Conspiracy Theorists, Refuted!

Here is an interesting article about conspiracy theories, and why people believe in them. I usually find the theories themselves interesting, but usually don't have a lot of faith in them.

They are, however, enjoyable to hear. I tend to think that the crazies who believe them only confirm their craziness! Admit it, you think it's fun, too. Have you ever listened to Michael Medved's Radio Show on Conspiracy Day? Some of the funniest things come out of people's minds! Of course Medved refutes all of them with facts. Which is how most conspiracy theorists lose their arguments; against the facts, their theory just doesn't hold water.

A Prayer for Owen Meany & Thoughts on Fiction

My book club is reading A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. I am through the first 100 pages, the book is 300+ pages, and I have learned so much about the characters, I can't believe there is more to the book!

This is a good book, I'm just shocked by how detailed this author is getting. I do not have anything against details, in fact, I'm grateful that Irving is so thorough. When Irving writes "Episcopal priests have made quicker decisions than you." the next four pages are filled with the narrator's anecdotes regarding the Congregational church's pastor and the Episcopalian rector, including how the narrator prefers 'pastors' over 'rectors' because of the connotation of 'rector'. So, while the book is detailed, the anecdotes and back stories are so engaging I hardly realize that one particular aside has gone on for four pages!

I prefer fiction, as anyone who knows me knows. It's not that I don't appreciate self-improvement, and non-fiction books, I just look at those as work. With fiction I get a mini-vacation from current time and place. While recently reading The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis I was transported to early 20th Century London and then onto young Narnia. What a wonderful trip I had!

I really feel that people who read only non-fiction are missing so much in life. The imagination keeps us young and lively. I always learn a little something about life and people from reading fiction, especially literature. But even the shallow-fiction that I read every so often provide me with such enjoyment that I can hardly not talk about it!

Reagan & I go to the movies-First Time!

I took Reagan to a movie today. We saw "Curious George". This was her first time to the movies. She did pretty good. We went potty before the movie started, but after chugging her drink to wash down the mountain of popcorn, she needed to go to the bathroom before the movie was entirely over. And then she had a total meltdown because she a) didn't get to say good-bye to her friend, Ryan, and b) had to walk to the car. I learned a couple of things from this first visit.

1. Make sure your child wears comfortable shoes.
Why? Well, although the theater is designed for sitting, it does require a bit of walking from the parking lot. And then all that walking/running down the aisle and stairs and the trips to the bathroom and then back to the car, well, let's just say, comfortable shoes would have been a good forethought. Although I understand the importance of dressing for fashion, Regan's not quite that accepting yet. Actually, I should have realized that her shoes didn't even fit! Let alone were they comfortable. Let this be a lesson for all of us parents.

2. Bring snacks, and stick with them.
I knew I didn't want to buy the popcorn, but when my friend's mom gave Reagan some of hers, I didn't have the heart to say no. However, I should have either rejected the nice offer, or rationed out the popcorn. I missed the ending to the adorable movie because of another trip to the restroom. Oh well, parenting is all about sacrifice.

Those are really my two rules to live by when going out to a movie. We will be going to movies every Tuesday for the next 9 weeks. This should be a fun summer!

Funny Video Clip

Let it not be said that I do not have a sense of humor regarding the War on Terror taking place in Iraq. Here is a video clip from "Mad TV". Very funny!

Althought entirely wrong, it's so funny, I couldn't help laughing out loud!

Let this be evidence that this Conservatives does not take herself too seriously!

Settlers of Catan

Settlers of Catan is perhaps one of the best board games since Risk. Everyone who learns it loves it!

Our friends the Gordons came over last night and we played a round. For the second time, one of the Gordons beat Erik and I. We have been playing this game for over 5 years! And they just learned it!

Oh well. It is fun and we love to play it with our friends. Thanks Michelle and Ryan for coming over and beating us at our own game! Of course, here it is, almost 10 am and I'm still tired. We've got to get faster at this game! I'm exhausted!

Republicanism and I are going Separate Ways

I can no longer call myself a Republican. I can not believe this!

I am a CONSERVATIVE! I hope that eventually the Republicans come back to their Conservative Roots, but until then, I will not give money or time to any Republicans.

I'm especially disappointed in Jon Kyl. And this just breaks my heart to say, but he has let down the Conservative base. By being for this immigration reform (yeah, right, let's just call it amnesty), he is going to be hurting next time around. His campaign this last November was about standing up to the Illegal Immigrant crowd. What happened? Here is a link for the exchange between Jon Kyl and Hugh Hewitt.

I will now be identifying myself as a Conservative! Not a Republican...

Immigration Reform, Sure it is...

Well, I am in an uproar! What is going on in the Republican party?

[Here is a picture of the bill, not yet completed. It's almost 1000 pages! Yikes! What a waste of time and paper! (I don't think that looks like recylced paper-any environmentalists up in arms?)]

First, the Congress is going to jam down our throats, without following any of the Senate procedures, something called Comprehensive Immigration Reform. What it does is grant legal status to illegal immigrants. So, it doesn't grant citizenship, but it provides for a short-cut to citizenship!

What about all the other people who have immigrated through the proper channels? What about the persons who have waited in the lines and hired the lawyers and went through the monster INS? They are being, dare I say it, disenfranchised! This bill tells them that they wasted their time and money following our laws! Furthermore, this bill CHEAPENS those of us who are already citizens. American Citizenship is open to EVERYONE, as long as they go through the proper procedures. Why don't they fix the procedures?

And really! What about our own laws? Do we even care that everyone on Capital Hill seems to think that it's okay to break laws? I DO!!!! What the devil? Who are the Republicans talking to? Surely they are not talking to the base.

Newt Gingrich said (I'm paraphrasing), we are allowing people to become citizens, persons who have first broke our laws. I'm asking, if these people already have no disregard for the law, why are we letting them in????!!!!! They will probably continue to have little to no care for our laws. Our prisons will be stuffed (which I think they already are). Now, that is not to say that all illegals are vagrants, but you see my point. You can not be a subjective rule breaker! The law can not work that way. A law not enforced has no power and loses all effectiveness.