As Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn once said, “Gradually it was disclosed to me that the line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either, but right through every human heart, and through all human hearts.”

An interesting perspective for all of those grappling with the thought of rejoicing over a death.

Our words have consequences

http://now.org/press/01-11/01-08.html

"Conservatives cannot have it both ways, screaming sexist, racist and homophobic slurs at legislators as they vote for health care reform, putting legislators on a violence-inciting "Targets" list, and then simply saying how sorry they are when someone explodes into murder."

Further proof that I'm a true Independent.

... that both major political parties are pretty much full of hooey - and all they do is try to make sure "their side" wins, regardless of truth or whether or not a certain position is really a realistic option.

that Google Chrome is a kick-ass browser. Sorry Firefox.

So abc.com wouldn't let me sign in to vote and maintain my DWTS addiction. I was feeling oppressed. Or repressed. Whichever.

KC:
Come and see the violence inherent in the system. Help! Help! I'm being
repressed!

ABC.com:
Bloody peasant!

KC:
Oh, what a giveaway! Did you hear that? Did you hear that, eh? That's
what I'm on about! Did you see that television giant repressing me? You saw it, Didn't
you?

So then I discovered Google Chrome. Aaahh. Glorious. Fast. Easy. And I voted. 1 for Ochocinco, because he's adorable. 1 for Evan Lysacek, because he's also adorable. And 3 for Erin Andrews. Because she's a kick-ass female. And can dance too.

...that I remember having to listen to all of Reagan and Bush Sr.'s crap throughout Elementary and Junior High. And guess what? I learned to think for myself! I think I saw someone else somewhere say, "What a great lesson to teach kids - don't ever listen to someone else whose opinions differ from your own." Talk about indoctrination....

I read the planned speech on whitehouse.gov - it's really just about staying in school, working hard, etc. I guess some people don't like the idea of the President telling kids what they "should" do. But isn't that sort of an indirect role of a nation's figurehead? There are both practical and ceremonial purposes for any nation's leader (which is why some nations have more than one - to fulfill separate functions). In this particular case, the leader of this nation addressing children in school and encouraging them to work hard and remember their responsibilities as future American citizens is in itself a lesson in government, citizenship, and becoming a functioning contributor to a society that was at one time built on work ethic and independence.

The more this country widens the divide in politics - makes government a love it/hate it hot-button topic - the greater the harm to the nation as a whole. Like it or not, we are not islands in any sense - not individually, not in our municipalities, states or globally as one nation independent of any actions of others. There is a great service to be found in government for the people and by the people, and the more people follow the advice of the Glenn Becks or the Keith Olbermanns, the less that can be accomplished for the good of the nation.

For the past 220 years, this country has had a President as both ceremonial and political leader. Whether you agree with his ideas or not, there is nothing wrong with saying to a child, "This is our nation's leader. He has some ideas about how our country should work. Some day you will learn enough to decide for yourself how you think the country should work. But for today, he wants to talk about how you, even as a child, can make a difference in your life and in the life of your country. What do you think about that?" And anyone who thinks that any child in a public school is not capable of understanding, or shouldn't be exposed to such topics, severely underestimates the ability of that child to comprehend and to grasp in their own mind what the wonderful gift of being an American means to them.

What super cool fun balloons are! My sister dragged my exhausted and haggard looking self to Applebee's, of all places (worked there for waaayy too long...) because there was a balloon man. not a man made of balloons, per se, but he used them to make many fabulous animals and characters. And hats and toys and all kinds of things. I'm going back next Tuesday without kids so i can keep the balloons all to myself, ha ha ha ha!

And I also learned that people I barely worked with still remember me. I'm like a living legend of the Applebee. I want my picture on the wall next to Kirk Heinrich's.