Defying Gravity

Police to Reunite

2007-01-30T16:00:00.000-05:00

Very exciting news in the world of The Police. They announced today that they'll be the opening act at the Grammy Awards on February 11th.

Do you think they'll coalesce again after 23 years apart? We'll see soon enough.

Obama in the presidential mix

2007-01-16T14:51:00.000-05:00

Scary Mary

2006-12-21T15:20:00.000-05:00

A new take on the beloved Mary Poppins:

Home Depot Receives Indian Giver of the Year Award

2006-12-21T14:22:00.000-05:00

Its the holiday season, a time when employers grace their employees with free luncheons, dinners, parties and if you're lucky, a nice bonus check. It's a great time of year for employers to say "thank you" for a job well done during the year that was.

I remember at my last job I got a nice case of wine! Nothing says thank you like bottles and bottles of wine. At my current job we had a holiday party complete with open bar and a live band. I also received a nice bonus to boot. It not only makes me feel appreciated but it makes me want to be a better employee and I look forward to 2007 with enthusiasm and great anticipation.

I realized last night that others don't have it so easy. One of my greatest and bestest friends, who I shall call Emily Green for these purposes, shared with me what her employer bought her as a way to say thanks for a great year.

Emily works for EXPO Design Center, a subsidiary of The Home Depot. By all accounts, EXPO is a fabulous place but I was shocked to learn that Home Depot employees received a 20 percent-off discount at Home Depot as its holiday gift to employees.

So basically CEO Bob Nardelli turned his employee gifts into a present for himself and the entire Home Depot franchise! What a crock of shit! I told Emily last night that it would be one thing if he tacked on the 20 percent off "gift" onto some other present like the jelly of the month club but no such luck.

The ironic part is that while perusing the Home Depot website, I discovered Home Depot sure does like to boast its record of community service. You guys have sure donated a lot of time and money to help others! This is commendable but Mr. Nardelli, what about your employees? What have you done to inspire them? What have you done to encourage them? What have you done to express your appreciation for their hard work?

Now I realize Nardelli can't fly his thousands of employees to Hawaii like Oprah did but its all about priorities. It is clear to me that he cares little about his foot soldiers. It is something I would expect out of a city government for the love of God but not a growing household name like Home Depot. Heck, my hometown in Texas has three Home Depots! Not bad for a population of 90,000.

The Home Depot's overarching business strategy is simple: "Throughout the Company’s many businesses and in each community it serves, Nardelli is committed to fulfilling The Home Depot’s core purpose: Improve Everything We Touch."

I suggest to Nardelli that next year he put a little more heart and soul into rewarding the folks who help him improve everything they touch day in and day out. In turn, his employees will be happy and appreciated and will end up giving back to him in the long run anyway.

_________________
This will probably be my last post until 2007. Merry Christmas to all and let's defy gravity in 2007 like never before!

Time's Person of the Year

2006-12-19T17:18:00.000-05:00

oneparkave says it best when it comes to TIME's Person of the Year. Also, take note that Blog PI predicted TIME's person of the year back in October, complete with a photo-shopped version of the cover. I think he deserves to be TIME's person of the year.

Metro: Wake up and Get Creative for the Love of God

2006-12-18T17:03:00.000-05:00

I am more than outraged at Metro's plan to raise fares to alleviate the financially strapped transit company. It would be one thing if the quality of the experience was satisfactory. I am the type who will pay more for quality but Metro has no business raising fairs to provide a service that is less than par.

I'm not going to focus on all of Metro's shortcomings but I will suggest that Metro and its Board of Directors get a little creative and not pass the burden to its dedicated riders who, don't forget, are its constituents.

I think it's high time for the subway to allow food, drink and news vendors to set up shop at its stations. Charge them a fee or tax them to have access to thirsty and hungry commuters and tourists. I know, there goes our clean trains but desperate times calls for, well, you know.
Eliminate more of the seats on the trains. Eliminating the seats means more people can fit. I've been on one of the newer models where they've done this exact thing but more seats need to go.
Charge more for the permit spots at the remote parking lots. I read that metro wants to add more permit spots but I would suggest raising the rate from $45 a month to $75 for the spots. I park in Vienna everyday and there are always dozens of those permit spots open. Adding more at the same price certainly won't encourage more people to buy the permits.

These are just a few suggestions but when there is a budget crisis, it behooves the board to get creative and not disenfranchise its customers. The last thing we need is more cars on the road but if it becomes more expensive for me to drive to work than ride metro, so be it.

The Downfall of the iPod

2006-12-07T17:00:00.000-05:00

Yes, I'm addicted to my iPod. I use it everyday during my commute to work. However, I swear they were made to break after 1-2 years. I have a handful of friends who also subscribe to this theory. Iv'e been meaning to blog about this for a long time but here The Wall Street Journal takes a look at the iPod breakdown issue. Let me pull the highlights...

The best-known complaint about the iPod, dating back to its earliest models, is about its battery. Many users grumble that the charge of the lithium-ion battery inside the device appears to get progressively shorter the more they use the music player. Last year, Apple agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit brought by users whose iPods saw significantly diminishing battery life, agreeing to compensate owners of certain early iPod models $25 in cash or with a $50 Apple credit on Apple products.

Hard disks, which are used in higher-end iPods to store songs, can also fail. Bill Torpey, a software developer in New York, says the iPod he bought for his daughter, now in high school, a couple of years ago stopped working after the product's warranty expired, and the hard disk inside of it started making a strange noise.

What does Apple have to say?

Steve Dowling, a spokesman for Apple, based in Cupertino, Calif., says the rates at which iPods fail -- less than 5% -- are "extremely low" compared with other electronics devices. "IPods are designed to last for years, but as with any complex consumer-electronics product such as digital cameras, they can be broken if dropped or mishandled by users," says Mr. Dowling, who adds that the "overwhelming majority" of iPod users are happy with their devices.

I think most people enjoy the iPod so much that they don't care about the product's durability but Apple best be weary of a public backlash.

'Inconvenient Truth' is Horror Movie of 2006

2006-12-07T15:02:00.000-05:00

Over the weekend I finally watched Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth. I've always known global warming to be a serious issue but this movie really shed some light on the immediate danger we face.

Ice caps are melting, seas are raging, storms are devastating. We take for granted our great Earth God created for us to live but if we don't do anything to maintain it, our children will no longer have a place to call home.

Greenhouse gases and pollutents are heating up our Earth. Gore presents fact after fact and proof after proof that the world's inhabitants are creating this problem. The good news is that we can do something to slow the effects. It is not just a problem for the United States to solve but it must be a global effort. The US can lead this fight to save the world, our home.

Go to Climate Crisis and see how you can fight global warming today.

History Lesson: 12 Days of Christmas

2006-12-05T15:35:00.000-05:00

Ever wonder where the song, The 12 Days of Christmas, comes? Dennis Bratcher tells us...

The Twelve Days of Christmas is probably the most misunderstood part of the church year among Christians who are not part of liturgical church traditions. Contrary to much popular belief, these are not the twelve days before Christmas, but in most of the Western Church are the twelve days from Christmas until the beginning of Epiphany (January 6th; the 12 days count from December 25th until January 5th). In some traditions, the first day of Christmas begins on the evening of December 25th but the following day is considered the First Day of Christmas (December 26th).

The origin of the Twelve Days is complicated, and is related to differences in calendars, church traditions, and ways to observe this holy day in various cultures (see Christmas). In the Western church, Epiphany is usually celebrated as the time the Wise Men or Magi arrived to present gifts to the young Jesus (Matt. 2:1-12). Traditionally there were three Magi, probably from the fact of three gifts, even though the biblical narrative never says how many Magi came. In some cultures, especially Hispanic and Latin American culture, January 6th is observed as Three Kings Day, or simply the Day of the Kings (Span: la Fiesta de Reyes, el Dia de los Tres Reyes, or el Dia de los Reyes Magos; Dutch: Driekoningendag). Even though December 25th is celebrated as Christmas in these cultures, January 6th is often the day for giving gifts. In some places it is traditional to give Christmas gifts for each of the Twelve Days of Christmas. Since Eastern Orthodox traditions use a different religious calendar, they celebrate Christmas on January 7th and observe Epiphany or Theophany on January 19th.

By the 16th century, some European and Scandinavian cultures had combined the Twelve Days of Christmas with (sometimes pagan) festivals celebrating the changing of the year. These were usually associated with driving away evil spirits for the start of the new year.

The Twelfth Night is January 5th, the last day of the Christmas Season before Epiphany (January 6th). In some church traditions, January 5th is considered the eleventh Day of Christmas, while the evening of January 5th is still counted as the Twelfth Night, the beginning of the Twelfth day of Christmas the following day. Twelfth Night often included feasting along with the removal of Christmas decorations. French and English celebrations of Twelfth Night included a King's Cake, remembering the visit of the Three Magi, and ale or wine (a King's Cake is part of the observance of Mardi Gras in French Catholic culture of the Southern USA). In some cultures, the King's Cake was part of the celebration of the day of Epiphany.

The popular song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is usually seen as simply a nonsense song for children. However, some have suggested that it is a song of Christian instruction dating to the 16th century religious wars in England, with hidden references to the basic teachings of the Faith. They contend that it was a mnemonic device to teach the catechism to youngsters. The "true love" mentioned in the song is not an earthly suitor, but refers to God Himself. The "me" who receives the presents refers to every baptized person who is part of the Christian Faith. Each of the "days" represents some aspect of the Christian Faith that was important for children to learn.

However, many have questioned the historical accuracy of this origin of the song The Twelve Days of Christmas. It seems that some have made an issue out of trying to debunk this as an "urban myth," some in the name of historical accuracy and some out of personal agendas. There is little "hard" evidence available either way. Some church historians affirm this account as basically accurate, while others point out apparent historical discrepancies. However, the "evidence" on both sides is mostly in logical deduction and probabilities. One internet site devoted to debunking hoaxes and legends says that, "there is no substantive evidence to demonstrate that the song 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' was created or used as a secret means of preserving tenets of the Catholic faith, or that this claim is anything but a fanciful modern day speculation. . .." What is omitted is that there is no "substantive evidence" that will disprove it either.

It is certainly possible that this view of the song is legendary or anecdotal. Without corroboration and in the absence of "substantive evidence," we probably should not take rigid positions on either side and turn the song into a crusade for personal opinions. That would do more to violate the spirit of Christmas than the song is worth. So, for the sake of historical accuracy, we need to acknowledge this uncertainty.

However, on another level, this uncertainty should not prevent us from using the song in celebration of Christmas. Many of the symbols of Christianity were not originally religious, including even the present date of Christmas, but were appropriated from contemporary culture by the Christian Faith as vehicles of worship and proclamation. Perhaps, when all is said and done, historical accuracy is not really the point. Perhaps more important is that Christians can celebrate their rich heritage, and God's grace, through one more avenue this Christmas. Now, when they hear what they once thought was a secular "nonsense song," they will be reminded in one more way of the grace of God working in transforming ways in their lives and in our world. After all, is that not the meaning of Christmas anyway?

A big thank you goes out to THE VOICE for providing this fascinating content.

Gay couples hope holidays bring gift of marriage rights

2006-12-05T12:40:00.000-05:00

I just read a poignant op-ed that appeared in the Baltimore Sun on Dec. 1st. Maryland's highest court heard closing arguments yesterday in a case where 17 individuals are challenging Maryland's gay marriage ban.

For me, the title of "marriage" is irrelevant. It is more important for me to be afforded the same rights as married couples. Call it a "civil union", call it "life partnered" or whatever. All I ask is to be granted the same rights and privileges as my straight counterparts.

The Maryland resident so clearly states:

The consequences of exclusion from marriage for the eight same-sex couples and one widower in Deane and Polyak are much more stark. Immigration, taxation, decision-making in medical crises, rights after death, child custody. Each circumstance is painful, each story heartbreaking. In Maryland, more than 1,000 rights and responsibilities are given to couples as a result of being married. Same-sex couples are excluded from these rights and responsibilities. It has a huge impact on the lives of the 17 people involved in the lawsuit. It has had a huge impact on my life.

When those 17 people stand before the Court of Appeals in Annapolis on Monday, they will stand for thousands of us in Maryland. According to the most recent U.S. census, there were more than 11,500 same-sex households in Maryland. Even a conservative estimate of the total number of gay and lesbian people in the state would be more than 150,000.

I'm moving to Virginia on Friday and I'm not thrilled about the lack of gay rights in the Commonwealth but just like other gay couples in the country we will have to make do "until our lives and our relationship are so utterly ordinary that they cannot be denied."

Obama Caught in Culture Clash

2006-12-04T16:20:00.000-05:00

On Saturday I happened to catch ABC's World News podcast from Friday afternoon and one of the segments in particular caught my eye. They did a story about Barack Obama and how he's been speaking to churches and meeting with Christian leaders about compassion and helping the poor and impoverished. Doesn't sound bad does it?

What struck me was that a specific Christian right group - the name escapes me - was critical of Obama for steering Christians away from the more important issues of morality such as same sex marriage and abortion. This group basically said that Christians must keep these as their top priority issues and keep a blind eye on compassion and the poor.

I was flabbergasted. I don't understand why certain members of the extreme right continue to promote issues that are politically divisive and tear our country apart.

Here is your chance, Christians of all parties and races, to join with a leader of our country who wants to put the divisive issues aside and confront the important problems of our world. Compassion has been lacking in this country and abroad and poverty can and should be eliminated.

I just can't comprehend how people who say they're Christians can criticize someone else for actually reaching out to thy neighbor and calling people to help the poor and those in need.

I apologize for not linking to the story. I found it on the ABC news premium video page listed as the same title as this post but of course you've gotta pay to play.

The bottom line is I applaud Barack Obama's effort to court Christians and I think he will do extremely well as our next President. As a compassionate Christian, I am ready to begin the journey with him to unite this country and leave the environment of partisan politics behind.

Christmas Cookie Recipe

2006-11-30T15:17:00.000-05:00

I am actually a pretty good baker and this one is a great stress reliever.

Jose Cuervo Christmas Cookie Recipe

1 cup of water
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup of sugar
1 tsp salt
1 cup of brown sugar
1 tsp lemon juice
4 large eggs
1 cup nuts
2 cups of dried fruit
1 bottle Jose Cuervo Tequilla

Sample the Cuervo to check quality. Take a large bowl, check the Cuervo again, to be sure it is of the highest quality, pour one level cup and drink.

Turn on the electric mixer...Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add one teaspoon of sugar.. Beat again. At this point it's best to make sure the Cuervo is still OK, try another cup,
just in case.

Turn off the mixerer thingy. Break 2 leggs and add to the bowl and
chuck in the cup of dried fruit, Pick the frigging fruit off floor...Mix on the turner. If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaterers just
pry loose with a drewscriver. Sample the Cuervo to check for tonsisticity.

Next, sift two cups of salt, or something. Who giveshz a sheet. Check
the Jose Cuervo. Now shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts. Add table. Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink. Whatever you can find.

Greash the oven. Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over Don't forget to beat off the turner. Finally, throw the bowl out,
finish the Cose Juervo and make sure to put the stove in thedishwasher.

CHERRY MISTMAS!

Reflecting on Thanksgiving

2006-11-27T14:10:00.000-05:00

I feel very refreshed and roaring to go after the long Thanksgiving break. Just a few reflections from this past weekend.

It was 65 degrees and sunny just about every day and the heatwave continues. Truly spectacular sunsets. Only in DC do you see a runner who checks his blackberry while waiting for the stoplight to change. I wish I had a picture to prove it but it's true. I don't know about everyone else but I go running to get away from work and email.

The movie, For Your Consideration, is a funny movie but it's not as good as Christopher Guest's others. Best in Show still rocks my world. Prairie Home Companion is a weird movie but I found it to be timely as it was one of Robert Altman's last films. Also, I must say that Lindsey Lohan's performance in the movie was outstanding. She's a solid actress but if only she can get her personal life together.

I close on my new condo on Friday. The packing has commenced and I look forward to a life of shambles leading up to my move into the Virginia suburbs on December 8th.

One last thought, I discovered my car had a flat tire on Wed. I drove the car a few blocks to get it repaired. While waiting I walked to the grocery store and then home to bake pumpkin pie. Once I move to the suburbs I will never be able to walk to the grocery store and back home again while my car is being repaired. That is one aspect of city life I will miss. However, I will not miss the gunshots that rang outside my window on Friday night around 4:30am.

Musicovery

2006-11-17T13:05:00.000-05:00

I recently discovered a new "radio" site, Musicovery, where you can pick music based on your mood or style. It's kind of confusing but I've only played around on it for a short time. I can't find the stop or pause buttons.

CNN's Lou Dobbs on the midterms

2006-11-09T12:46:00.000-05:00

CNN's Lou Dobbs has a great column suggesting that voters in the midterms told Washington to "shut up and listen." I couldn't agree more.

Voters chose to overturn our current one-party political structure and returned checks and balance to our government. November 7 also demonstrated that the American electorate is far more discerning and independent-minded than either political party or our elites would like to believe.

Election Day was middle-class America's declaration of independence from a Republican-led administration and Congress that for six years has been telling working men and women and their families in this country to shut up, listen up and go to hell.

Faith Hill: Please don't spin

2006-11-09T09:48:00.000-05:00

Faith, I love you but don't try to spin this country music awards debacle as a "joke." You should have known you would be on camera at an awards show. Duh! I would hope that you would apologize to Carrie Underwood who deserved the award for her great vocal talent.

If you have a problem with that I would take it up with her.

That change will do you good

2006-11-08T16:24:00.000-05:00

I just sent this email to a good friend who did his part in Pennsylvania to knock Rick Santorum's ass out of the park.

I am just glowing. I've never been this happy since I first got interested in politics in 2000!

Do you think Bush waited on purpose to see how the elections turned out before he did anything with Rumsfeld? If he had left a year ago, I am almost positive the democrats would not have taken the house. I wonder if he made a deal with Bush promising that he would resign if the dems took over the house?

I think the Democrats will keep Pelosi as speaker for awhile. She's the first female speaker and all. She's also a damn hard worker and a great leader. The bigger question is who will be the majority leader. I'm hoping for Rahm Emanuel or Steny Hoyer but I'm against Frank Murtha. I agree with his position on the war but he is too conservative on social issues for my taste.

Keep in mind that most of the house seats that were picked up are moderate to conservative democrats so Murtha might just be elected but I sure hope not. I think Pelosi will do a good job brokering deals and working with the right and left to get important legislation passed. I'm just so excited that the dems will have a voice again in the "people's house." They basically have been shut out of everything for the past six years. Now let's hope they can set the example of how a majority party should lead.

I'm most happy that Santorum is gone! Great job! Casey is a bump on a log but I think he'll do well in the Senate and he is a saint compared to devil Santorum.

I guess the presidential campaign kicks off today. :)

The mood is so weird in Washington today. For the first time in along time, the Republicans aren't walking around like they own the place...I'm loving every minute of it.

The Wait is Over...Vote Today

2006-11-07T12:03:00.000-05:00

John Mayer's latest single, "Waiting on the World to Change" is a reminder to all young Democrats that we don't have to wait any longer. As he sings:

It's not that we don't care,
We just know that the fight ain't fair
So we keep on waiting
Waiting on the world to change

The tide is turning in this country and it begins today. Here is a link if you need to find your polling place.

Also, if you're under 25 and a member of Facebook, go to this page and let us know you voted today! Show everyone that you care about the future of this country and you exercised your right to vote.

Fun find of the day

2006-11-03T14:49:00.000-05:00

I found this new search site available at simplr/y (simpler, yes!)

Enjoy and have a great weekend!

Study shows wine is not good but GREAT for your health

2006-11-01T16:33:00.000-05:00

Good news for all the winos out there. A new study found that an extract found in wine is better for our health than we thought.

The study by the Harvard Medical School and the National Institute of Aging showed that heavy doses of red wine extract lowered the rate of diabetes, liver problems and other fat-related ill effects in obese mice.

Fat-related deaths dropped 31 percent for obese mice on the supplement, compared to untreated obese mice, and the treated mice also lived long after they should have, the study said.

I wouldn't go home and crack open that box-o-wine just yet. I see no evidence that the study's results can be applied to humans but we are on the right track.

Cheers!

Stewart and Colbert featured in Rolling Stone

2006-11-01T14:48:00.000-05:00

Maureen Dowd writes in this week's Rolling Stone just how Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert might be the most trusted names in news.

I'm trying to upload a photo of the RS cover but Blogger is fucked up right now.

Biden's plan for Iraq

2006-10-30T17:30:00.000-05:00

Repeat post but I want to emphasize that Democrats do have plans to help the situation in Iraq.

Folks, the great Senator from Delaware and Ranking Member of the Foreign Relations Committee, Joe Biden, has a plan for Iraq. Regardless of party, you can't deny the fact that Biden is the only person who has put forth an actionable plan. Great work Senator!

First, the plan calls for maintaining a unified Iraq by decentralizing it and giving Kurds, Shiites and Sunnis their own regions. The central government would be left in charge of common interests, such as border security and the distribution of oil revenue.
Second, it would bind the Sunnis to the deal by guaranteeing them a proportionate share of oil revenue. Each group would have an incentive to maximize oil production, making oil the glue that binds the country together.
Third, the plan would create a massive jobs program while increasing reconstruction aid -- especially from the oil-rich Gulf states -- but tying it to the protection of minority rights.
Fourth, it would convene an international conference that would produce a regional nonaggression pact and create a Contact Group to enforce regional commitments.
Fifth, it would begin the phased redeployment of U.S. forces this year and withdraw most of them by the end of 2007, while maintaining a small follow-on force to keep the neighbors honest and to strike any concentration of terrorists.

Reese and Ryan split-up and George says Dems haven't won yet

2006-10-30T17:17:00.000-05:00

I wasn't sure it was true when I first learned Ryan Phillippe and Reese Witherspoon have split up. Another celebrity couple bites the dust. I just hope the media leave them alone.

In other more serious news, President Bush is warning Democrats that they haven't won yet. Frankly, I think we have but he's right we cannot let our guard down until November 8th. Let's keep our eye on the prize and the rest will fall into place. We will be ready to bring back integredty to the political system and get Congress back to work.

If you haven't seen it yet, check out the Rolling Stone article which states how this Congress was the worst in history.

O'Reilly, New Jersey & Dixie Chicks

2006-10-27T16:37:00.000-05:00

Bill O'Reilly was just on Oprah and I had to throw the remote at the TV and turn it off.

On a lighter note...I applaud the NJ Supreme Court's ruling that the NJ constitution doesn't grant the same rights to gays and lesbians as it does to straight folks. Conservatives say that this ruling will urge social conservatives to come out and vote in large numbers on November 7 but I think the reality is that this issue of gay marriage is not as big of a wedge issue as it once was.

Finally, the Dixie Chicks' documentary, Shut Up and Sing, comes out in theaters this week. It will be released nationwide on November 10. Can't wait! Oh, their CD is excellent and I'm not even a country music fan.

A great escape to the windy city

2006-10-23T16:21:00.000-05:00

It's hard to believe that just yesterday at this time I was enjoying high tea at The Drake hotel off Chicago's Magnificent Mile. Now fantasy land is over and it’s back to the grind but what a great escape it was!

The Chicago Marathon was yesterday. We didn't realize it until we arrived Friday night and everyone kept asking us if we were running on Sunday. Nope, just there to enjoy Chicago in the fall. It was amazing to see 40,000 runners push it to the limits.

I enjoyed seeing Chicago's Museum of Contemporary art and the Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House. I would recommend stopping by both if you get the chance.

Saturday night's dinner at Bin 36 was fabulous. It's a wine and cheese restaurant so naturally, we had to indulge.

It's always fun to vacation like you're some other person. The entire weekend zipped by like an express train ride but oh it was good to get away, even if it was for just over 48 hours.

Weekends with nothing to do are great

2006-10-16T15:37:00.000-05:00

Don't you just love the weekends where nothing is planned and you can get shit done! That was the weekend I had and boy it was great. I actually watched that movie, High School Musical. I know, its for like 10 year old girls but I just had to do it. Cute movie but once was enough for me.

The next three weekends are going to be filled with traveling. First to Chicago, then to Pittsburgh and then to Joplin, Missouri. Oh the fun I have to look forward too!

In the meantime, the election is like 22 days away and we still need to fight the good fight!

Troops to stay in Iraq through 2010

2006-10-11T16:09:00.000-05:00

I just received this letter from the DNC. I'm not a huge fan of the DNC but this is worth a mention. Mr. Bush doesn't have any clue what he's doing with regard to Iraq and he's going to give his mess to the next president while he gallops off into the sunset. Shameful.

Is this what George Bush means when he says we're going to "stay the course?"
MSNBC Breaking News: A.P.: U.S. Army making plans to keep current Iraq troop level through 2010.

The Bush Administration has the wrong strategy for Iraq. Deadlines continue to be extended, and the situation on the ground continues to deteriorate.

We have an opportunity now to elect Democrats who will hold this administration accountable and force a new strategy in Iraq. Winning this election will bring real change on Iraq, and we all know that continuing to follow a failed policy isn't working.

This is the final stretch of the race, and we all need to start sprinting now. Please make a donation to win this election:

http://www.democrats.org/newdirection

The overwhelming majority of Americans want a new direction in Iraq, but this administration is laying plans to keep the same failed course no matter what the people want.

Just as importantly, an unprecedented number of retired generals -- many of whom have been on the ground in Iraq -- agree that the civilian political leadership had the wrong strategy in Iraq since the beginning.

Despite overwhelming evidence that the Republican strategy in Iraq is failing, this administration and the rubber-stamp Republican Congress refuse to do anything about it.

If you want a new direction, you have to participate. It's going to take hundreds of thousands of us giving $20 and $50 each to cut through the right-wing Republican propaganda machine that spreads lies and misinformation. If you can afford to help, now is the time:

http://www.democrats.org/newdirection

Please spread the word to everyone you know that the time has come for a new direction in Iraq.

Change in Iraq starts by electing new leaders here at home, and we've got less than four weeks to make it happen.

Thank you,
Tom

Tom McMahon
Executive Director
Democratic National Committee

In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day

2006-10-03T12:13:00.000-05:00

My paster, Mark Batterson, just released his book, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day: How to Survive and Thrive When Opportunity Roars, this week.

Buy it, read it and rejoice!

More information is available on the Batterson Blog. It's a great pick me up if you're having a rough day.

Hello America, Get Ready to Welcome Number 300 Million

2006-10-02T14:49:00.000-05:00

Since there is already so much talk about the Mark Foley scandal, I thought I would get everyone prepared to welcome our 300th US citizen to our country. (either through birth or immigration)

The population is supposed to cross the 300 million mark sometime around mid-October. Three hundred million people is a lot of people! I'm sure if you live near a big city you are feeling the growth. I know in Washington, DC, you can feel the population stresses on the roads and in shopping centers on a daily basis.

More importantly, the population milestone should have everyone worried about its affect on the environmental, according to a report authored by the non-profit Center for Environment and Population. We are consuming an abundance of natural resources at an unprecedented rate compared to other countries across the world.

Here is an intriguing fact:

Half the continental United States can no longer support its original vegetation; nearly 1,000 plant and animal species are listed by the U.S. government as endangered or threatened, with 85 percent of those due to habitat loss or alteration.

We as Americans are ruining the environment not only for future Americans, but for our global neighbors as well. The pollutions we give off and the energy we consume impact the entire world.

Population growth isn't necessarily a bad thing but maybe its time to step back and look how these numbers play into various policy issues such as the environment, immigration, trade and academic research to name a few.

Terrell Owens Attempts Suicide

2006-09-27T08:26:00.000-05:00

Breaking news out of Dallas' WFAA-TV...

According to a Dallas Police report obtained by news 8, Dallas Cowboys star receiver Terrell Owens attempted suicide Tuesday night. The report also says that Owens was depressed and reportedly took prescription pain pills. A woman companion observed him putting two pills in his mouth. The woman says the prescription of 40 pills was filled on September 18th and until yesterday he'd taken only five pills. According to the police report, Owens was asked if he'd taken the rest of the prescription. Owens said yes. According to the report, police also asked if he was trying to harm himself. Owens answered yes. Terrell Owens was treated at Baylor University Medical Center.

2006-09-25T15:24:00.000-05:00

Kudos to Wonkette who laughed as much as I did when I saw CNN's new politics ticker. What a joke...

TEEN IDOL BREAKS ENGAGEMENT AFTER ONE WEEK … OPRAH’S BEAU, GRAHAM, TALKS RACE WITH LARRY KING … INJURED DOLPHIN MAY GET PROSTHETIC TAIL ….
But it’s not a ticker at all. It’s just a blog with some political stuff.

Get it together CNN!

We will never forget this great Texan

2006-09-20T14:55:00.000-05:00

Excellent New Casey Ad

2006-09-19T16:04:00.000-05:00

This new ad from the Bob Casey campaign is touching, real and different. It sheds some light on his past showing his compassion for students as a teacher in the public school system. This is a guy Pennsylvania needs in a US Senator. Forget that loser Santorum, who lives each day fighting AGAINST human rights and equality.

How Bush missed his opportunity to be the best president ever, over and over again

2006-09-18T12:27:00.000-05:00

Newsweek’s Jonathan Alter writes about how Bush failed to use the political capitol he gained after 9-11. His bottom line is that Bush’s arrogant, my way or the highway, leadership style has messed this country up. He could have defied gravity and lead with greatness but instead, his leadership has brought us to an unwinable war in Iraq with other countries looking to us with disappointing and rolling eyes.

Here is Alter's view of how things could have been.

Our next president has his work cut out to regain our credibility on the world stage.

Google to Promote Banned Books

2006-09-13T16:01:00.000-05:00

I often have beefs with Google but this time I am proud of what they are doing on behalf of Banned Books Week. It's undoubtedly a public relations ploy, but regardless, they have posted a list of 42 books that have been challenged or banned from schools across the country.

Reading expands the mind! Read a book today and defy gravity tomorrow!

Washington Times Endorses Marie Johns For Mayor

2006-09-11T10:49:00.000-05:00

The Washington Times endorsed Marie Johns for Mayor on September 5th.

Read some of her other endorsments.

We need an experienced leader to better DC's services and citizens! Vote Marie Johns on September 12th!

T

DC Voter Guide Contains Incorrect Polling Places

2006-09-08T08:20:00.000-05:00

The DC primary is this Tuesday, Sept. 12th. I thought I was all set and ready to go. I read the voter guide, decided who I was going to vote for and found my polling place. Then I receive a post card yesterday from the DC Board of Elections. It reads:

Due to an error by the contractor responsible for the production and mailing of the 2006 DC Voter Guide you may have received a guide with an incorrect precinct number on the label...The District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics apologizes for the contractor’s error.

I feel frustrated at the mistake in the first place but it infuriates me to no end that the Board of Elections does not take responsibility for the mistake. This is typical of how DC operates. It is never the fault of the city. Now if I contracted out a service for my job and the contractor made a mistake, the fault would be my own.

This is why I am voting for Marie Johns for mayor. She will hold herself and city administrators accountable for the city's errors and incompetence. A Cropp or Fenty administration will only ensure the status quo.

Check the DC Board of Elections website for more infomration.

Hands Off The Constitutions; An expert looks at how not to ban gay marriage

2006-09-07T16:41:00.000-05:00

A conservative circuit court judge wrote an interesting opinion piece in this week's Washington Post. He does not write in support of gay marriage. Rather, he takes to task how gay marriage opponents are hijacking constitutions to get their way.

The Framers meant our Constitution to establish a structure of government and to provide individuals certain inalienable rights against the state. They certainly did not envision our Constitution as a place to restrict rights or enact public policies, as the Federal Marriage Amendment does.
Ordinary legislation -- not constitutional amendments -- should express the community's view that marriage "shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman." To use the Constitution for prescriptions of policy is to shackle future generations that should have the same right as ours to enact policies of their own. To use the Constitution as a forum for even our most favored views strikes a blow of uncommon harshness upon disfavored groups, in this case gay citizens who would never see this country's founding charter as their own.

Americans are Smarter than Bush's Propaganda

2006-09-01T10:51:00.000-05:00

I am just moments from kicking off the Labor Day Weekend! Happy Friday! But first I just have to rant about our President. He is on a circuit tour promoting this war in Iraq, in which he created, and saying if we don’t win the war, we will lose the war on terror. He even went so far as to compare this fight against our enemies in Iraq to the Nazis.

He links together the many sectarian groups in Iraq with Al Qaeda as our “enemies of liberty.” Thankfully, ABC World News last night said that lumping these groups together is not accurate. In fact, some of the insurgents in Iraq have actually fought Al Qaeda and ran them out of town in some cases.

Our President cannot admit his failed policies and is using this war as a political tool to excite the Republican base by linking the war in Iraq to the “global war on terror.” I know we as Americans are smarter enough to see that we need a new policy with regard to Iraq.

I can’t wait until Congress returns from break and the Democrats push a vote of no confidence in Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. This week Rumsfeld compared critics of the war in Iraq to appeasers of Adolf Hitler. Outrageous!!

God help our troops!

The Emmy Awards

2006-08-28T14:15:00.000-05:00

I must say, TiVo has made award show watching far more appealing. Don't get me wrong, I catch every major award show with or without TiVo but now I'm not forced to sit through three hours of commercials. I started watching the show about 45-50 minutes after it started and caught up to live TV in the last half hour.

This year's ceremony was pretty good. Conan was a great host overall but the controversy surrounding his opening "crash" skit is simply absurd. There were a number of other one-liners that were far more offensive than that skit. It was a spoof on Lost, one of the best shows on TV so let's all get a grip. Celebrate the winners and the tributes to Dick Clark and Aaron Spelling! Conan's sing and dance routine at the beginning of the show was creative and well done. I can't wait until he takes over for Jay at The Tonigth Show.

The line of the night went to Helen Mirren when she won for best actress in a mini-series. She said she, "almost fell hand over tit on the way up here." Hilarious!

Congratulations to the winners!

DRAMA SERIES
24

COMEDY SERIES
The Office

ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Kiefer Sutherland, 24

ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Alan Alda, The West Wing

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Blythe Danner, Huff

ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Tony Shalhoub, Monk

ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine

Onto the MTV Video Music Awards, this Thursday at 8pm(EDT)

The Secret Front-Runner for President

2006-08-25T09:19:00.000-05:00

The Hotline's Chuck Todd writes about an '08 presidential front runner and no, its not Hillary Clinton, Mark Warner or Evan Bayh. I really think he's on to something!

Biden's plan for Iraq

2006-08-25T09:11:00.000-05:00

Folks, the great Senator from Delaware and Ranking Member of the Foreign Relations Committee, Joe Biden, has a plan for Iraq. Regardless of party, you can't deny the fact that Biden is the only person who has put forth an actionable plan. Great work Senator!

First, the plan calls for maintaining a unified Iraq by decentralizing it and giving Kurds, Shiites and Sunnis their own regions. The central government would be left in charge of common interests, such as border security and the distribution of oil revenue.
Second, it would bind the Sunnis to the deal by guaranteeing them a proportionate share of oil revenue. Each group would have an incentive to maximize oil production, making oil the glue that binds the country together.
Third, the plan would create a massive jobs program while increasing reconstruction aid -- especially from the oil-rich Gulf states -- but tying it to the protection of minority rights.
Fourth, it would convene an international conference that would produce a regional nonaggression pact and create a Contact Group to enforce regional commitments.
Fifth, it would begin the phased redeployment of U.S. forces this year and withdraw most of them by the end of 2007, while maintaining a small follow-on force to keep the neighbors honest and to strike any concentration of terrorists.
Read the entire opinion from the Senator at The Washington Post.

The Fertility Gap

2006-08-23T12:09:00.000-05:00

Apparently liberals are losing the fertility or baby gap against conservatives. How much so? View this food for thought segment as aired on this morning's Good Morning America. This is only a theory but it's something to think about when we liberals are thinking about having kids.

A Tearful Time at Subway

2006-08-21T16:27:00.000-05:00

Last night we went to Subway to grab a quick bite to eat. Suddenly, while the sandwich artist was making our sandwiches, my eyes began to sting. About three minutes later, my eyes were gushing with tears streaming down my face. I asked the employee what was going on and he said they were cutting onions in the back room. I could barely pay because my eyes were burning so much.

There were about five of us in the line tearing up like it was the saddest day ever. I could only imagine what the people coming into the Subway were saying when we were leaving with tears dripping down our faces.

Now I'm laughing at the situation but Subway, please cut your onions during off-business hours!

HD Radio is Growing on Me

2006-08-18T13:16:00.000-05:00

The growing popularity of satellite radio has sparked worry in the minds of radio mega giant Clear Channel Communication. As a result, the company invented "HD radio" Until recently, I didn’t have any inclination to switch or even try out this new form of radio but I came across the HD radio website within the last two weeks and I am so excited I did. From this one page site, you can stream a number of HD radio stations from across the country. I do still enjoy listening to a radio station's live broadcast online but when I’m tired of the constant commercials, HD radio offers up a great alternative.

With HD, the sound is great and there are no commercials but the best part about this innovative listening experience is the broad playlists these stations are incorporating to attract new audiences. There are tons of undiscovered artists out there and Clear Channel is helping them gain attention by putting them on these unconventional stations. I am always tired of hearing the same songs over and over and over again so these "alternative" stations are very refreshing.

Apparently, if you have an HD radio receiver you can access these stations from the car or home too and the sound quality is far suppierior to the standard AM and FM stations. Traditional radio has been homogenized to the point that every DJ and song sound the same, event when you jump from city to city. It is no wonder that satellite radio is succeeding.

I am proud of Clear Channel for doing something that is innovative and in the best interest of the listening audience. I am not quite to the point of buying the HD radio receiver but the online streams are making my workday that much more pleasant.

Bloggers Impacting News Coverage

2006-08-18T11:11:00.000-05:00

A great editorial appeared in this week's Capitol Weekly about how the blogosphere is taking on traditional news media and how political coverage is changing as more and more blogs become available to voters. Take a short read at Bloggers provide focus, attention, nuance in political coverage.

My favorite part:

"The rise of local blogospheres is good news for anyone who wants more information, increased choice and a wide variety of opinions from all sides of the political spectrum, and who don't want political reporting that falls back on familiar tropes and content-free process politics. As this new media environment expands, voters will have a wealth of knowledge with which to make decisions on their representatives in government, and the end result can only be positive for democracy."

Weeds

2006-08-15T11:14:00.000-05:00

After months of anticipation, Weeds premiered last night and it was tremendous! Mary-Louise Parker continues to amaze me with her acting abilities. As a sidebar, I am still upset with the Emmy’s that she didn’t even get nominated. Elizabeth Perkins, as Celia, however did get nominated in the Best Supporting Actress in a comedy series category. Anyway, Parker plays an upper-class suburban housewife who deals pot in order to make ends meet after her husband dies suddenly in the first episode last year.

Nancy, played by Parker, struggles daily to raise her boys to have a solid character but like most of us, has tremendous difficulty managing the two teenagers while being the sole breadwinner.

Last night's premiere did not disappoint. Nancy continues to have an edge while her many levels of emotion are unyielding. There is not one character in Weeds without a great deal of depth to their personality. This is a show where the talented ensemble raises the show to perfection. The only beef I have is that it should really be an hour long instead of 30 minutes.

Houseing Prices Dropping!!

2006-08-14T15:45:00.000-05:00

Yes, even in Washington, housing prices are dropping. I know because I am in the market for a house although I still won't be able to afford a single family home. Regardless, I started my search in January and almost cried during my first day out with the realtor. Today, prices have dropped between thirty and fifty thousand dollars.

I knew the housing craze would get to the point where people would be priced out the market. Now things are leveling off to a "normal pace" and those crazy house bidding wars are no more. Thank God!! I hope to buy something at the end of the year and it's looking like my American dream will become a reality!

PS - The second season of WEEDS premiere’s tonight at 10pm EDT on Showtime. I will report back tomorrow.

Lamont won but it's too soon to predict 2006

2006-08-09T11:13:00.000-05:00

Ned Lamont defied gravity. He began as an unknown candidate and trailed Lieberman in the polls for quite awhile. Analysts from Conn. to Calif. will say Lamont won because of the liberal bloggers, otherwise referred to as the ‘netroots’.

What this really boils down to is that the voters voted but the online community spoke loudly and raised Lamont's profile. Bloggers shook an election that would have otherwise been about maintaining the status quo.

It must be said that voters in Connecticut are not a representation of voters throughout this country. Yes, the blogosphere has the ability to propel a candidate and message to a national audience but it's the voters themselves who actually go to the polls. I must caution those that believe this election will force other democratic candidates to mimic Lamont’s positions. This election was held in one state where the message resonated. Look at the Iowa caucuses in 2004. Dean was supposed to sweep but his online community did not turn out a win at the caucus. Why, because his message did not resonate with caucus goers, despite his ‘front-runner’ status.

This election did send a message to the grey-haired consultants and lobbyists in DC that the online community is a powerful force at raising awareness and spreading a message. The community is not going away and should be closely monitored as part of every campaign’s arsenal from here on out.

As a final note, we must realize the primary in Conn. only involved Democrats. How this compares to an election involving Republicans is a different animal to deal with. Most Americans are not extreme left or right. It is clear that the 60 percent of American’s are opposed to the war in Iraq but the Dem’s have yet to propose a solution that addresses the problem.

This is a great New York Times article about the blogosphere’s affect.

UPDATE - This TIME article is great and mirrors what I was trying to say

Goodbye Carolyn Hightower; See you soon

2006-08-08T12:38:00.000-05:00

Wow! I can't believe I now have my own blog. I've heard about these things for some time now so I figured I would jump on the bandwagon. I never dreamed it would be so easy.

For my first posting I will reflect on a small going away party I attended last night for Carolyn Hightower, Deputy Director, Office for Victims of Crime (OVC). This was only my second time meeting Carolyn and I am deeply sad I won't be able to get to know her better as she and her family will be moving to Chile in the coming weeks.

Carolyn has worked for OVC for the past 23 years as a dedicated public servant. The victims rights movement started in 1980s with the Violence Against Women Act and as I learned from her colleagues who flew in from across the country, she is the one that really turned the movement into a profession. Others commented about how she exudes compasion to whom ever she meets, from her colleagues in DC, to her colleagues in the field all the way to the victims themselves. Carolyn has led the fight for victims rights for most of her life. Others commented that she is a life-long learner who is not afraid to learn from her subordinates and take on new experiences.

The evening came to a climax, when Mrs. Hightower spoke herself. She spoke about what really is important in her life..her husband...her two children and asked herself, "Am I giving my all to my husband and children? Or am I giving what's left over?" This was a true wake-up call for me but for others in the room as well.

As I mentioned, this was only my second run-in with Carolyn but I immiediatly could feel the genuine human spirit about her that was a breath of fresh air in an otherwise stuffy government beurocracy.

Carloyn, Thank you for your devoted service to victims. You defyed gravity and made the world a better place because of the work you did. Press on.