’t know what to do about it.  Do we stop flying?  Some say yes, but they’ll get you on the subways, bus stops, and train stations.  Do we just drive everywhere in our own personal vehicle?  You can if you have the time and can afford it.  

But what does it say that We The People are sacrificing the conveniences and privileges our society offers in order to appease the Federal Government’s need to feel omnipotent and benevolent?

It says they are out of control and must be stopped.  We have only a select few choices for reining the fed back in:

Keanu Reeves: He stopped the bus in Speed so maybe he can stop the bus in Washington.  Although he is rumored to be involved as the lead actor in a 2012-release samurai movie that won’t suck like the last 7 years of his career, so he might be busy.

Superman: We haven’t seen much of him lately so he may have gone into hiding.  If you find him, let me know.

 

You: That’s right, you’ve been added to the list.  Use your cameras, audio recorders, and video cameras to catch goings on that will show what’s really going on.  Start a blog, write your Representatives, write the President, let the world know that you’re one ticked off citizen.

Your Representatives: Remember, they work for you.  Melt their phone lines, fill their inboxes, write a letter, pay a visit - whatever it takes to get their attention and do not relent.  Remind them that if they ignore you, they will find their next venture in the unemployment line come 2012.

Don’t be afraid to get upset about it.  In fact, get mad.  I mean, don’t go crazy or anything, but the United States of America was not founded by a bunch of sissies who decided to lay down and take it.  This is our country, these are our freedoms, and they are worth fighting for.

 

*On a recent trip to New England, I checked a bag and when I got home and unpacked, I realized that something wasn't there.  I remembered packing it, unpacking it at the hotel, re-packing it before checking out but, alas, it wasn't there.  Someone stole my $50 sports bra.  Moreover, my sister and her husband had a romantic weekend getaway to NYC a little bit ago and my brother-in-law was sweet enough to take her shopping.  She had a ball, but when she got home all of her designer clothes were gone - over $500.

Comparison: Kim Jong-Il & Dark Helmet

A few readers brought it to my attention that they didn’t quite understand a few jokes in the Kim Jong-Il & Obama: A Snarky History Lesson, namely those referring to Spaceballs and Team America.  

Let’s start with the easiest one to explain:

“Then again, maybe Kim Jong-Il is just looking for a friend; after all, he is ‘so ronery’.”

This comes from Team America, a movie from the creators of South Park that is so insanely offensive it’s funny.  Because I don’t think everyone should see the film, I’ll provide you with a 2-minute clip of Kim Jong-Il’s soliloquy in song:

WARNING: If you are particularly sensitive to the f-word, I would recommend muting your computer for the first 3 seconds.

 

Now, let’s dive into the second reference that is not offensive, but done in true Mel Brooks style!  I would recommend you see the entire Spaceballs movie because Mel Brooks could use the money and you could use the laughs.  If, however, you’re like my mom who refuses to waste a second of her life on Mel Brooks, here is the trailer followed by a clip of my favorite Dark Helmet scene:

So on what grounds do I base my comparison of Kim Jong-Il to Dark Helmet?

Dark Helmet is the military leader of Planet Spaceball; he is supposed to get his orders from President Skroob, but tends to take things upon himself believing that he is all-knowing and wise.  His decisions typically backfire and, when they do, he awkwardly blames someone else.  While his voice may sound ominous behind the huge helmet, he is just a mousy little man who plays with dolls but people fear him because he’ll shrink their junk if they don’t respect his authority.

While I cannot confidently say that Kim Jong-Il plays with dolls, I can assure you that he is indeed the same kind of mousy little man who maintains control through fear.  This little tidbit of information tells us a lot more you might think:

1) Fear -- Get ready for a little Political Science 101: There are two paths to political organization, the friendly way called “consensus” and the not-so-friendly way called “coercion”.  

Consensus = Democratic Rule         Coercion = Authoritarian Rule 

Now, authoritarian rule means that the leader and a small, elite group of cronies took power by force - it was not given to them by the people, they are not held accountable by the citizens.  Basically it’s like a bully on the playground: no one gave him power, he just started beating up kids and pretty soon everyone was scared of him.  Next thing you know, kids are throwing their lunch money at his feet when he walks down the hall and no one goes near the tire swing.  

But what if that bully starts beating up kids and telling them that the sky was red with blue polka dots?  The bully’s sidekicks form a commission to seek out non-believers (kids who are dumb enough to still think the sky is blue) and beat them up.  Lots of kids would start claiming the sky was red with blue polka dots even if they didn’t believe it.  When a leader uses violence to implement some ideology, employs institutions and organizations to enforce it, and citizens submit for fear of persecution, that’s Totalitarian Rule.  Welcome to life in North Korea.

2) Charisma -- While two petite, unattractive men aren’t exactly the first things that come to mind when you hear that word, politically they are what we call “charismatic leaders”.  Their power is not legitimized through historical precedent (like a king or queen) or voting procedures (like a democracy), but their credibility comes through an idea that is conveyed to the public.  “Our dear leader” Kim Jong-Il didn’t come with that title - he made it.  So it’s not the physical appearance of the person, but it's the person’s ability to communicate ideas that wins and this is done primarily through the media.

In a totalitarian state, the media is the leader’s lapdog.  Existing solely to suck up to and do the leader’s bidding, the media picks and chooses which stories perpetuate the leader’s ideology and then edits it to make it that much more unbelievable.

For example, on June 19, 2000 a North Korean news report was obtained by the BBC and reads in part as follows:

“The outstanding greatness of Kim Jong-Il as a peerless politician lies in the fact that he has scientifically led the revolution and construction to a brilliant victory without a mistake or failure for nearly 40 years...The moves of the imperialists and reactionaries to stifle the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea have been totally smashed by his bold grit and just politics.”

After you’re finished throwing up, it’s easy to see that the media is nothing more than the bully’s crony institution out to convince people that the leader is looking out for the well-being of the citizens and country.

There you have it - Kim Jong-Il is just a wee man hiding behind a big media charade, just like Dark Helmet is hiding inside his oversized dark helmet.  Neither one have much of a clue what they’re doing but they know they’re right, that they’re better than everyone else.  When their plans suck, junk gets shrunk and missiles get launched.  

You’ve learned a lot, so go pour yourself a drink and revel in your new-found brilliance.

 

 

"Evil will always triumph because good is dumb."
-Dark Helmet, Spaceballs 

 

The Physical Inadequacies of North Korea

I’ve had a few requests to expand on some topics mentioned in my November 23 post “Kim Jong-Il & Obama: A Snarky History Lesson”, so this is the first in a multi-series elaboration on North Korean politics.  Before you close your browser window and think to yourself, ‘Gee, it’d be so much more interesting to explore the nutritional value of styrofoam’ remember who is conducting this train: me.  

Apparently there were some ruffled feathers about the following comment I made:

“North Korea has an inferiority complex.  It’s the under-achieving, low life slacker child of the two Koreas.”  

It seems that there is some doubt as to the accuracy of this statement, as well as some hurt feelings referring to “low-lives”, “slackers”, and “children” in this context.  Let’s explore the inadequacies of North Korea then, shall we?

The easiest element to consider when it comes to analyzing crappy countries like North Korea (or NoKo as I like to call it) is geography.  Usually you’re not supposed to make snap judgements based on physical appearances, but this isn’t the sleazy girl at the bar, this is physical land mass so let the cattiness begin!

The Korean Peninsula is wedged between China, Russia, and Japan.  The Yellow Sea is the body of water to the west and the Sea of Japan to the east. To the north is China and the wasteland known as Siberia.  The border between North and South Korea is the 38th parallel.

Looking at a topographic map (a fancy way of saying maps that show you mountains and stuff), you can see that NoKo is indeed quite mountainous while South Korea is flatter.

Alright, that’s all pretty basic information.  Not sure if a chimp could get all of that, so at least we’re one step ahead of that.  What do we do with this information?  Analyze it.

Because Korea is between China, Russia, and Japan, it’s prime real estate and, as a result, wars have been fought in an effort to control the 80,000-something square mile area.  It’s not like there’s anything glamorous about it; it’s just convenient.  It’d be like the ho-hum girl in high school having the captains of the football, basketball, and baseball teams fighting over her.  Not that China, Russia, and Japan are globally the captains, but for the region they are.  Just go with it.

Next, as it is a peninsula, it is obviously surrounded by water on three sides (west, south, and east).  What does this mean?  Ports.  Ports mean commerce.  Commerce means economic growth.  Basically, ports = money.

“Get to the point, Ashley, or I’ll go find some styrofoam.”  Okay, okay, but you need to have the basics to understand the rest.

All of this sounds great: desirable location, lots of coastlines for ports, diverse terrain - what’s not to love?  If you’re NoKo, the 38th parallel.  Take a look from their perspective and see how much their country physically blows.

They are in the north, so they don’t have three sides of coastline, they have two.  Well, one and half really because their west coast opens into Korea Bay instead of the Yellow Sea which means restricted commerce; people don’t want to be on ships any longer than possible, so they will opt for ports that aren’t 500 miles out of the way.  Less coastline means fewer ports and fewer ports mean less trade/money. 
Disadvantage: NoKo

They are in the mountains and that’s not really suitable for this thing we call agriculture.  The soil is rocky and it’s colder, not exactly a wealth of farming opportunity.  South Korea is not only warmer, but mostly coastal plains and, therefore, has very fertile soil in addition to more flat space to farm. 
Disadvantage: NoKo

Moreover, the difference agriculture makes is so staggering that South Korea sustains 64% of the Peninsula’s population.  It’s like SoKo has twice as many Facebook friends.
Disadvantage: NoKo

So what’s the point of being in a desirable location if you don’t have access to anything that’s really, well, desirable?  It’s pretty fair to say that NoKo is an underachiever when their urbanization is practically non-existent, they can’t feed their own people, and their economy is in the crapper.  Meanwhile, SoKo is killing it with a blossoming population which means lots of workers for a strong capitalist economy.  Note: this also justifies the “low life” portion of my controversial comment. 

So you can see why NoKo has a big stick up its butt.  It isn’t easy being the lesser of two countries that share the same name.  

As for the “slacker” and “child” part, consider this: the country is doing nothing to improve the standard of living for its citizens.  They don’t care.  Kim Jong-Il knows that educated, empowered people won’t stand for communism and that would mean revolution which would jeopardize his power.  To ensure this doesn’t happen, food and services are rationed, freedoms are restricted, and there is absolutely nothing fun to do in the whole country.  

What Kim Jong-Il will do, however, is act like a child pitching a fit whenever he wants something.  He wants to talk to Obama, so he launches an attack on South Korea.  He wants other countries to fear and revere him so he openly lies about his nuclear program to George W. Bush and the rest of the world knowing he'll be caught in the lie.  He wanted fame and fortune, so he got nuke technologies from China and started building bombs.  You get the idea.  The only thing done to reprimand North Korea are these ridiculous UN sanctions that do absolutely nothing except give Kim Jong-Il more attention.  The UN is irrelevant and its sanctions are laughable, but that’s another post for another day.

That’s all for now, but check out the next post that addresses Kim Jong-Il and Dark Helmet.  

Oh, and I’d like everyone to know that reading this blog is completely voluntary so I am wholly indemnified from any damages that may have occurred as a result of eating styrofoam.

Harry Potter & the Order of Shut Your Face

My brother, Ryan, and I decided at the last minute tonight to catch a showing of Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows, Part 1.  As it was not properly planned, the only theater showing the movie at a time convenient for us was one that is known for exceptionally cheap tickets - that’s the only way they can get people to trek that far into the ghetto.

The theater was maybe half full and the previews were wrapping up as we took our seats.  The first big event of the movie and we hear “Is that in the book?” in a plain-as-day voice coming from behind us.  A few minutes later it was “Hey, what did he say?” in the same everyday conversational volume.  When there was a joke, the guy behind us would laugh and then repeat the punchline just to make sure we all caught it.  This happened for all 150 minutes of the film.

His counterpart, Smacky McGee, would answer the questions in a whisper obviously aware of the dude’s lack of manners but she was equally as bad, just in another way.  Between the popcorn, Twizzlers, and beverage, it was a crunching, smacking, slurping, gulping good time.  

It’s like a match made in heaven, really: Sir Talks A Lot and Lady Smackerson.  Between the two of them, it’s enough to drive even Mother Teresa to drink.  And their kids, Can’t Sit Still Carrie and Too Much Sugar Tabby, might just make Super Nanny twitch.  These kids were given free reign over the theater: running up and down the stairs, talking just like their daddy (“Um, Daddy, I’m out of Skittles.  I need more.  No, I need more now!” “Hey, Carrie, do you like the red ones more than the green ones?” “Daddy, I need your phone so I can shine light on the Skittles and see what color they are.”), and dropping roughly $8.00 in pennies on the cement floor.

When we got out of the movie, Ryan and I immediately started ranting about the annoying family.  That conversation carried us all the way to my car (which to my surprise was not on blocks) and then another 15 minutes on the drive home.

Honestly, though, how can people be so oblivious, ignorant, or just plain rude as to not notice or care about their horribly bad social habits?  You can hear yourself chew, so what makes you think other people can’t?  How can you be 40-something and not know to shut your mouth in a movie?  What on earth makes you think your kids are invisible to everyone else? 

It’s people like this who are responsible for the degradation of our culture when it comes to manners.  Those too selfish to extend common courtesies to others deserve far more than this humble blog could ever offer.

 Oh, and if you’re wondering if you’re one of those people, yes you are.  The fact that you have to think about it indicates that you need a clue more than Joe "Big F*#@ing Deal" Biden.

[This concludes the activation of the Emergency Soapbox Broadcasting System. We now resume whatever it is you were doing before.]

Kim Jong-Il & Obama: A Snarky History Lesson

For anyone who has been in a hole today, the President got a call at 3:55am regarding a brewing international crisis centering on North and South Korea.  As would be expected, Obama rolled over and went back to sleep claiming he’d “deal with it later.”  I don’t necessarily know that the last part happened, but it’s a safe speculation. 

News sources are telling us that South Korea was conducting regularly scheduled military exercises near the disputed border with its northernly neighbor when North Korea demanded that they cease said exercises immediately.  South Korea gave them the proverbial finger and continued the drills.  North Korea then shelled the crap out of a South Korean island killing 2 South Korean Marines and injuring several civilians.  South Korea fired back and said, “Okay, we’re even now.  If you do it again, it’s on like Donkey Kong”, or something to that effect.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Obama did not say anything about these events.  There wasn’t an immediate formal statement, reprimand, press conference, or anything from Barack Obama.  Let me be clear: I do not think this is a problem.  In fact, I think it was a wise decision.  While I’m pretty sure it wasn’t Obama’s decision to make, I’m glad someone made it.  Before you go getting your panties in a twist about me agreeing with something this White House did, let me explain.

 North Korea has an inferiority complex.  It’s the under-achieving, low life slacker child of the two Koreas.  They're mad because South Korea has seen success with a democratic, capitalist system.  They're ticked off because the border wasn’t drawn where they wanted it to be at the end of the Korean War.  Above all, they're irritated that they aren’t the global super power they want to be.  It's like they want so desperately to be Darth Vader, but all they can muster is Dark Helmet.  “Raspberry!”

So they act out.  All the time.  With provocative, violent methods in an effort to keep the international spotlight on them.  The idea of direct talks with the United States gives them the warm fuzzies.  They were hoping that an attack on South Korea would lead to a serious reprimand from the U.S., to which they would respond and, thus, enter into a “conversation” with Obama.  Just like a child throws a fit in a store to get what he wants, North Korea uses something explosive to seek attention.  Then again, maybe Kim Jong-Il is just looking for a friend; after all, he is "so ronery." 

I should go on to say that Obama did state that “North Korea is a serious and ongoing threat that must be dealt with”, although no specifics were given as to how he intended (or didn’t intend) to deal with it.

 Here is my issue with North Korea and Obama:

The world does not see Obama, his administration, or subsequently, the United States as a threat.  After all of the speeches, lectures, apologies, and excuses, the credibility of the United States has been brought into question thanks to Obama.  Nicolas Sarkozy called us “weak”.  When the President of France sees you as more of a doily than he is, you know it’s bad.  North Korea knows it can’t send a nuke to American shores, but it’s sure going to test the strength of the US/South Korean alliance.  After witnessing Obama turning his back on Israel and the UK, it’s only natural (and logical) for North Korea to assume the US is no threat via South Korean alliance.

While this is frustrating, there is a bigger problem at hand:

We are potentially looking at the threshold of Cold War, Part II.  And, no, I’m not fear mongering - I spent my time in college studying Asian politics and history so this is my academic analysis:

North Korea is a communist state.  Guess who else is?  Their neighbor, China.  You see, North Korea is nothing but a land mass without China.  The Chinese not only influence North Korea's policies, but also fund their military and sustain their economy.  North Koreans find refuge in China both figuratively and literally.  Essentially, North Korea is just an annex of China.  I won’t go so far as to say a puppet and puppet master only because the North Koreans truly believe they are in control of their own destiny.  Ignorance is bliss I guess.

 Anyway, guess who used to be an "extension" of another country?  That’s right: China.  In the 1940’s when the future Chairman Mao was rising to power, guess who supplied him with knowledge, support, money, and weapons?  Russia, or the Soviet Union as it was then.  Because there is less than a degree of separation between socialism and communism, the common goal for these folks isn’t socialism OR communism, it’s either or - as long as it’s not capitalism - so communists and socialists are more often than not  each other’s allies.

So, here we have history repeating itself.  I love it when that happens because it makes history relevant when so many are so quick to turn their backs on it... And I’ll step off of my soap box...

 Anyway, so here we have the remnants of the Cold War throwing rocks at the country that put them where they are today.  Think about who else is in the shamed club: Afghanistan.  Ohhhh, things are about to get interesting.  For those of you who didn’t take a whole class devoted to the Cold War, the Soviet Union came rushing to the aid of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan to provide them with weapons, intelligence, manpower, and supplies for a total of 11 years until the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.  

Who would love to hand us our lunch?  Hamid Karzai and Osama Bin Laden.

 I'm guessing y'all didn’t have to map out the region a bazillion times, I should tell you that Afghanistan shares borders with China, Iran, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.  Note that those three obscure counties ending with “-stan” are former members of the Eastern Bloc and, while some claim to be “democracies” or “republics”, they are shaky at best and blatant totalitarian states at worst.

The fact of the matter is we aren’t exactly BFFs with any of these countries.  In fact, they all want to destroy us physically or economically, or both.  This is the problem.  Ronald Reagan isn’t around to stand up for America.  Barack Obama is here to stand aside.

So to all of you socialist / communist states out there waiting for the right opportunity to strike, don’t worry - you won’t get any trouble from Barack Obama.  As for the American people, we’ll give you the kind of hell you can only imagine in your worst nightmares; the nightmares that wake you in a cold sweat, shaking, and crying out for mercy.  We The People will never back down from a fight, so think long and hard before you do anything stupid.

Phillips Out, Garrett In

Wade Phillips.  I’ve always thought that he was just another fan in the Texas Stadium crowd when one day Jerry Jones decided to draw a section and seat number to determine who would take over the Head Coach job.  I mean, really, Wade looked more like a fan on the sidelines than a coach with his jubliant touchdown celebrations, tearful losses, or even total confusion at times.  Since moving into Jerry World, Wade spends more time watching that 60-yard jumbo screen than he does watching the field.  Yes, it seems Wade Phillips belongs on the fan wagon and not the sideline.

Fortunately that is where he will now reside as he has been fired.  In the Dallas Cowboys’ 51-season history, a coach has not been terminated mid-season but with a 1-7 start, it was warranted.  Losing to the Packers last night 45-7, one could question whether or not the Cowboys even wanted to be there; it seemed to me they’d rather be anywhere than playing football.  But I can’t say as though I blame their downtrodden moods - do you honestly think Wade Phillips could inspire you to do anything?  Then again, it's not like that team is disciplined enough to keep going when things get tough and again I blame Phillips.

Jason Garrett, formerly the club’s Offensive Coordinator, has been promoted to Head Coach.  I would speculate that this is strictly an interim position and, if Jerry has other ideas, I would urge him to consider otherwise.  When talks came of who would replace Parcells, Garrett’s name came up but he made it seem quite obvious that he didn’t want the job.  It appeared that he was content having at least one buffer between him and Jerry; moreover he didn’t want to be the public face of the team, nor did he want to take the heat for all of the mistakes.  At least that is how it was perceived. 

So who will come up in the conversations for the new Head Coach?  That remains to be seen, but there are already some names flying around - no need to mention them here and perpetuate any myths.  Cowboys fans have known this for years and what football fans around the country will come to find over the next weeks and months (if they haven’t already) is that just like Wade was a wide-eyed, bushy-tailed fan who dreamed of being a coach, Jerry Jones is a deep-pocketed, egotistical owner who dreams of being a coach.

Jerry calls the shots when it comes to coaching, drafting, business, and all things aesthetic.  He has a finger in every pot.  Jerry has no problem spending millions of dollars on talent because, honestly, he collects it but he absolutely refuses to hand over the reins to someone who can mold that talent into something substantial. When it comes to play-calling, he wants to throw the ball instead of running it because hail marys sell tickets and get top spots on Sports Center.  Never mind that the running game is an integral part of any successful team.

I have said it for years and will continue to say it until Jerry Jones is just another piece of Dallas Cowboys’ history, but he is the root of the problem.  His ego is the biggest obstacle that cannot be overcome with players or coaches, managers or PR specialists.  He wants what he wants and he’ll get what he wants as long as he foots the bill.  Whoever takes the Head Coach position for the Dallas Cowboys will either be another “yes-man” like Wade Phillips or a talented, qualified man who will only find solace in beating his head against a wall until he’s fired or quits.

 

Rick Perry for President? About that...

Rick Perry, well-known Texas Governor, won a third term on Tuesday and now people are “speculating” as to whether or not he will run for President in 2012.  I must admit, the very thought of this makes me chuckle and cringe at the same time.  Do I think it will happen?  No.  Here's why:

Not enough time has passed since George W. Bush.

Conservatives are tired of hearing W. blamed for everything from the economy to global warming to starving children in Africa, but that doesn’t mean the mantra is going anywhere.  Considering Rick Perry is following in George W.’s footsteps, it wouldn’t be hard for the MSM or the left to brand him as “George W. Bush, Jr.”.  

Perry took over when Bush went off to Washington in 2000.  Several of the policies Bush put in place during his 5 years in office have carried Perry’s popularity and success the last decade.

 

He might have won, but his 2010 campaign wasn’t great.

Even in the Republican primary, unknown Deb Medina garnered a corner of the market with 17% of the vote - even after her truther gaffe as heard on Glenn Beck’s radio program.  Medina appealed to the strong conservatives and left Perry with the moderate label over his head; Kay Bailey Hutchison got caught in the height of the anti-Washington mood.  After Medina’s comments on Beck, many of her supporters got behind Perry.

In the general election, Perry refused to participate in any debates until Democrat opponent Bill White disclosed some tax returns.  This was construed as a child throwing a temper tantrum and did not do him any real favors, although I feel obliged to give him credit for sticking to his guns.  Perhaps if he had participated, he would have come away with a landslide victory but with the rumors flying and the bad press, it was a 55/45 margin.  

Perry snubbed the newspapers, didn’t answer too many questions, and lost the urban vote to White.  Some said he was too arrogant for his own good.

 

He has made some questionable decisions.

Trans-Texas Corridor: This $145 billion project brought into question Perry’s stance on imminent domain.  Seen as a land grab for a 4,000 mile long, 1,200 feet wide network of roads, rails, and data lines, it was met with harsh criticism on all fronts.

Gardasil: The HPV vaccine is available to teenage girls as a means of preventing a type of cervical cancer.  Rick Perry issued an executive order in 2007 mandating that all girls receive the vaccine unless the parents comply with an opt-out process.  Naturally, social conservatives were not pleased.  A few months later, Perry signed a bill into law that trumped his executive order.  Oh, and there was that little tie between Perry and Merck, the pharmaceutical company that manufactures Gardasil.

 In-State Tuition for Illegals:  As long as they graduated from a Texas high school and sign an affidavit claiming they will apply for citizenship when they become eligible, illegals can receive in-state tuition for Texas public universities.  U.S. citizens who live in the other 49 states that want to go to UT or A&M have to pay out-of-state tuition.  Foreign students that are in the country legally on a student visa have to pay out-of-state tuition.

 Is he sincere?

If you’ve ever met Rick Perry you know he is one smooth-talking, amiable guy - a true politician.  While he claims to oppose big government and support the 10th Amendment, he doesn’t want to do anything on the state level to close the border and prefers to wait for the feds to do something about it.  Sure, it’s a federal issue, but Texas has a huge problem with illegals putting a strain on the state economy, as well as the drug cartel violence along the border.

He puts forth the true Texas stereotype image of a gun-toting, Bible thumping, capital punishment-supporting guy that has a deep, unexplainable love for his state.  He carries a gun when he goes out to run, but he also takes an entourage with him so is he out for exercise or is he out for show?  It’s hard to say because the guy never turns off the politician.  We’ve never seen Rick Perry not in campaign mode, whether he’s vying for re-election or support for a new piece of legislation.

 

Don’t get me wrong, Rick Perry has done some wonderful things for Texas and, as a result, Texas is weathering the recession better than most places.  I support Rick Perry, but I don’t always agree with him.  

I think he wants to run for President but I also think his ego would dictate that the right person or people have to ask him to do so.  I think he’ll accept an offer for VP only if he believes he can be President after that.  While I can think these things all day long, I would hope that the RNC is smart enough to recognize the obstacles they would have to overcome putting Rick Perry on their 2012 ticket, that is if he even survives the primary. 

 

Manual Labor the Obama Way

Nothing says “Working In The Garden” like $500 designer boots.  Really, who wears Tory Burch to do anything in the dirt?  Michelle Obama, that’s who.

 

Yesterday the First Lady participated in the annual fall harvest with area elementary school students.  Surely she wouldn’t think that Tory Burch would impress a bunch of second graders, so who was she trying to impress?  Celebrity chefs Daniel Boulud and James Kent were in attendance, but I doubt she was trying to one-up them.  Of course the media was there to perpetuate their on-going love affair with Michelle O, but she doesn’t have to try to keep their attention.  

The thing is, I don’t think she was trying to impress anyone.  Now, I’m all for looking fabulous in all occasions, but I also know the virtues of practicality.  What’s that?  They have a 1 1/2” rubber heel?  Sure, that’s better than stilettos, but they’re $500!

 I believe Michelle Obama doesn’t give a rat’s behind that her shoes are expensive because she’ll just get another pair (or rather, have another pair given to her) if she ruins them.  Sense of entitlement anyone? 

This First Lady and her husband have no regard for the value of a dollar - it’s evident in the way they spend.  Whether it’s their money, tax payers money, or money they don’t have, it will undoubtedly be spent lavishly in the hands of an Obama.  

$500 shoes to harvest vegetables in the mud...

Patriots, They Are Distracting You.

Perhaps instead of being angry at the government for saying "No" to soda, we should instead focus our energies against the fed's Food Stamp Recruiting Effort:

Food Stamp Outreach Program Radio Ads (English & Spanish)

When the pundits got ahold of NYC’s Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s food stamp request, they turned it into quite the fiasco.  Recently released numbers indicate 41.8 million Americans are currently enrolled in the food stamps program, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program).  I can’t seem to find anyone too upset that 13% of the United States population is on food stamps, but there are plenty of folks outraged that New York City is asking the USDA for a 2 year waiver that would prohibit the purchase of sodas with food stamps.  

 The city claims it is part of it’s War on Obesity (I don't think that's the official title, but it works here for all intents and purposes), but this restriction on food stamp purchases has already been applied to beer, liquor, wine, cigarettes, and prepared foods.  

 No one refutes that removing sodas from one’s diet is a way to substantially reduce caloric and sugar intake, thus leading to weight loss and a lesser risk of diabetes.  Moreover, most children hyped up on Mountain Dew are a school teacher’s nightmare.  However, does the state have the right to take over one more facet of life?  Should Uncle Sam tell you that you absolutely cannot buy cases Dr. Pepper to support your 12-can-a-day habit?

 

Yes, if you’re participating in the food stamps program.

 

For starters, the program is appropriately named the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. 

• Supplemental meaning it’s not the only source.  
• Nutrition does not mean “calories”, it means vitamins, minerals, and all that other junk that’s good for you.  
• Assistance Program in government terms means they will give you vouchers when you enroll in the program.  

You want to drink Fanta?  Either buy it with your own money or get out of the program.  You want to put chicken nuggets on the table so your kid doesn’t go to bed hungry?  Cut the Coca Cola.

 Most importantly, let’s remember that no one is forcing anyone to apply for the food stamp program - it’s 100% voluntary.  If hard times have fallen on you and your family so much so that you need help putting food on the table, I think forgoing the soft drinks is a minor concession for not starving.  Call me crazy.  But we all know there are people who manipulate the system...and the feds aren't stopping them.

 It's like the guy on the street corner that's asking passersby for money: You can give him money and he very well could go buy a bottle of booze instead of a sandwich or, you could escort him to the nearest eatery and buy him lunch.  It depends on how you want your money spent.  

Food stamps are the government's way of "going with them" to ensure they spend government money (yah, yah, I know - save your breath) in the way that the fed sees fit.    

But if you have to have your Pepsi to get out of bed in the morning and can't scrape together a dollar and some change to buy that Pepsi, then perhaps we have some bigger fish to fry.

It's hard for me to be Ms. Crabby Pants about the government actually discerning how to spend taxpayer dollars when that discernment is the kind I would make in my private life.  My big problem is the program has grown so big that it is no longer keeping Americans from starving; it seems almost anyone can get in on the handouts.  Did you know that if you have a job and a car, you may still qualify for food stamps?  

If people are angry about the size of government, maybe they should realize that banning sodas isn't the nudge that turns into a shove - playing the Pied Piper to struggling families in order to grow government welfare programs is the bigger offense that will lead us to the point of no return.

All I'm asking is that you consider the more important fight: banning sodas or exponentially growing government.  Don't be distracted, patriots.

 

Groups like Share Our Strength and Feeding America can help us reach out in our own communities to combat hunger.  

 

New York Times Op-Ed article: No Food Stamps for Sodas by Thomas Farley and Richard F. Daines

 

I Was Heckled. And So Were My Shoes.

I work in Southlake, Texas, an affluent, upper-class suburb of Dallas and in this neighborhood are haute couture retailers, gourmet grocery stores, and exotic car dealerships.  While I primarily window shop the pricey fashion and simply drive right by the swanky car lots, I do frequent the gourmet grocery store with it’s organic produce and fair trade or whatever items.  It’s 100 yards from my office building and they have several eateries inside which makes lunch quite convenient.

 

Last week we had one of the first days under 90 degrees that wasn’t a torrential downpour.  This beautiful afternoon afforded me the chance to walk from my office to the store to buy lunch, so I trekked along in my 4” stilettos as happy as could be to be enjoying the day.  I selected soup, some fruit, and a bottle of water.  As I am walking back to my office, this middle-aged woman starts yelling at me from across the parking lot; heckling, really.  She was upset my lunch was packaged in a *gasp* plastic bag.  There was also some name calling; she might have been a member of PETA as she had a serious problem with my obviously-not-real-leopard-skin shoes.  Anyway...

 

I just smiled, thought about giving her the finger but didn't (you're welcome, Mom), and walked on.  But I started to turn the situation over in my mind and came up with the following:

 

I know most of these lovely people see “green” as a religion and they set out to “convert” and “save” as many lost souls as they can.  They don’t have any skill or tact in doing it, but at least they try.  What blows my mind, however, is that nothing is ever good enough.  I walked to the store instead of driving.  I purchased food free of chemicals.  I contributed money to fair trade something or another.  Everything these people want, except the bimbo cashier put my stuff in an evil plastic bag.

 

Now, I'll admit, I didn’t walk to save the environment or ozone or whatever; I just wanted to enjoy the sunshine.  I didn’t buy organic and fair trade food because it was those things; I bought it because that’s what I wanted to eat.  And I didn’t ask for a stupid plastic bag, she just put the stuff in there without asking me and I didn't stop her.

 

But when is it ever enough?

 

That’d be like me saying: You know, Bob, you haven’t killed anyone and I’m pretty sure you’re not harboring any false idols in your house to worship, but I saw you look at Bill’s wife so that must mean you’re lusting after her and, therefore, you’re coveting your neighbor’s wife.  Straight to hell with you - do not pass GO, do not collect $200.

 

The whole ordeal was ridiculous and gave me a little chuckle, but really, who was this woman and why was she so sure she was in a position to cast judgment on me?  If she would have taken two seconds to engage in a productive and civil conversation, she would have found out that silly plastic sack was going to be reused and then recycled anyway. But as far as my shoes go, I think she was just jealous that her bubble gum pink Crocs didn’t look as fabulous as my leopard-print stilettos.

 

One Nation Victories

Saturday's “One Nation, Working Together” rally generated quite a buzz both online and in the MSM, but what were they really setting out to accomplish?  They bragged that over 400 organizations supported the group and roughly 150,000 people showed up.  They carried signs for “Jobs, Education, and Justice” and voiced their desire for “Freedom for Everybody”.  In fact, there were even signs pertaining to Afghanistan: “14,200 Afghan Civilians Killed (9,500 by U.S.)”.  

 

How did they do in achieving their goals?

 

JOBS: Hundreds of jobs were saved or created by yesterday’s rally when the unions hired bus drivers to bring everyone in.  Moreover, some unions were in an advantageous position to use stimulus funds to pay their members up to $22 an hour to attend the event and hold a sign.  While that’s not exactly job creation, it is American tax dollars hard at work.

 

EDUCATION: Books about Socialism were sold on street corners for those literate enough to be interested in such heady material.

 

JUSTICE: It was unanimous that justice was served because Glenn Beck’s “Restoring Honor” rally on August 28th was trumped.

 

FREEDOM FOR EVERYBODY: You know, the definition of “freedom” fluctuates so often, so it’s safe to say that this objective was indeed accomplished by free transportation, free signs, and free entertainment for rally attendees.

 

AFGHANISTAN: Well, they’re still working on this one because this topic didn’t interest the unions as much but, hey, 4 out of 5 ain’t bad!

 

Overall, it was a pretty successful day for the leftists and unions.  By one-upping Fox News, they were all able to go home last night and sleep a little better knowing that they had really stuck it to Beck, Hannity, and O’Reilly.  While there aren’t any documented accounts of hand-holding and Kumbayah, there was plenty of chanting affirmations for socialism and who doesn’t love a good chant?  As long as it isn’t Christine O’Donnell chanting a hex over some steaming pot of brew because that’s not cool.

 

It comes down to this: Not wanting to be outdone by 8.28, the liberals and unions threw together a rally at the last minute and had the standard speakers give the same old “Yes we can!/Si se puede!” speech.  Who would have thought the left would be Jonesing after the Tea Party?  Oh, wait...

 

If they want to get together and whine, fine.  That’s their 1st Amendment right and I have no real issue with it.  Even lying is covered under “Freedom of Speech”.  All I know is spewing hate and lies is the result of exceptional insecurity and fear.  Or, in some cases, pure ignorance.  There are plenty of these people that truly believe that George W. Bush is the Antichrist and the “Rich” want to enslave everyone making less than $250,000 a year.  Whatever.  They will never be open to considering another point of view because they are obviously intellectually and morally superior than everyone else.  Long live the tolerant left!

 

If they want to cram on the Metro and pile into busses to raise a stink about something, they have the right to do that but they should at least have some decency while doing it.  Disrespecting the flag, urinating on monuments to fallen heroes, and littering the National Mall is unacceptable.  But, hey, maybe they’re on to something: 

 

Parks & Recreation had to clean it up - how many jobs did that save or create?  Media coverage had to be there to cover the plethora of journalistic gold - that was at least 100 jobs when you include producers, writers, and those talented people who worked their magic with PhotoShop.  

 

Pamphlets about Socialism, the SEIU, and Islam were conveniently distributed all over the grass, sidewalks, and subways for other unenlightened souls to pick up.  Sneaky tactic to further the success of the EDUCATION objective of their mission.

 

In fact, now that I think about it, maybe desecrating war memorials was their way of discouraging young men and women to volunteer to serve in the military.  Perhaps Afghanistan wasn’t on the back burner.  Victory after all!

 

So take note, Tea Partiers I mean, um, Tea Baggers: If you want to be truly effective when it comes to spreading your message, get all of your co-workers together and toss your manners to the wayside; if anyone has a problem with your behavior, just tell them you have been oppressed, are being oppressed, or will be oppressed by The Man.  Forget the Constitution.  Nevermind past precedent of failure.  Just get out there and bitch.  You might just exceed your own expectations. 

 

Let's Talk About Bullying

Let’s talk about bullying for a minute.  Tyler Clementi, a Rutgers University freshman committed suicide this week.  Emotional turmoil and all-consuming pain led this young man to believe there was no way out, no hope, and no solution.  Except death.  Leaving this world was the only liberation he could trust.  Tyler Clementi is not alone.  Thousands of children and young adults feel this way every hour of every day because of bullying.  More often than we would like to think, these young lives succumb to the relief found in oblivion and are cut short.

I am not being poetic or spewing dramatic hyperbole.  My words are what they are because I’m a survivor.  I was in that dark place for a while and know how lonely and hopeless and out of control it feels.  When you’re in a room full of people and feel completely isolated, when pain is the only thing that reminds you that you’re alive - this is only a glimpse into what it’s like to be bullied to the extreme.

My peers began to bully me at the age of 10.  In a small, secular private school, most of my 35 classmates and I met in Kindergarten and grew up together five days a week nine months a year.  Around fourth grade, cliques started to form and I was stuck between strata: there were the “cool” kids and the “rest” of us.  I liked people in both groups so who to sit with at lunch was stressful.  Most of the time I chose to sit with the “rest” because on the occasions I did eat with the cool kids, it was just a bunch of making fun of everyone that wasn’t elite enough to be in their club and, honestly, it just wasn’t fun.  After a time, I came to be a permanent fixture in the “rest” and I paid dearly for it.

In fifth grade, none of the girls I went to school with were “developed” but I was the only one singled out by it.  Before and after gym class the girls would tease me.  The boys, however, would make public comments in class in front of teachers about my physical “inadequacies”.  I’ll never forget the name or face of the boy who opened a Coke only to find it was flat and then said, “Well, at least it’s not as flat as Ashley.”  This type of behavior continued almost daily until ninth grade and only grew in scope.  Nobody ever said anything about it - teachers, administrators, classmates, no one.

Once I reached high school, I had proved that I was as athletic (if not more so) than the rest of them and most of them wanted me to help them with their homework.  At that point, however, it was too late: I had already sunk into depression and decided to transfer to public school.  

Suddenly I was one of 2,500 kids and it only got worse; I carry the remnants of a scar on my wrist every day.  I remember the fights I had with my parents over therapy and medication.  It took a car accident that nearly took my life to bring me out of the depths of misery.  I was one of the lucky ones that survived and, eventually, found happiness again.

The people who carried me through this dark time were the outcasts and rejects, the gays and the freaks and the nerds.  These were some of the best people I have ever known and I will never forget their compassion.  Or their own pain.

 

The is only one difference between me and Tyler Clementi: I survived.

 

Bullying happens in every school and university in the country.  Today there are the advances of technology that project this humiliation to the world, but technology cannot advance the agony of pain and depression - raw human emotion does not evolve.  It is what it is, has been, and will continue to be.  

To single out bullying incidents because of race, creed, or sexual orientation only makes matters worse and drives that particular group into further isolation.  Our country has lost moral guidance and our children are not being taught the true meaning of respect.  Jenny Erikson said it well when she said,

“Children should be taught to respect others because they are people, not because of their background. God made all of us, and He made each of us for a purpose. That is worthy of respect.”

The "tolerant" Left thrives on the exploitation of people’s differences: if you’re not white, there’s racism involved and if you’re homosexual, you’re being persecuted by bigots.  This.  This is why I love being a conservative.  I believe in individuals and the power manifested within their own being.  Personal liberties grant us the ability to choose what is best for us as individuals.  Couple this principle with respect and you have a 180 in the wings of American culture.

Because I am a conservative, I believe that what is best for you may not what’s best for me and we can agree to disagree if it's not.  If being gay works for you, that’s awesome and I’m glad you’ve found that puzzle piece that fits.  If aborting babies is your schtick, that’s your choice but I would encourage adoption or struggling through the choice you made to have sex and raise the child, but I’m not going to force my beliefs on you.  And, yes, I know there are a very few extenuating circumstances out there; thank you.  If you want to believe that God doesn’t exist, that’s okay too; I’d warn you that if He does, you’re in trouble but it's not like I'm not going to lobby Washington because I think your soul needs to be saved by American tax dollars.  

You live your life and I’ll live mine.  I will respect you even if you don’t respect me.  You see, I’ve been the target of hate before and know how to survive; I don’t need to throw it back at you to feel vindicated.  But let me tell you this: teach your children to respect others and remember that the best teaching tool is example - yours.  Your example affects lives.  What your children learn from you can make or break hope.  No pressure.

 

Smart Girl Report: A few minutes of chick chat

Last night I was Jenny Erikson's guest on her radio show, The Smart Girl Report, as heard on From The Right Radio.  We talked about everything from ridiculous government spending projects to feminism to the current racism debate.  You can check out the audio, as well as Jenny's blog "Candid Conservative", by clicking here.

(Tip: You'll find the audio in segment "The Smart Girl Report -- Episode 0039")

Jenny's show airs each Tuesday at 9pm CST on www.ftrradio.com.