whaddyathinkin

Ten years later

2011-09-11T00:12:00.002-05:00

I really thought for a while after 9/11 that things would change, and we'd finally see a nation concerned about security and maybe a sustained embrace of American exceptional-ism. And we did, for a while; maybe a year or so.

We have legions of incompetent cops and night watchmen running around harassing photographers in the name of security; we have the incompetent TSA molesting children and others in the name of security; we have two major actions going on that were started to enhance security, but have long ago lost their way. We have an Islamist trophy shrine being built blocks from the crater; a meaningless feel-good radio antenna going up where those proud buildings once stood; an Islamic-themed memorial on the site where Flight 93 was taken down.

The victims that the savages killed are still dead, and still remembered. Five years ago, I participated in a 9/11 remembrance project, where bloggers who signed up were assigned a victim to post about. I was assigned a man named Bon-seok Koo. He worked for LG Insurance as a branch manager. I tried to find more information about this man when I was assigned him, but I was never able to find more than the brief bio posted in a few places on the internet.

But I realize now I don't need any more information about him. I know with reasonable certainty his wife Yun-Ho loved him and misses him. And I am certain his daughters loved him and miss him. What greater obituary is there than that?

I occasionally see a hit on this blog directed at the post about Mr. Koo. I have no idea who it is, but I wonder sometimes if it is a member of Mr. Koo's family. I hope it helps his family to see that he is not forgotten by at least one other person. I truly hope they have found peace in these years.

His life was stolen by savages in the name of politics and hatred of America and the West. They still hate us just as much. More, with the death of their chief scumbag. The thing we should remember most is that they still want us all dead.

Wow, this thing still works

2011-09-07T09:42:00.001-05:00

Yeah, both of my readers have been really disappointed for the last couple of years that I haven't posted anything. Well, I will try to get back into it.

Never know who'll show up at the ballpark

2009-08-15T14:59:00.004-05:00

Tonight, before the game, as we waited to see if we were going to be rained out, Mark came up to the pressbox with a guest.

Stephen Collins, who played Eric Camden on Seventh Heaven, was apparently just driving through Amarillo, and needed a minor league baseball fix and dropped in to catch a game. He was extremely gracious and posed for pix with everyone in the pressbox and then went down and signed autographs and posed for more pix for quite a while.

And we did get rained out.

Gonna be a quiet baseball season

2009-06-16T00:42:00.004-05:00

You just never know when those close to you are going to leave.

Monday, our PA Announcer, Joe Frank Wheeler, was working on the sound system at the ballpark. Upon reaching the roof, where the broadcast booth and press box is, he collapsed. He apparently had a heart attack. He was 53.

Joe Frank made it fun to work at the ballpark. He had a gift for really bad puns, and also for out and out humor. Sorry, but right now I just can't think of the examples that I am sure will flood my memory as this soaks in. Except, maybe, his comment whenever our opponent managed to load the bases - he optimistically called it 'force at any base.'

Tonight was our opening night. This is my fourth year working for the team, and I think this was the third game I worked where Joe Frank wasn't there.

The trip up to the roof isn't for the faint of heart. I often worry about the older guys who come up to the press box, but I didn't worry about Joe. He had had a heart attack a few years back, I found out tonight. But he didn't ever show it. He had more energy than some of the players.

Joe worked every game like it was a career maker - no matter how tired he was, how small the crowd, or how bad we were getting beat. He absolutely loved his job. He also did PA for the hockey team, but he told me baseball was a lot more fun.

He had a gift for sports trivia. Every home stand, and sometimes more often, he would hit us with some obscure question about college football or the NBA or high school football, and he'd let everyone twist for a few innings until they came up with a guess. Then he'd give them the answer, complete with dates and everything, and I'd wonder, how the hell does he know all this, and why isn't he doing color broadcasting somewhere. This man knew sports, backward and forward.

We won the game tonight, but we lost so much more.

I want to live in Galt's Gulch

2009-04-27T22:39:00.004-05:00

I finally read the book I have wanted to read for a long time, and current events have finally encouraged me to do it.

Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged wasn't the best book I ever read, but it has made me think more than any thing else I have ever read. The comparisons to current events are maybe a bit thin, but there are some striking similarities. Trying not to give anything away to those who have yet to read it, the present day sniveling whiners that we know as liberals are immediately obvious in the book as sniveling, whining looters. The insistance of the looters that logic is overridden by feelings and need, the hatred of success and the successful, and the greed of the government are very recognizable.

Go read it.

Cutting Spending with Spite

2009-04-20T04:10:00.003-05:00

I am in Dallas this week for a training class. I noticed in the Ft. Worth paper this evening that one of the plans to help the city of Arlington make ends meet, they are going to turn off half of the streetlights. This will save $4.50 a month, per light.

To note which lights have been turned off, they are going to mark them with silver tape. So, you can tell the difference between burned out and turned out.

This is how cities and counties get to show how cheap they are. In the face of public demands for cost cutting, they start doing away with frivoloties like police patrols, and fire department funding. And streetlights. Can't afford to lay off the parking valet at the city commisioners court, or the second assistant to the principal's secretary at the middle school.

On the other side of cheapness and greed is D.C.'s idea to impose a new fee. A 'Streetlight User Fee.' $4.25 would be added to your electric bill to help pay for maintining and running the city streetlights.

Some cities are charging citizens for police response. Have a wreck, get a bill for the police showing up. In Amarillo, they don't even show up for some accidents; you do a report by phone, and for a fee, you can have a copy.

Last time I bought something, I paid tax on it. About eight percent. It has been my understanding that cities and states levy taxes on citizen's purchases to pay for infrastructure. There has been an arguement of late that we should replace taxes with user fees. It appears that governments like the idea of user fees. Like it so much, they are just going to add them to the taxes. And have both.

Texas Tea

2009-04-16T12:18:00.027-05:00

Not being a malcontent leftie, and being employed, I am unaccustomed to the "Protest" scene. However, finally one came along that I could believe in - the "Tea Party". These are from the two in Amarillo, Texas.

I went to take pictures, and because I believe in the cause - I have a two year old with a mortgaged future, thanks to our current and past politicians. It was nice to see a lot of passionate people and know I am not the only one unhappy.

This lady walked up to me and asked who I was shooting for, and asked me to take her picture. I didn't read her button at first, and handed her a 'Bailout for the Constitution' button, which she put on. She then started laughing at the protesters, and that's when I read her button - "Hot Chicks Dig Obama"...
She told me this was Fox News organized, there were no blacks there, and Bush was to blame for everything. I asked her why it was the protesters fault why no blacks were there (there were), and she said they would be afraid to go because it was a Republican event, (Republicans hate black people, of course.) She then accused me of being a Republican. (Once more, never been one, thanks for asking). I asked her what was the logic of spending yourself out of debt, and she started with, 'Give it a chance...' or something. Not interested in arguing who really is to blame, (ALL OF THEM), she told me I listened to Limbaugh (some) and Hannity (nope) and watched Fox News. I asked her to tell me if she thought CNN was balanced, (She gives me an eyeroll) and accused her of reading Moveon.org. (She didn't deny it.) She wasn't nasty like a lot of people on the left are, and when it was clear we would not agree, she left, politely. And gave me my button back.

This one is my favorite.

Another clever one.

This girl made her own shirt.

This is the most important sign I saw.

And this was the funniest.

Conservative's Declaration of Independance from the Republican Party

2008-11-04T22:59:00.005-06:00

The Republican Party has long been the home for conservative minded citizens. In recent times, however, it has failed to support the issues important to conservatives, and even promoted issues wholehartedly opposed by conservatives. In the last few decades, the party has become more liberal, to the extent that the current GOP candidate was considered for the opposition party's vice presidential candidate in the election of 2004. The party that once fought the increase in the size of government has instead increased it faster than ever before. The party that once fought for business friendly practices in government has instead allowed more and more regulation of business. The party has allowed the federal government to force states to pay for programs the federal government created, on the threat of withholding money belonging to the citizens. You have allowed the commerce clause in the constitution to be used as a vehicle to force regulation in areas forbidden by the constitution.

You have given us candidates, or allowed candidates to run with no conservative credentials or with no hopes of winning, because it was "Their Turn," and expect conservatives to accept the lesser of two evils, when there are conservative candidates available. For example, Bob Dole, Gerald Ford, John McCain.

You have increased the size of government at every turn, creating new entitlements when it is clear that there are not enough resources to keep the promises already made. For example, prescription drugs.

You continue to support liberal candidates in primaries when more conservative choices are available, even when these candidates refuse to show loyalty to the republican party. For example, Arlen Spectre.

You refuse to secure the border, and are party to the imprisonment of agents attempting to enforce the law, in the intrest of businesses who hire illegals for cheap labor. You refuse to protect citizens of the United States from hundreds of kidnappings and murders along the border. You attempt to give amnesty to people who came here illegally, and refuse to enforce laws punishing employers who employ illegals.

You refuse to uphold your 1994 promise of term limits, after making one attempt at legislation, prefering to maintain the situation where there are members of congress with over forty years in office, when the founding fathers intent was clearly opposed to this.

You refuse to allow energy exploration on our own soil, submitting to the environmental movement, and allow other countries to take resources that belong to the United States.

You take money from special interests and make decisions in their favor which are detrimental to the interests of US Citizens.

You allow membership in the Republican Party to members of congress who routinely vote against the party's wishes, even against major republican party platform issues, in order to maintain the number of 'Rs' in congress. For example, Chaffee, Snowe, Chenoweth, Jeffords, Spectre, McCain.

You refuse to use tools available to you, the same tools used by the opposition party routinely, because you consider their tactics unfair. For example, The gang of thirteen.

You take the attitude with constituents that disagree with you that 'they just don't understand the big picture.' For example, Amnesty, June 2007

You refuse to fight back when attacked by the left, preferring to cowardly "Take the high road".

You allow a system to exist that increases your pay automatically in a cowardly way where you have to vote against automatic increases. You give yourselves pensions and benefits far in excess of what is available in this country for ordinary taxpayers.

Demands for the party that should replace the Republican party as the home of Conservatism;

Adherence to the Constitution.
Term Limits.
Adherence to Major Party Platform Issues for Members.
Balanced Budget.
Defense of the Border.

Now What?

2008-11-04T22:29:00.004-06:00

A few thoughts on the election; Although the outcome is far from what I wanted, there are some bright points to hang on to.

* We probably never need to hear the name McCain again. The Republicans will dig up a new fossil for 2012.

* All those idiots who want Democrats to win so that everyone can
see how bad democrat rule can be, well, here you go.

* I don't expect to ever hear again about how racist this country is.

* Another 'Moderate' Republican goes away. (Sununu)

* Biden. Pure Comedy.

* A Recession is good for Pawn-Shoppers.

* Liberals in control always go so far left they fall over.

* The 'Fairness Doctrine' may force Limbaugh to satellite radio
where I can listen to him on business trips easier.

* McCain is gone. Did I mention that?

* The coming fight between Hillary and Barry.

* The coming fight between Nancy and Barry.

Dillas Win ULB Championship

2008-08-24T17:14:00.020-05:00

One year later

2008-02-18T22:19:00.004-06:00

Abby is now a year old. Everyone told us that time would go into warp drive, and now I believe it.
She is walking like a pro, and can open cabinets and scatter whatever is inside to every corner of the house. She chases the dogs and runs from us. She has a mountain of clothes she has outgrown. She has three teeth and an addiction to french fries. More to come.

Oklahoma got it right

2008-01-10T21:25:00.000-06:00

Oklahoma made up for that stupid 'Oklahoma is OK' slogan with their new law known as '1804'.

1804 is Oklahoma's answer to out of control illegal immigration. Under the bill, several acts that aid illegals are now felonies. For example, providing transportation, sheltering, concealing or harboring them is a felony. No driver's licenses or government IDs, or professional licenses. Those are the big ones, but there are more; denying some public benefits, and providing legal options to legal employees who get canned while employers keep illegals.

It has already survived a couple of challenges, but there will probably be plenty more.

The best part of it is, it's working. Contractors are whining about their 'employees' not showing up.

Some employer groups are preparing challenges to the law. I bet, because this will end their supply of cheap labor, and enforce a little wage pressure on those 'Jobs that Americans won't do'. That slogan is a joke - the truth is, they are 'Jobs Americans won't do, not for that much'.

One of the best parts of this story, in today's USA Today, is about a guy named Simon Navarro. He runs a money wiring service, and used to have 500 customers a day come in to send money back to Mexico and Central America. That number is now down to around a hundred. Cry me a river. Go home, and come back in through the front door.

Merry Christmas

2007-12-23T10:32:00.000-06:00

Ambulance Chasing for Everyone

2007-09-19T22:32:00.000-05:00

I was in a minor accident last week - sitting at a stoplight, minding my own business, when some kid hits me from behind. Didn't really hurt my truck too bad, but it will be in the shop for a while. My neck is a little tweaked, and I can't seem to turn my head to the right anymore. Then there is the whole inconvenience factor, with dealing with insurance and body shops and doctors, and all that.

Add a new inconvenience. When I got home yesterday, I got a call that came up 'Toll Free Call' from 877-805-4590 on my caller id. I answered it, and the lady identified herself and asked me how I was, she had heard about my accident. I assumed she was from Allstate and was going to tell how Allstate was going to handle the claim. No, she wanted to set an appointment for me. I told her I was going to see my doctor, and she started preaching about how doctors don't cure anyone, they just prescribe pills and don't fix anything. I finally figured out the scam - this lady was from a Chiropractor, and they go through police reports looking for accidents, and then they call to tell you how they can document your injuries and maximize your insurance claim. They called me four times. Looking through the caller id, I had another one - 'El Paso Chiro' at 915-629-7246. They called twice.

This is just sad - how desperate for business do you have to be? It reminds me of the scam in Paper Moon. I know it is illegal for lawyers to do this - how is it legal for anyone else to do it?

Six years and no lessons

2007-09-11T17:24:00.000-05:00

I am sure everyone with a blog is writing some sappy sad piece about how sad this anniversary is. Sad it is, but not for the reasons most people are thinking of.

In congress today, we have elected representatives trying to destroy a four star general who has done nothing but serve his country honorably.

We have elected representatives and presidential candidates from both gutless sides trying to second guess the president and the military so they can look thoughtful and compassionate. The left is so invested in this war being lost, if we win it they will have to fold. And they know it.

We have dots to connect; stolen school busses and school bus radios, school blueprints turning up on captured terrorists, terrorist training videos showing how to shoot up schools. We have people stirring up the air marshalls to see what happens. Videotaping refineries and schools and bridges, then disappearing. And then some jackass on the comedy channel tries some performance art/guerilla marketing and we see Homeland Security make a total ass out of itself.

We have an open border and a president who wants to open it more.

What have we learned? We are searching everyone's shoes at the airports, including Grandma's. So, political correctness is being respected, but we aren't doing a damned thing to stop an attack there. Here's a clue; the hijackers, the terrorist acts that have happened worldwide in the last ten years or so have a pretty simple common denominator. P.C. is going to kill us all.

Lots of folks like to make fun of the president's vigilance and the fact that some of us are a little worried. If you are of the opinion that we might be attacked again, you are treated like a nut, a right wing wacko, or a paranoid chicken-little type. Or a neocon, whatever the hell that means.

Bin Laden is warning us again, and appears to be doing the busy work required by islam, the "Religion of Peace", before an attack. He certainly takes this seriously. Shouldn't all of us?

These animals want to kill us. They are exceedingly patient. They want a holy war, and they appear to be teeing things up to start one. I said it then, and I'll say it now; let's get them first.

Shawn Morrison's balancing act

2007-07-08T01:05:00.000-05:00

During a delay at Saturday night's Dilla game, a player decides to entertain the fans.

Looks like the next Max Patkin.

Can't resist posting this one

2007-06-21T15:28:00.000-05:00

More pix of my kid

2007-06-15T11:36:00.000-05:00

Politics as usual

2007-06-06T15:33:00.000-05:00

I'm sick to death of party politics. If you are a politics geek like me, I'm sure you know the Republicans in the senate today voted to support a Kennedy amendment on the Shamnesty bill. See the list here. John Cornyn had an amendment that would bar felons from gaining visas via this piece-o-crap bill. And the gutless republicans like McCain, and Hagel, and Graham voted against it and for Kennedy's bill.

I am done with Republicans. It has been a long time since I claimed to be one, instead choosing to label myself a conservative. But I voted for mostly Republicans, because they are closer to what I believe. I am not a one issue guy, but there have been plenty of issues piling up. Like the drug entitlement. And the spending. And the general gutlessness of the right.

What is the point of choosing a representative, if they ignore the wishes of the voters? They ignore their duty to this country, instead choosing the path of least resistance, or the path paved with contributions. A politicians main job is, as they see it, to get re-elected.

Gimmie term limits.

More on "Every Day is a Photo Shoot"

2007-06-06T00:29:00.000-05:00

Scorching ears

2007-05-07T23:39:00.000-05:00

I know this isn't a new observation; LGF and some other big conservative blogs mentioned it a few months back. But has anyone else noticed the difference in language between left versus right sites?

Seems like most of the time, when I hit a link that goes to a moonbat site, like the DU or Kos, it is mostly run on sentences and fairly inarticulate swearing, reeking of f-bombs. The more conservative sites are usually more well written, and with more, say, 'Family Friendly' language.

Don't call me a hypocrite; I don't claim to be a choirboy. I can and do swear fluently, and with style.

But it seems, well, unseemly to speak this way in public, i.e. the web. If you are expecting strangers to read your writing, it seems to me that it should be coherent, first of all, and classy. I don't see the ranting, filthy swearing one reads on Kos and the others as classy at all. It smacks of playground temper tantrums to me.

The more right/left comparisons I see, the more this trend seems apparent. There is of course some blue language on the conservative sites, mainly in comments. It's nothing like the left's, where the most of the comments and the posts are nasty as a rule.

When did it become OK for debate to be so nasty? I think it comes from weakness; the weakness of their argument, and the weakness of the individuals.

This even extends beyond political discussions; most the anti-adoption types, at least one of whom claims to be a professional writer, write and spell like sixth graders. And swear as prolifically as any construction worker and with all the grace of Rosie O'Donald. When you can't make your point coherently, you descend into name calling and spit-slinging temper tantrums. And the increasingly common death wish.

I don't claim to be a good writer; I muddle along with my High School/Some College education and occasionally use my grammar and spell check. But to put up something you want other people to read, and something that may be read years from now, shouldn't it be correct and tactful? I would hope if someone reads this stuff later on, that they might argue that the point is made, notice it's legibly written, and would let their kid read it. Most of the debate I see I would call PG-13 and steer my kid around it until later.

Dogs Baaaark

2007-04-26T13:55:00.000-05:00

Some people shouldn't be pet owners.

link

I suppose it is possible they wanted a sheepdog...

Spare a square?

2007-04-23T01:07:00.000-05:00

From the global warming crowd, we have more proof that having fame doesn't necessarily mean you have any brains.

Sheryl Crow wants to eliminate paper napkins. She knows people are messy, and need to wipe their faces with something. To replace napkins, she has designed clothing with changeable sleeves. While eating, you wipe with your sleeve, then just change it. Blow your nose on it, too.

More; she wants to put a limit on toilet paper usage;

I propose a limitation be put on how many squares of toilet paper can be used in any one sitting. Now, I don't want to rob any law-abiding American of his or her God-given rights, but I think we are an industrious enough people that we can make it work with only one square per restroom visit, except, of course, on those pesky occasions where 2 to 3 could be required.

And Laurie David provided an example of how little she understands how the world works. She was giving her 'Stop Global Warming' speech as the opening act of a rock concert, and some people weren't happy.

Tonight, I spoke outside the gorgeous Charlottesville pavilion, in front of a couple of thousand slightly inebriated college men (there to see the wonderful Robert Randolph and the Family Band) who were forced to sit through the opening act . . . me. Truly, it was one of the most challenging 20 minutes of my life. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw guys yawning, I heard kids saying "where's the music?" and I think I heard the "b" word. I rushed through the speech and when I walked off the stage I immediately burst into tears.

Those inconsiderate meanies, wanting to hear music at a concert.

Our other surprise was a visit by former Vice President Al Gore who sat and talked with us on the bus about what he hopes to see happen in this country as the stop global warming movement catches fire.

Wouldn't that raise his carbon footprint?

Read the whole WaPo article here.

Gun Free Zones

2007-04-22T23:25:00.000-05:00

How many shootings have there been in gun free zones? The Amish School was a gun-free zone. Virginia Tech was a gun free zone. I am pretty sure NASA is a gun free zone. Columbine probably was, too. Pick some others.

It has always been illegal to drive into the front window of any Luby's. It was also illegal to carry a gun in Texas, which Suzanne Hupp knew. She watched George Hennard shoot and kill her parents, while her gun was locked in the trunk of her car in the parking lot, because she didn't want to break the law.

Add that to the fact it was probably illegal for any of these shooters to be carrying anywhere. I doubt any of these guys were licensed to carry; I imagine at least some of them were felons early on. The Columbine shooters built bombs, which has been illegal for a long time.

I am sure some of them broke some parking restrictions when they went to shoot up their targets.

It was also against the law for them to shoot people.

Once more; every one of these events involved multiple laws being broken. More laws are not going to do anything other than stop a law abiding person from defending themselves.

There is a similarity with suicide bombings here, too; when you don't expect to outlive the event, you really don't care about being prosecuted or serving jail time. That is the whole key, here; some people just don't give a damn about the law. One-gun-a-month laws and high-capacity magazine bans won't inconvenience anyone except those people who choose to obey them. You cannot fix this problem by stopping bullies, or anger management classes, or by taking all the guns away. Ask Britain or Australia.

The shooter at Virginia Tech wasn't even a citizen, but amazingly enough, that does not disqualify him from owning a gun; I would actually agree to that gun restriction. I realize it is unfair to use hindsight, but had authorities in that case had their thumbs out, he would have been locked up for stalking.

The Predictable New York Times

2007-04-16T23:45:00.000-05:00

I do not know anyone who gets news from the New York Times. Among the people I know and respect, the Times is a punchline - more useful to demonstrate media bias than anything else.

We see the disgusting destruction of innocent life today in Virginia. But some on the left immediately see a chance to shill for gun control - and the buzzword this time, the target, is the gun show loophole.

Never mind the fact that the second amendment says specifically there can't be any restrictions on guns. Never mind that no matter what firearm restrictions are passed, there is not any corresponding drop in gun crimes.

There have been laws to reduce gun violence that work - project exile punishes crimes committed with a gun severely. Where it has been used, it works. But the NRA pushed it, and folks on the left can't afford to admit that the NRA might have a workable solution to this problem that does not involve more gun restrictions.

From the lead editorial in the NYT Tuesday: (lifted from Ankle Biting Pundits)

Yesterday’s mass shooting at Virginia Tech — the worst in American history — is another horrifying reminder that some of the gravest dangers Americans face come from killers at home armed with guns that are frighteningly easy to obtain.

Not much is known about the gunman, who killed himself, or about his motives or how he got his weapons, so it is premature to draw too many lessons from this tragedy. But it seems a safe bet that in one way or another, this will turn out to be another instance in which an unstable or criminally minded individual had no trouble arming himself and harming defenseless people.

Our hearts and the hearts of all Americans go out to the victims and their families. Sympathy was not enough at the time of Columbine, and eight years later it is not enough. What is needed, urgently, is stronger controls over the lethal weapons that cause such wasteful carnage and such unbearable loss.

So, it is too soon to know anything, except that we need more gun laws? Here is an idea; enforce the ones you have, and consider more if those don't work. But they would, if enforced.

Plus, isn't it illegal for a person on a student visa to have a gun? What makes you think a law would stop him?

Most bizzarre thing ever thought of

2007-04-16T21:18:00.000-05:00

They want to plug a volcano with poo.

No, really.

The double entendre possibilities alone are enough to love this story

The face of evil

2007-04-13T22:23:00.000-05:00

Stories like this always make the bile rise in my throat.

This 17 year old gave birth to a baby girl on the floor, saw the kid move, and stabbed her one hundred and thirty five times. After that, she bagged the baby up and chucked it into a dumpster. That is nothing short of evil. I defy anyone to defend this behavior, or explain it as anything other than maniacal, pathological evil. All she had to do was drop the kid off anywhere, and be done with it. That's the law; you can, if you want, drop the kid at a hospital, police department, fire station, probably even a post office, and walk away, no questions asked. Kid gets adopted out, mom goes on with her life.

Maybe she had a problem with adoption.

You can find someone to eat anything

2007-04-13T16:48:00.000-05:00

This one you just have to read for yourself

Cry me a river

2007-04-10T01:11:00.000-05:00

In the continuing saga of the decline of society and the feminizing of the world, we have a new page.

In the UK, we now have "Misery Clubs." See the Daily Mail story here.

You go in and cry. They even have a designated slicer, cutting buckets of onions to help bring forth the waterworks. You pay a cover, go in, find a corner, and weep. I guess that's better than crying all balled up in the shower. This way, you can wear your makeup.

Against a backdrop of crashing choral music and candlelight, a group of elaborately costumed young women are dabbing their eyes with a handkerchief, their mascara running to form black rivulets down their cheeks.

Whatthehell?

There is science to back it up, of course; seems like there is always some jackass to back up just about any claim.

It has long been a widely-held belief that crying is therapeutic - and conversely that failure to cry is a danger to our health. Experimental psychologist Alex Goetz, who founded leading health risk management company General Health Inc, says: "Tears serve an important purpose.

"Emotional tears, shed in moments of intense feeling, carry stress hormones and are a way of getting rid of them. Even if crying embarrasses you, it signals that you've reached a level of stress that's detrimental to your health."

Yeah, but shouldn't grief be kind of, well, private? I don't want to see this...

Crying in public seems to have caught on in the United States, too.

Great.

New American website, cryingwhileeating.com allows users to post pictures of themselves weeping into their food alongside a short explanation of the cause of their distress ('global warming', 'always expects the worst and is never disappointed').

I knew global warming would pop up in this story...

"I don't like parties where everyone has fun. I don't want to dance and be cheerful, I'd much rather sit in a corner and mope as it's what I'm good at," he says.

I am thinking some of the Anti-Adoption-Bunny-Boilers like the Lamers wouldn't need the onions.

Happy Easter

2007-04-08T01:04:00.000-05:00

This one is too good to not share.

I guess they couldn't think of anything else

2007-03-20T22:55:00.000-05:00

Finally, a 24 post

2007-03-05T21:25:00.000-06:00

So, I've been watching 24, and thinking, it seems to be played this year. I mean, it has sucked. The plot has been lame, the acting has... lacked... and then there's Cromwell. Gah.

Tonight made up for it. I'll never cut a cigar again without cringing. If you missed it, well, sorry for your luck, but find a copy or a torrent or something. This one was good.

When dad is a photographer,

2007-03-04T06:50:00.000-06:00

Every day is a photo shoot.

What a tough life

2007-02-22T18:41:00.000-06:00

Guess which one is heavier

2007-02-22T18:34:00.000-06:00

She likes this pose

2007-02-17T19:16:00.000-06:00

Everything changes, today, forever

2007-02-15T23:34:00.001-06:00

Because on today, my daughter was born. Meet Abigail Nicole.

This picture at the age of about three minutes.

Another pic; about ten minutes old here, showing five of her ten perfect fingers. Toes are good too.

Abby is 8 pounds, six ounces; twenty inches tall, and has a fourteen and a half inch head, which is why mom was in labor for twelve hours before the doctor threw in the towel and c-sectioned her into the world.

Mom is fine, but dad is still a little shook up at seeing the doctor elbow deep in mom's belly.

Dad was able to administer the first feeding, seen here.

Abby also got her first bath, during which she proved she is as loud as her dad. (She isn't real down with the whole bath thing yet.)

After the bath, we got a good look at some of that amazing hair.

Today's the big day

2007-02-15T01:14:00.000-06:00

Today (Thursday, the 15th) we go in at six am to be induced into labor. The doctor felt like the kid was getting a little big, and with everything else being copacetic and good, she wants the kid born now. So, sometime later today, everything changes. Prayers are gratefully accepted. As soon as there is news, I'll post it here, along with pictures.

I wouldn't pass this car

2007-02-11T22:17:00.000-06:00

Looking for a cradle sheet?

2007-02-11T17:02:00.000-06:00

I have been looking for a sheet for this cradle since I finished it. It is supposed to be a standard size, 18" by 36". But no one has anything for it - just 16" by 28", or something like that. I found plenty of sheets online, but I want it NOW. It dawned on me last night to look at pillowcases - and it just so happens that a king size pillowcase fits it perfectly.

A truly good man moves on

2007-02-02T13:41:00.000-06:00

I found out today a very dear friend of mine has died, from cancer.

Jack Meyers was 56. I met him in 1992. I had just bought my first computer a few months before that, and I figured I knew just about everything about computers, since I could write batch files. Jack had placed an ad in the paper looking for FoxPro programmers. I called the number listed, and we started talking about politics, and Limbaugh, and photography, and finally, something like three hours later, about computers. He asked me what kind of experience I had, and by then I had realized how little I knew, and told him I probably would not be able to do the job. He told me 'Bullcrap. Come get the software, play with it for a while, and call me when you get comfortable with it.' I did just that, and ended up working with him the rest of that summer.There is not much that beats cashing a three thousand dollar part-time paycheck.

Over the next years, we had a lot of marathon conversations about everything under the sun. He told endless stories about traveling the world and going to school - brutal practical jokes he pulled, driving through Turkey, you name it.

When he was diagnosed with (I believe) kidney cancer, he didn't tell me, until it appeared he had it beat. He was in a tiny percentage of people who had beaten it. He found doctors who were willing to try different things, and it seemed to work for a long time. He never whined or bemoaned his cancer, instead he did something about it.

I don't want this to sound like an obit, but I guess that's what this is. But obits never say enough, especially someone like Jack. Unless you knew him, a blog post is not going to show what a truly smart, decent, good man he was.

How sick

2007-02-01T16:36:00.000-06:00

I ran across this story,which is about a woman who wants to have her legs amputated. Nothing wrong with them, no disfigurement, no chronic pain, no reason other than she wants to have them removed. She managed to get it done by destroying her leg with dry ice, forcing doctors to amputate.

As a teenager, in the privacy of my own home, I used to play by myself at being an amputee. I would pretend I had one leg, strapping the other one up behind me and wearing oversize trousers so there was no shape. I knew even then that it wasn't normal, that it wasn't something to share with friends or my parents. But, trussed up like that, I would be quite happy and satisfied for a while.

She speaks of this whole process matter-of-factly, like anyone who has "Body Identity Integrity Disorder" just needs to have limbs hacked off to deal with this problem.

The saddest part of this story?

My youngest child is 10 and the eldest 15, and they do not know the truth about the removal of my leg yet. I told them I had a problem back in March and have had complications since. As a mother, I felt bad about not telling them the truth, especially when I was so ill I thought I might not make it. But now I feel it is better to protect them until they are old enough to understand that this was my choice. They will probably be in their 20s before I reach that point. Maybe they will figure it out for themselves before then, anyway. But I have given so much to my home and family that I feel entitled to do this for myself.

Who allows these people to get like this? Why isn't anyone trying to treat these people? Forget the damage they do to themselves, what are these kids going to see as normalcy now? She did manage to get the job done, after three attempts. Why didn't doctors do something after her first attempt? How about her husband?

Yesterday, I had to go to an apartment to check a phone line. The tenant seemed to be somewhat mentally disabled. When I went inside, I was shocked; the apartment was knee high or worse in trash. I mean trash. Not clutter, but trash. Dumpster trash. There is a path about a boot wide where a person can walk, but otherwise, knee high or higher trash. At first glance, yesterday I thought the kitchen counter was covered with coffee grounds. Today, I had to go back to the same apartment. I noticed it wasn't coffee on the countertop; it was roach and mice droppings. And mold.

How do these people get like this? Someone has to be funding this woman, be it SSI, or a relative, or some charity agency. She spoke of getting out of the run-down apartment complex this spring.

I am told it was after 'One Flew Over The Cukoo's Nest' that congress made it harder to force treatment on people who don't want it. That was when the homeless population exploded. As usual, congress tries to fix something and makes the problem ten-fold worse.

I did some work for a homeless shelter in the '90s, and I noticed a statistic in one of the databases; about 80% of the people served by the shelter stated they were homeless because it was their chosen lifestyle. The caseworkers also had a field in the database where they selected a reason for the clients homelessness; about 90% listed mental illness or substance abuse or addiction. Obviously, very very few sane people would choose this.

I don't think any caring person wants to lock these people up and warehouse them. That'swhat the DNC does ahead of a party convention. But we need to get them some help, so they can enjoy life.

Coolest onsie yet

2007-01-31T21:33:00.000-06:00

The doctor says we probably will have a kid inside of a week, so we went on a bit of a shopping spree tonight. This is the coolest thing we found.

Four weeks to go

2007-01-23T18:50:00.000-06:00

We had another sonogram today, and everything is just peachy. We are looking at a fairly big kid, (seven and a half pounds).

I think I'll call this pose 'The Thinker'

Space for let; kids allowed.

2007-01-22T22:08:00.000-06:00

Again with the crib; here is a shot of one of the base pieces in process;

And here are a few shots of the finished product.

I'll be the first to admit the finish is a little blotchy, and no, it ain't glue stains. I found out a little late that maple is notorious for not taking darker stains evenly; I should have stuck with cherry. Maple sure is easy to work, at least for this amateur woodworker.

Woodworking

2007-01-09T22:19:00.000-06:00

We are six weeks out, and I finally got started on the crib I have always wanted to build.
It is made of 7/8ths maple. This is just the basket - I haven't started the base yet.

Swift

2006-12-13T11:41:00.003-06:00

Yesterday's raid on Swift packing plants around the country has certainly stirred the pot a bit.

All day yesterday on our local news we heard tearjerking stories about how terrible it was. How traumatic is it to give up some ID?

Michelle Malkin has a photo of some punk named Hector Angel giving the finger to the ICE bus. This picture sums up the attitude of employers and illegals quite nicely.

Here's a clue for you; packing plants employ illegals. A lot. Packing plants pay very well and hire just about anyone.

Here's why this was a waste of time; Swift hasn't been charged. As long as there ar no penalties for employing these people, they will find jobs. The only punishment there is for hiring an illegal seems to be the scuttling effect it may have when you are nominated for attorney general. Employers are going to find the cheapest labor they can; it is their goal to cut costs, and labor is the biggest. As long as the employers can call their congressman to stop enforcement (see this) there won't be any enforcement against employers. They even postponed these raids because Swift had customers visiting the plant in Greeley last week. So Swift knew the raid was coming; think there were any tips going out to employees they were afraid to lose? Think all the paperwork was untouched?

Democrats and Republicans both are scared to death of offending Hispanics, and won't do anything to offend potential voters. Term limits, anyone? The raid won't stop the flow of illegals, because these people have nothing to lose. They go back home, and come right back, and find a different employer. Until employers face jail time and fines, this problem is just going to get worse.

Definitions

2006-11-21T16:49:00.000-06:00

Words mean things. Obviously this is true, but that fact seems to be lost these days. The whole gay marriage thing, for example; the word marriage means a specific thing; the union of a man and a woman. Activist judges and gay rights groups want to redefine it.

The word 'mom' has a specific meaning to me. My wife is about to be a mom. She is going to give birth to our child in February, God willing. Not that giving birth makes her a mom. I mean the coming years of raising and nurturing a child will make her a mom, as it will make me a father. Not just a sperm donor.

A little spat I saw on a blog seems to me to make it necessary to define the word. A woman has a family blog showing pictures of her two adopted children. One of the adoption reform/anti adoption crowd left a comment about the kids having two moms, and the mom responded, saying, no, they don't. The antis are in a minor tizzy over the comment. They seem to be in agreement that all adoptees have two moms.

No, they don't. I am not sure of the Wikipedia or Webster's definitions, and I really don't care; some definitions are pretty damn obvious. The instigator in this is claiming she was told she isn't a mother. No one said that. But she claimed the title of mom for the birthmother, and it just isn't so.

They have a biological mother, and a mom. Getting pregnant and carrying a kid to term do not earn you this title. Not killing the kid is appreciated by us pro lifers, and especially by us adoptees, but being a mom is more than letting biology happen. I understand how strong the connection is to a baby when a woman is pregnant, and we have covered ad infinitum how hard it is to give a child up for adoption. But you didn't nurse the kid. You haven't rocked it to sleep, or put on any bandaids and kissed the scars. You haven't helped with the homework, or hugged the grief of a dead pet away. You didn't change any diapers or give any baths. You didn't save any money for college. You did a courageous thing giving the child to someone who could give it a home, and that is honorable. It was probably the right thing. But you aren't a mom, at least not to that kid.

Go Vote (if you're not an idiot)

2006-11-06T21:11:00.000-06:00

OK, we have been hearing about how critical this election is for months. And yes, it is important. We are at a crossroads.

What happens tomorrow will have consequences far beyond the day.

Higher Taxes (Family of 4, making $50k, will pay $2000 more a year in taxes.)

The Minimum Wage Increase (Which will price low capability workers right out of the market.)

The Judiciary (Go look up some 9th circuit rulings.)

Illegal Immigration (Who is more likely to stop it?)

The War.

Call it the war on terror, or The War Against Radical Islam, or The War In Iraq. Doesn't matter, whatever you call it, we have to finish it. Don't tell me we can't win it; all we have to do is decide to win it, and we will.

If we leave, before it is finished, the terrorists win. If we don't finish it, we reinforce the world's impression that we don't finish anything. Now, don't get me wrong, I could not care less what the world thinks of us; if they hate us, fine. But if they see us leave Iraq unfinished, and we flee back home, it means all that has be done to beat us is align with the opposition party, which is what our enemies have done. Before you tell me democrats aren't soft on Terrorism, tell me any terrorist who has a vote isn't hoping for a Democratic win tomorrow. Who is trying to give them rights? Democrats see this as a law and order issue. Conservatives see it as kill them, because they are trying to kill us.

So, if you are a single issue voter, and the right screwed you, get over it. I have tons of problems with the right, especially in the Senate. They want to get along, and protect their jobs, and send home the pork. But they do get it on the war, or at least they think it is in their interest to support it. Support them.

Orson Scott Card gets it

2006-11-06T00:10:00.000-06:00

I have always counted Orson Scott Card's 'Ender' series as some of my favorite books. Ender's Game, Ender's Shadow, and several others. If you have not read them, go get them, if you like really good sci-fi.
His other writing is just as good - this article explains why he's voting the way he is. Go read it here. It is quite long, so take your attention span with you.

Painting the kettle black

2006-10-20T13:32:00.001-05:00

I really get annoyed when the left screams and whines about the right trying to suppress the vote, or trying to "Disenfranchise" people. Whining about not having enough polling places (usually in democrat controlled precints), or wanting people to have ID, or trying to enforce rules in general, is just plain unfair.

Problem is, they are much more active in the pursuit of denying people the right to vote. Over at Wizbang, Jay Tea has a great rundown of several such events.

Dial these numbers

2006-10-10T15:32:00.000-05:00

Last night our truck was broken into. The genuises stole an XM radio, (unusable - turned off) and a cell phone, also unusable and turned off. Before we found out, the punk made a few calls. Feel free to call these numbers and tell them their friend is a scumbag, and stupid to boot.

(806) 223-8964 (2 times)
(806) 382-0746 (2 times)
(806) 335-6162 (12 times)
(806) 576-7555 (1 time)
(806) 626-8990 (1 time)
(806) 570-6507 (1 time)
(806) 290-4817 (1 time)

This number called my phone back while the thief had it: (806) 290-4817.

The cops have the numbers, and will hopefully make an effort to track them down. They are all cell numbers.

The thief also emptied out a prescription bottle full of female hormone and painkiller pills from the late '90s that was in the glove box. Hope they make you sick and die.

And yes, I realize this isn't nearly as cool a story as the stolen sidekick or treo or whatever it was in New York. But they did catch the thief.

New words

2006-10-09T23:57:00.000-05:00

If you like clever vocabulary, check out Buzzwhack. These guys take submissions for new words, and most of them are hilarious. I have managed to get my word accepted on my first attempt at submission. My word is "vindictivity", which is the act of being vindictive, or vendictive activity, or a vindictive act. It should be especially useful in the description of political campaigns. And divorce lawyers.

Finally, a reason to put up a picture

2006-10-04T20:45:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was the halfway point.

The pic is today's sonogram; it is a profile of the kid's head. According to the sono tech, this kid has giant feet, and is 8 days ahead of schedule.

5 Years of Myopia

2006-09-11T15:49:00.001-05:00

I have made no secret of my belief of what we need to do in response to the attack on America that started 5 years ago. We have not fought back in any fashion that seems to indicate a will to win. Blame that on whatever; mismanagement of the war, the refusal of the use of profiling, lack of an easily definable enemy, political correctness. But we have not answered this attack, and I have come to realize, I think we have not yet realized just how serious our situation is.

We govern ultimately through the use of force, loss of freedoms and threat of death. We will imprison or kill you eventually if you violate enough of our laws or threaten our sovereignty violently enough.

But we face an enemy that has no fear of death. In fact, they not only lack a fear of death, they revel in it. Give them this; they are passionate and wholehearted in their hatred of all things not Islam. They mean it. How do you threaten someone, or instill fear in someone, who has no fear or respect for death? They are taught that their death is a glorious thing if they take some of us with them.

Understand this; the war is on. We need to join it, and we need to realize that the enemy is absolutely determined to kill us if we do not submit to them and their religion. This is not about arresting them and trying them in a court of law. The only way to stop them is to exterminate them.

Bon-seok Koo

2006-09-10T10:42:00.002-05:00

On September 11th, 2001, one of the innocent people killed was 42 year old Bon-seok Koo.

He was a branch director at LG Insurance. Mr. Koo resided in River Edge, New Jersey.

As you remember the attack, now ten years ago, remember this man, and the family he left behind. His wife Yun-Ho is trying to raise their daughters.

Game over

2006-08-24T00:46:00.000-05:00

Well, the baseball season is over now. We (The Amarillo Dillas) didn't make the playoffs, but I can't remember enjoying a job more than this part time summer job. The folks I worked with were a genuine blast to be around. I really hope we can do it again next year.

Great Moments in Sports

2006-08-11T00:16:00.000-05:00

To appreciate this story, you have to know a little about the baseball field here in Amarillo. The pressbox is perched atop the grandstand, something like thirty or forty feet above the lower seats.

We have been amusing ourselves in the pressbox at the Dilla baseball games, as the games go slowly at times, by dropping various objects onto the fans. Nothing dangerous, it is mostly scraps or wads of paper. Once a spider, and once a pen (by accident.) The target is anyone's beer cup, preferrably full; secondary targets are any contact with a person, or at least having the object noticed, usually generating a look up. Last night I had a hit, as referenced here.

Tonight we were thoroughly bored, due to a very late start - like 8:40pm, as opposed to the normal 7:05pm. I have had a bit of a stomach problem lately, and have been carrying rolaids for the last few days. One of the mascots for the team took a rolaid I offered and scored a careful direct hit into a half full cup of beer. We could even hear the thonk/splash.

Photojournalism and Photoshop

2006-08-07T15:45:00.000-05:00

If you haven't heard, Reuters is burning down over some agenda-driven journalism and a little ham-fisted photoshop work.

I was in journalism in high school, and I sometimes work as a semiprofessional photographer now. Not in journalism; I shoot some sports and event photography. I use photoshop quite a bit, generally for getting a picture 'just right' or to correct something I missed when I took the shot. (I am also a lazy photographer.)

To alter images this way is perfectly acceptable, in my mind. Some people don't think images in contests should be manipulated at all; I submit that even in conventional photography, there is a good deal that can be done to significantly change basic elements of a picture. Cropping comes to mind. For that matter, photography as the final judge in what happened isn't really that decisive a tool. The photographer can decide what is seen, without ever changing anything after the fact. Digital has just made it easier, and faster.

Journalism is very different, based on the intentions of the person who changes the image. I do not have a problem changing light levels or color balance or cleaning up dust or scratches. But when you add or remove things in an image that change the story told, you are shaping the news to your belief. Just as reporters can lie about quotes and events, you can make an image lie, too. The mainstream media, while perhaps destined to not be as mainstream as time goes on, is doing that now. I believe editorialism has been in broadcast media for decades; and if you don't think the media is slanted, I am not going to waste my breath trying to convince you.

The emergence of the new media, specifically blogs, has a chance at waking up the old media; when the major news outlets put up something that is not completely factual, the blogs will call BS pretty quick. Little Green Footballs, among others, caught this episode. LGF also proved without a doubt the Dan Rather memos were amateurish creations, typed up by some political hack with default Microsoft Word settings. Other blogs have shown other photos from the current war in Lebanon are staged. There is now an army of bloggers looking at every photograph out of the area now, and you can bet that when something that does not fit the known facts is found, blogs will point it out.

A project for all you bloggers

2006-08-06T00:42:00.000-05:00

The fifth anniversary of 9/11 is coming up, and a blogger has come up with what I think is a neat idea to mark this particular milestone.

Over at 2,926 you can get all the details, but to sum it up, each blogger that signs up is assigned a name of one of the people who were murdered on 9/11. Next month, on September 11th, you put up a post honoring that person. Simple enough, except that the date is only a month away, and they only have about half of the names assigned. So, you guys need to get over there, get a name, do a bit of googling and put up a post. We need to not forget what happened, and we need to not forget those people.

Fatherhoodism

2006-08-01T12:47:00.000-05:00

I was at my wife's workplace for lunch today. Yesterday she finally told everyone we were expecting so I got all the handshakes and hugs. One of the ladies she works with mentioned to me that they were going to 'get me ready for fatherhoodism.'

I have been kicking around the idea of being someone's dad for a long time, but it hadn't really hit home until the last couple of weeks. Just now, with that remark, it seems... well, huge. Wow.

How do you prepare for something like this? I figure you can't. You just have to be. All your priorities change, protectionism kicks in, all of that kind of stuff. If you don't take it seriously, you end up producing a person no one likes. Get it right and not much else will matter.

Today makes eleven weeks.

How proportional do you want it?

2006-07-27T23:53:00.000-05:00

Everyone keeps telling Israel to use proportional force.

This fight is extremely disproportionate, but in the favor of the terrorists; they are not wearing uniforms, so they can disappear into the crowds they hide behind. They are not bound by any rules, like, don't shoot at ambulances. They will shoot from places of worship, and God help whoever returns fire. As I said before, knock a chip of paint off of an outhouse in the middle east, and you have 'Desecrated one of Islam's holiest shrines'. Every city is 'The Holy City of...' They shoot from hospitals, or even among UN 'Observers', then scream foul when Israel shoots back anyway. The press is invaribly forgiving of the terrorists tactics, explaining that this is the only way they can score kills. Yet they are unforgiving when Israel takes out one of the children these scumbags hide behind.

When the terrorists have a prisoner, they always seem to demand Israel trade twenty or fifty or hundreds of their guys in custody to get the Isreali back. So, by their math, one of Israel's guys is worth twenty or fifty or hundreds of theirs? How proportional is that? They do the same thing to us in Iraq, unless they chop up the prisoner first. Given the apparent value to humanity these people show, I think their disproportionate math is probably justified.

It occurs to me that what people seem to want when they ask for 'Proportionate Response' is a war that ends in a tie. Just like the scoreless soccer and football that liberals like to play, they want the wars, if you must have them, to be even and fair. Sorry, but a 'fair' fight is the one that I win. I am sure the Japanese didn't think the nukes we hit them with was 'proportional', but they damn well gave up, too. The Germans probably didn't think we were being fair, either. Tough.

The best measure of force to use is enough to win. Convincingly.

The New Israeli War

2006-07-25T00:08:00.000-05:00

The tag line of this blog has been 'It's 1939 all over again' for months, almost since I started it. It is more and more apparent that this is true to me. The similarities are significant. I am not one to scream the sky is falling, but there is reason to pay attention to what is going on.

We have seen a week or so of the new Israeli War. I really thought it would happen sooner, but everyone keeps telling Israel not to over-react, and to moderate it's response.

Exactly what is the response to a teenager, male or female, who is taught to hate Israel with every breath from birth, who then straps on a shirt full of C-4 and walks into a daycare and kills twenty people? The explosive vest is probably packed with nails coated with fecal material. Or ball bearings.

President Bush has said that where terrorists are harbored, we will consider those that give them safe haven enemies. Why shouldn't Lebanon face the same music? They have allowed Hezbollah to be there. Same for Syria and Hamas. Seems to me that if your guest is shooting at the neighbors house, the neighbor has every right to burn your house down. And if you cannot get rid of that guest because of your own weakness, then your neighbor has a duty to his house to do it for you.

These people (Hezbollah and Hamas) have no other reason to exist other than to kill Jews. How can you reason with anyone who's stated purpose, whose sole reason to exist, is to extinguish you? How can you live with people who do not want to live themselves?

Islam is forever stuck in the fourth century. It is apparently immune to reformation. How can the world live with a group who demands we see the world their way?

You need to listen up and watch what is going on. The news from the middle east is repetitive and ugly and hard to listen to. No one wants to hear another story about people cutting somebody's head off while they scream. But you need to know just what these savages are capable of. You need to know that if they could they would do it right here in Texas. Or Montana. Or New York City.

Instead of telling Israel to exercise restraint, we need to cheer them and back them. That is one less battle for us to fight in this coming war.

The Flight 93 "Memorial"

2006-07-11T16:52:00.000-05:00

I am not a big fan of memorials placed where bad things have happened. The OKC Memorial is the only example I have seen in person; it is beyond maudlin. I do understand that they provide closure or whatever. I am of the school that says if you need a memorial at the World Trade Center, put it on the 110th floor of the rebuilt towers, next to the Patriot missile battery. Or you could engrave all the names on the anti-aircraft guns and be done with it. But put the towers back up.

The 'Crescent of Embrace' planned for Shanksville is nothing but a memorial to the scumbags who hijacked Flight 93.

This is beyond just being a tacky memorial. There are elements of this design that seem to be directed towards honoring Islam; for example, the crescent in the design points towards the big cube in Mecca within a couple of degrees; it is a mihrab, which is a crescent muslims use to orient themselves so they can point towards the cube to pray. Also, a line drawn across the crescent seems to point at the terrorists target - DC. The crescent is even red, built using imported trees. One of the other elements is forty-four glass blocks showing the flight path in the design, which seems to indicate the number of people on Flight 93 - including the terrorists.

There have been a couple of changes made since the first introduction of this memorial; it is 'The Bowl of Embrace' instead of the crescent. Some trees were added, but there is no significant change.

There is more info here.

If you'd like to voice a comment on this memorial, you can go here.

It's started

2006-07-11T12:30:00.000-05:00

The morning sickness, that is. I can't imagine how miserable this must be. Since we found out, my wife has been a little nauseous. The favorite phrase seems to be, "I don't feel so good..." followed by, "You know what sounds good?"...

The cravings haven't been strange, but thet are apparently strong. Tacos, for one. At 11PM. Gotta have some tacos.

She has never been one to whine, so I can imagine it must be pretty uncomfortable. The doctor told us that this is a good sign. OK, and I am sure after the kid is born, we'll look back and laugh, and all that, but for now, this looks to be quite an ordeal for her. Glad it's not me. I do whine.

July 4, 2006

2006-07-04T17:05:00.000-05:00

Here we are, at 230. Say what you want about us; this is still the greatest country on earth. Happy birthday.

Miles and Miles and Montana

2006-06-29T15:34:00.000-05:00

Just got back Tuesday night from Montana - quick trip to meet Grandma, Aunt D and Uncle M and a few others.

What a cool trip. 1300 miles or so, each way, sure, but worth every mile. Everyone was genuinely happy to welcome us (my wife and I) to the family. I was given a handmade quilt by my Grandmother that is probably my prize possession - it surely is the most personal gift I have ever received.

We stayed in a genuine log cabin that my Aunt and my late grandfather built. There is also a ten acre lake that he also created on the property, and the family sells fishing permits on it.

Sunday we went to Glacier National Park and spent the day. I took about 400 pictures. All keepers. Absolutely amazing place. I am told by my Aunt D that she is the owner of the park. She certainly knows it like the back of her hand. If you want to see an amazing place, check out Yellowstone or Yosemite. Glacier is too hard to get to, and it is just too much for most people. I want it all for me.

Top this all to find out early last week we are expecting - finally. February 20th, to be exact. What a nice suprise for the new family, to be adding a kid for them to spoil.

Saw the sonogram pix today - we are in the size-of-a-grain-of-rice stage, but he/she already has a heartbeat. I feel ten feet tall.

Time to raise a little hell

2006-06-21T12:36:00.001-05:00

Read this and tell me why we have an illegal immigration problem.

Shocker: Dixie Chicks gon't get Patriotism

2006-06-17T14:53:00.000-05:00

In the latest of a series of exhibitions of Natalie Maines' intelligence, she admits that the importance of patriotism escapes her.

"The entire country may disagree with me, but I don't understand the necessity for patriotism," Maines resumes, through gritted teeth. "Why do you have to be a patriot? About what? This land is our land? Why? You can like where you live and like your life, but as for loving the whole country… I don't see why people care about patriotism."

Read the whole story at the Telegraph.

Magellan Roadmate 300

2006-06-16T13:36:00.000-05:00

I just bought a Roadmate 300 - one of the older ones. Been wanting one of these for years, and I saw a good deal on an 'open box special'. The seller assured me it worked, and it does - syncs up and tracks. Looks like a great unit. But I did not get the software that comes with the unit to download detailed street maps. I assumed I could download this from Magellan, or call them up and get a CD.

I called, and was told that the CD isn't free. I don't know how much it costs, because I had called tech support, and the person rudely told me I needed to call sales. After at least ten calls at fifteen minutes apiece on hold, listening to the worst on hold music ever, I gave up.

Why would anyone pay for this? It comes with the unit, and does not work with anything else. The tech support rep told me they had to charge for it because "I might have stolen it." Huh?!

As you can guess, this is a "no-returns deal." Call it a $275 lesson that Magellan has the worst customer service I have seen in a while, and this will be my last Magellan purchase.

***

Update: Finally talked to a human in C/S, and they told me they would send it right out, and the tech support moron was wrong about charging for the software.

Poor neglected blog

2006-06-12T14:31:00.000-05:00

OK, OK, I lied when I said I would post... two or three weeks ago. Sorry. I do have a life, and a job. In fact, I have three jobs now. I can't afford to spend my whole freaking life working on this.

On baseball; I had forgotten how much I loved baseball. I grew up working for a minor league team, doing groundkeeping, running the scoreboard, that type of stuff. The team left in 1982, and I kind of lost interest in baseball, especially after the strikes.

A friend is running the team here this year, and I asked him for a job running the scoreboard.

Next week is the drive up to Montana to meet my brand new extended family - a grandmother, and aunt and an uncle, plus their families. Looks like 24 hours drive time, done in shifts. Can't wait.

The anti adoption wackos are still out there, and they are still crying in their showers and stalking their kids. They finally quit harassing me, though, so I am thankful for that.

More later. I gotta go to my Zarqawi's Dead party.

Last 24 post

2006-05-22T12:50:00.000-05:00

Tonight will be a very sad night; the last 24 episode for, what, nine months? Better enjoy it. I suspect this one will be pretty good. Logan goes to jail, so he can be used next year. That's my only guess. Except that they manage to recover the recording. Hell, I don't know.

Mexico pulls the shark card

2006-05-16T22:33:00.000-05:00

Mexico said today if the National Guard troops on the border rough up any of their expatriots, they will sue us.

"If there is a real wave of rights abuses, if we see the National Guard starting to directly participate in detaining people ... we would immediately start filing lawsuits through our consulates," Foreign Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez told a Mexico City radio station. He did not offer further details.

"Mexican officials worry the crackdown will lead to more deaths..."

So keep 'em home.

Whole story here.

Sad part of this is, some scumbag lawyer, or rather some dozens of scumbag lawyers, will be willing to take the cases.

No more tears

2006-05-15T21:34:00.000-05:00

My wife just emailed me, from New York City. She told me the most interesting thing she did today was visit "Ground Zero".

She said there wasn't much to see, just a big fenced off area. The gravity of what had happened there made her cry. The saddest part is that she looked around and she was the only one crying.

I hate it that we seem to have forgotten.

The Immigration Speech

2006-05-15T19:52:00.000-05:00

I'll have to admit, as a conservative, I haven't been real happy with the Republicans lately, and I have not been happy with the president. I still support him, and the speech tonight went a long way on restoring my faith in his conservative credentials. If he follows through, and if the weasels on the left and right allow him to have what he wants, I think it will work.
Problem is, both sides in congress will be scared to death that they are going to alienate a voter somewhere, and they are worried that they might lose some contributions from the scumbag companies that are hiring these people. Companies like Tyson, and Cargill, and the motels, and whoever the hell else that cannot do business by paying decent wages.
It isn't about jobs Americans won't do, it's about companies that can't exist legally.

24 Post

2006-05-15T17:16:00.000-05:00

Let's see, where are we...the recording is gone, surely Chloe made a copy? President Weasel didn't off himself... Bet we get a new arrest warrant for Jack.

Courage

2006-05-13T00:00:00.001-05:00

There used to be some shame attached to getting knocked up before marriage. Single mothers were usually widows, or at least divorced.
Now it is just no big deal. I know probably five girls I went to school with that had kids while in school. Grandma and grandpa usually raised the kid. And the kids are uniformly screwed up. I know adults now, too, who I know were were raised by one parent, and they are pretty much a bunch of maladjusted mooching insecure loosers.
You people over at the anti-adoption sites keep whining about me calling single mothers less than perfect. Show me a normal kid from a single parent family and I will show you fifty more that are disasters. Kids need two parents, and there is no disputing it. It is just a fact. I am sure the kid would not be unloved, but he is handicapped.
So the whole 'Keep the kid no matter what' arguement is nothing but selfish. The only reason to not give up a kid in this situation is so you can prove 'I can do it' to whoever. Your shortcomings that led you to screw and get pregnant are probably related to a lack of self confidence, and keeping the kid represents an opportunity to prove yourself. It is nothing but an ego trip.
So you have a kid, and probably grandma gets to do some free babysitting while you wait tables. And try to go to school. And have a personal life. Sure.
I am fully aware that it is possible to successfully raise a kid by yourself. There are exceptions to the rule. I think they are rare miracles.
Giving up a child is not about survival. It is not about coercion, or shame. It is about courage. The right thing to do in a difficult situation is usually the hardest thing to do. If you gave up a child, you probably did the right thing. You knew you could not do it alone, and you trusted someone to do it for you, that could do it better. Stop the whining about being forced to give your child up. Stop crying all the time and trying to make the rest of us feel sorry for your choices. You could have changed your mind anywhere along the line. Stop stalking the parents and your ex-kids. You are not going to help anyone but yourself by popping in on someone else's family. Live your own life, and if your ex-kid wants to meet up when they are grown up, fine. The parents of your kid don't need you to pass judgement on them, either.
The winner is not the new parents, or the biological mother. The winner is the child, who is raised by someone who stood in line for years and paid thousands of dollars for the privelage of raising a human. Our responsibility to humanity is to raise more good humans, and it is a team effort.

24 post

2006-05-08T17:10:00.000-05:00

OK, OK, I know there haven't been many new posts, but I will get some new ones up this week. And it won't all be about the anti-adoption wackos, either.

For now, tonight's 24 episode; will the plane be shot down? No. Someone will get the recording again from Jack, and this time it'll get destroyed. Chloe gets caught, too.

24: Doctor One-arm

2006-05-01T12:48:00.000-05:00

Where did he come from? Last I heard, a helicopter fell on him.

So, what's it gonna be? Jack hijacks a diplomatic flight? That should go over well...

May 1: A good day for shopping

2006-04-30T23:36:00.000-05:00

Planning a big ticket purchase? Make it tomorrow (May 1). This is the day our uninvited guests have selected to show us how bad it will be if they drop out of sight. They intend to not purchase anything or go to school or work. Should be a little easier to park, or get into the emergency room. Hospitals may lose less money tomorrow. Maybe if you get into an accident, the chances will be better that the person who hits you will have insurance. Except that the illegals will be driving anyway, to go to their protests.
If this sounds bigoted, sorry. I am done with illegal immigrants telling me how they have a right to break into my home and steal. No se puede! GO HOME!

How many words does it take?

2006-04-27T09:35:00.000-05:00

Congressman Tom Tancredo of Colorado has a blog. This is shamelessly stolen from it;

Pythagorean theorem: 24 words

The Lord's Prayer: 66 words

Archimedes' Principle: 67 words

The 10 Commandments: 179 words

The Gettysburg Address: 286 words

The Declaration of Independence: 1,300 words

U.S. Government regulations on the sale of cabbage: 26911 words

24 post: Predictions, anyone?

2006-04-24T19:26:00.000-05:00

I say Martha is dead. Or put away somewhere, firmly.

Palmer's brother may be a goner, too.

And the secret service guy, he is... not dead, but hurt bad. Or dead. Yeah, he's probably dead.

Standard 24 links:

Blogs for Bauer - Usually live blogging the episode every Monday.

Dave Berry - Usually a 24 thread here.

Light posting

2006-04-24T19:22:00.000-05:00

Posting has been a little scarce - we are in the process of installing a sprinkler system and laying down sod. This is a good job for illegal immagrants to do, 'cause I damn sure don't want to. But I am too cheap to pay someone else to do it.

Listen to those who know

2006-04-20T08:19:00.000-05:00

I noticed on the anti-adopters' blogs they are mostly pro-choice. They also uniformly feel guilty for giving up children into adoption. The kicker for me is, some of them have also had abortions, and don't really seem to feel anything about that.

The Washington Times has an article about the fact that women who have had abortions tend to back abortion bans. By something like 99 to 1.

I know there is a suicide connection to abortion, and there seems to be a breast cancer link, too. Other business in American with consequences like abortion has is knee deep in regulations and warnings and disclaimers, but abortion has a bye on that.

Wizbang has more on the storyhere.

24 Thread

2006-04-17T08:50:00.001-05:00

My mom just sent me a 24 mousepad, and a checkbook cover. And a dry-erase board. She kept the keychain, though.

I feel like a ten year old.

No live blog tonight, but feel free to post your ideas on tonights episode.

Taxes...

2006-04-17T08:44:00.000-05:00

...suck. This year I had to farm out the processing of our tax return. I could have done it, but it is a more complicated return than I am used to, and I want someone to go to the audit with me.

You'd think that the genuises that write this crap could understand it. But no, they hire people to do their taxes, too. See here.

24 More

2006-04-10T14:52:00.000-05:00

I can't even remember what happened last week...

Oh yeah, the Prez... He can't be dirty and gutless. I think that whole thread is a distraction, just like Audrey.

Here's an idea. There is a protest going on here, over immigration. If they can get enough folks together for that, I think we could get enough people together to march and demand Kim's death.

Jack Bauer links again;

Blogs for Bauer - Usually live blogging the episode every Monday.

Dave Berry - Usually a 24 thread here.

I think I will try to live blog it...

Here we go...

11:00PM Martial law...

11:04PM Logan IS dirty!!

11:06PM Dr. Jack Bauer... Paging Dr. Bauer...

11:08PM Wow, Logan really is dirty...

11:10PM Wow, Logan really is an SOB...

11:12PM Wow, Cruella is clever... Bet it doesn't work.

11:20PM So we'll see Audrey's dad next week.

11:22PM Crap, the tracer worked...

11:23PM Oh, she found it. Told you!

11:23PM Bet there's two tracers.

11:32PM Crap, phone call, what did I miss?

11:37PM Bet the banker dies.

11:38PM Robocop, you suck.

11:41PM Martha will castrate him now... Again.

11:45PM Martha knows he's lying...

11:47PM Anita Hill is gonna bust it wide open...

11:48PM Yeah, right, they are trying to kill Jack. Sure, Wilbur.

11:50PM The banker just figured out Logan sucks.

11:55PM Yea, Chloe, try to look guilty.

11:56PM Chloe fuzzin the sats... Cool.

11:57PM She's so smooth.

11:58PM Why doesn't Jack call someone with the audio on the tape?

11:58PM Banker dead. Told you. (OK, easy prediction.)

12:00 Whew.

Hybrids clogging HOV lanes

2006-04-10T14:40:00.000-05:00

California recently decided to allow hybrid drivers to use the HOV lanes. It isn't going well, because they drive slower.

Carpoolers accuse them of driving too slowly in order to maximize their fuel efficiency, and of clogging diamond lanes that were once clear.

Typical. Thinking only of themselves and their fuel efficency, and slowing the rest of us down.

"There's a mentality out there that we're a bunch of liberal hippies...

You are.

"...or we're trying to make some statement on the environment..."

You're not?

said Travis Ruff, a real estate agent from Newbury Park who drives a Toyota Prius. "People are a lot less friendly than when I drove a Mercedes."

That is because a Mercedes is not a hippie car.

Read it all here.

Guilt and choices

2006-04-05T23:37:00.000-05:00

Reading a lot of the anti-adoption blogs, I noticed a common thread that I finally realized explains the passion of these people.

Guilt.

Guilt is probably the most useless emotion there is. Why in the hell would they feel guilty? I have always heard the hard thing to do is usually the right thing. In most cases, I think if you are thinking of giving a kid up, you probably need to, because you are probably thinking about giving it up because you don't think you can raise the kid successfully. If you think that you probably can't.

Some of the blogs don't specifically mention feeling guilty. Most do. This saddens me, because they are being unfair to themselves. I don't see any reason whatsoever to feel guilt for giving up a child for adoption. I know it is natural to feel it, and I can't understand the depth of what they feel. Saying they shouldn't feel guilt is not going to assuage the feeling. But to give up a child should not be seen as something done selfishly, it is something done with a great amount of courage. I am not talking about the losers, the "Nuts and sluts" as one blog put it, women that give up a child due to substance abuse or mental health problems. But even those women have to be applauded for making a choice that, at least in the end, is unselfish. I have another family member that is adopted. My dad told me the family member's biological mother was a drunk. Not an alcoholic, just a worthless stinking drunk. I am sure she is dead now, given the math, and I am sure he is better off not ever knowing her. What she did may have been to her at the time simply convenience, but she did the right thing. It took courage at some level. No mother gives up a child, or aborts one, without feeling something, I hope.

I think some of them may feel this way because they were able to pull it together after being in a bad situation, and realized that they could have been a parent after all, and they want to prove it. Most of the bloggers have children, in fact, and seem to be very loving parents.

They want to destroy closed adoption because they can't stand the thought of having a kid they can't see. The curiousity must be unbearable, and I suspect that explains their passion. I would think that having a kid in front of you that needs you would temper the obscession over the adopted-out kid, but I am sure the mother urge is strong even when it isn't your kid anymore.

Iran is teeing themselves up

2006-04-05T23:21:00.000-05:00

Little Green Footballs notes a story here about Iran making noise about closing the Straits of Hormuz. The whole story is here at Iranfocus.

This would seem to me to be a major whoopsie for the mullahs. If they tried this, about half of the world (the half that matters) would come down on them like never before. I kind of hope they try it, and just maybe we can clean out the whole stinking region.

What the hell is Anahuac?

2006-04-05T23:10:00.000-05:00

I ran across one of the most offensive websites I have ever seen this morning.

I knew that the anti-immigration reform crowd was pretty well organized, but I had no idea how delusional they were.

These pictures are a warning. I don't see how you can look at this and not be a little worried about their plans for America.

Go here to see for yourself.

Immigration 'Reform' and Democrat games

2006-04-03T19:25:00.001-05:00

Follow this: The dems are screaming that the repubs are trying to make it a felony to break into the U.S.

Well, the origonal bill made it a felony. The republicans tried to clear that provision from the bill. The democrats defeated that attempt.

Apparently, they want this to use as ammo when this debate gets closer to election time.

See this.

24

2006-04-03T15:01:00.000-05:00

Predictions, anyone?

BTW, I sure hope Jack isn't dead. [Snort]

13 Frequently Asked Questions About Illegal Immigration

2006-03-31T15:03:00.000-06:00

If you care anything about the whole illegal immigration debate, you need to go here.

Savaging Catholics

2006-03-31T11:53:00.000-06:00

I sometimes listen to Michael Savage's radio show, on the way home from work. Usually just about ten minutes of it; that's about all I can handle. I believe he is crashing in ratings, and it is pretty funny to listen to the desperation as he attacks Limbaugh and Hannity and the rest.

Monday I was listening when he made his anti-Catholic rant, and he lost me forever.

This is going to be interesting

2006-03-31T08:49:00.000-06:00

Near Tuscon, students raised a Mexican flag, over the American flag at a school. Other students took the Mexican flag down and torched it. The whole story is here and here.

When we see some jerk torching the American flag, it's freedom of speech. We have to "understand" how mad the torchers are. I can't wait to see how "understanding" everyone is.

An unwanted reunion

2006-03-30T11:22:00.000-06:00

I am sure the majority of people involved in adoption reunions are perfectly normal and sane people. Stories like this fascinating and scary thread are a great arguement for mutual consent on reunions, though.

Protesting for entertainment

2006-03-28T23:21:00.000-06:00

Anyone else sick of the whole immigration debate? I am tired of the debate for the simple fact that it is so obvious that nothing is going to change. The Right is scared to death they will be called bigots. The Left is ready to open the doors to anyone who wants to be here. Both sides are looking at Hispanics as the next big voting block to pander to. Businesses that hire illegals are paying off both sides, and meanwhile anyone that wants to is walking across the border and getting free education and free health care, and the taxpayers are paying for it.

Mexico is running ads in American media demanding we allow more immigration. Forget about how arrogant that is, what does that say about Mexico? Shouldn't they at least be saying, "It really isn't that bad here?"

The protesters in LA are waving Mexican flags around. Doesn't sound like they care much for assimilating into out culture, does it?

Michelle Malkin has a story and picture that is absolutely infuriating. Protesters in California put up a Mexican flag over an upside-down American flag to protest. How respectful.

It seems to me that a lot of the protests you see (on whatever subject) are nothing but school kids looking for a reason to ditch. Kids have a right to speak their piece, but I doubt these kids in LA or Dallas have any clue what they are talking about.

Seems like a lot of people have a lot of time to protest. Don't these people have jobs? Shouldn't the students be in school? There are people who do nothing but go to protests. What a sweet gig that must be. These people always know where the courthouses are.

The debate should be about American identity, I think. We are all made up of other countries, of course. Few of us can go back more than a hundred years, or maybe a hundred and fifty. Immigration made us great, and it will continue to do so. But there is an American culture, and there is such a thing as American sovereignty. The country is obviously worth protecting, since we have so very many people who want to be here.

The country's duty is to Americans, first.

Those of us who were born here, and pay our taxes and follow the laws. Politicians seem to be so worried about trying to make everyone happy. They want to make sure they can come back to Washington next year. Every day I pray for term limits to somehow come back. There should not be such a thing as a career in politics.

If you want to be here, there are a set of rules to follow. One of them is follow the immigration process. I do not care where you come from, and I welcome you, if you follow the law.

There is probably going to be another amnesty. I know they are saying it isn't an amnesty, but how the hell else can you break into the country and get to stay legally? It is so simple to me that once you have broken a law, you obviously don't have any respect for the law, and you forfeit any 'right' you have to be here. If you are here illegally, you need to be deported.

If the whole issue is about jobs that Americans won't do, then some prices need to go up. If the cost of eliminating illegal immigrants is higher prices on our lettuce and landscaping, then so be it. The market will adjust. Free market forces will determine the prices. If a head of lettuce is going to cost four dollars, so be it.

24 once again

2006-03-27T13:11:00.000-06:00

So, will Audrey get her fingernails pulled out?

Some Jack Bauer links;

Blogs for Bauer - Live blogging tonight's episode

Dave Berry - Usually a 24 thread here.

Jack Bauer Facts

OK, Stupidest way to commit suicide: Use a stungun on Jack Bauer.

Statistics and Choices

2006-03-24T23:50:00.000-06:00

Since the whole debate last week with the anti-adoption and/or open records people I have been motivated to do a lot of research and analysis. The original adoption story is here, and there was more discussion here, here, and here.

Over the last week I have read dozens of anti-adoption and adoption reform articles on blogs written by women who regret their decision to varying degrees.

I am sick of the whole phrase "Anti-adoption". I cannot believe that any sane person would want to end adoption. How many children who would be born into poverty and would be unwelcomed, does it take to convince you it is an asinine idea?

I suspect most of these women who despise adoption are miserable because they suspect their adopted kids are happier than they are, and it is painfully apparent after a few years that they don't need them. I know nothing about post-partem depression, but I suspect it is part of the problem.

Almost all said they were pressured into adoption. The women who said family pressured them into it are screaming for adoption reform. This seems curious to me; it sounds like they need family advice reform, if they are unhappy with the advice or pressure they got. I still have to come back to basic personal responsibility, and recognizing the consequences of your actions; you signed the papers, lady.

Some were very young; in fact, one was fourteen. Now, it may be presumptuous of me to say it, but a fourteen year old has absolutely no business raising a kid.

Teenagers usually make lousy parents. 10% of teenage girls get pregnant every year. That's a million a year. Of those, a third end the pregnancy. Some 14% miscarry. Half have the child, and three fourths of those are illegitimate. 80% of these are below the poverty level and end up on welfare. The teen birthrate in America is the highest in the world; how about that sexual revolution? Sex ed has not helped much.

All those new kids have a lot in common;

They have more health problems.

More likely to be premature and have low birth weight - by 50% - doubling the chance of learning disabilities.

A complete family is going to have a much better chance of dealing with these problems.

Assuming they are kept by the biological mother;

The children are far more likely to be abused, abandoned and neglected

They are 2 to 3 times more likely to run away from home.

The girls who keep the kid are not without their problems;

7 of 10 drop out of high school.

They earn about half of the poverty level.

The dads have problems too:

They finish eleventh grade. The national average gets 13 years of education.

About $5k less a year in wages.

'Open' adoption is favored by a lot of these women, to the exclusion of 'closed adoption'. I have thought quite a bit about this, not being sure if it is better or not. Women who have had open adoptions seem to be complaining that they are not able to see the child as much as promised.

One study done in the early 90's found that of biological mothers who gave up their child, 18 in open adoption and 41 in confidential adoptions, they found that biological mothers in open adoptions were far more troubled than those in traditional closed adoptions. There were problems of social maladjustment, sleep disorders, physical symptoms, despair and attempted suicide.

It seems to me that having an extra parent around is going to confuse the relationships for the child. It is indisputable that basic family structure is the best possible environment for a kid - and an extra mom coming around is just more complication. There are lots of anecdotal type stories about how the biological mother gradually turned into a stalker, so to speak, when allowed to be part of the family. They gradually attempted more and more control over the child, many up to the point of restraining order.

Closed adoption has problems, too, of course. Some adopted children wonder why their biological mother gave them up. The common belief is that the biological mother had problems of one sort or another, or was simply too young to be a successful parent, or was unable to locate the father. The children sometimes have feelings of abandonment, and are depressed apparently over the lack of contact. Most of these seem to be due to problems with the adoptive family.

The most amazing thing is that all of these anti-adoption people are vehemently pro-choice. Several exercised their choice. Sorry, but I am unable to follow the "logic" that the subjects are unrelated. I do not understand how you can have an abortion, then later give another kid up for adoption, and then feel remorse - for the adoption.

One woman writes about a depressed friend she met while in therapy, apparently both are "bi-polar". The friend is depressed because she had an abortion.

"...She herself was an adoptee, with her own hurt surrounding her biological mother's failure to care for her--and yet SHE felt that, somehow, I was a good person for carrying my baby to term, and for staying in contact... while she felt guilty for simply terminating a pregnancy."

"Simply terminating a pregnancy." That line amazes me. Ignore the argument about whether or not it should be legal, or whose rights we are talking about - it isn't really arguable that a life has been ended. I would hope that there would be a little guilt. How the hell can it be "Simply?"

An acquaintance of mind makes the argument that abortion may be a good thing; a woman that would have an abortion perhaps should not become a mother.

Abortion has a few statistics, too, but you don't hear them. Like increasing the risk of breast cancer. Have an abortion before 18, and your risk goes up 150%. If you have breast cancer in your family, and you abort a kid after you are thirty, your risk goes up 270%. Your "Suicidal Ideation", or just thinking about offing yourself, goes up 60%. Teenagers are ten times more likely to attempt suicide if they have had an abortion.

I come away after reading dozens of these blogs (anti-adoption, adoption reform, open records, and/or pro-choice) with the distinct impression that they believe it is far better to have an abortion than give up a child for adoption.

There seems to be a word they are fond of - "Firstmom". Sorry, but there is more to being a mom than biology. In my mind, the term mother is to be earned.

Another one is mad because when she said something about 'her child', who she had given up for adoption, someone else pointed out to her, "It isn't your child anymore." Well, it isn't, in the sense that 'your' child is one that you raise.