Book Worm

So I haven't read a lot lately, but here is a list of books I have/have not read. Some of them were great (1984), some were awful (Crime and Punishment) some I refuse to read (Harry Potter) and some I would like to (Catch 22).

And to be fair, I have read a lot more books than this, but books by Jonah Goldberg, Mark Steyn and Mark Levin never seem to make these lists.

BBC believes the majority of people will have only read 6 of the 100 books here.

1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen (x)
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien (x)
3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte (x)
4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling ( )
5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee (x)
6 The Bible ( x)
7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte ( )
8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell (x )
9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman ( )
10 Great Expectations - Charles Dicken (x)
11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott (x)
12 Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy (x)
13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller ( )
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare ( )
15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier ( )
16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien (x)
17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks ( )
18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger (x)
19 The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger ()
20 Middlemarch - George Eliot ()
21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell (x)
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald (x )
23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens ()
24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy ( )
25 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams ()
26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh ()
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky (x)
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck (x)
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll (x)
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame (x)
31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy ()
32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens (x)
33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis (x)
34 Emma - Jane Austen ()
35 Persuasion - Jane Austen ()
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis (x)
37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini ()
38 Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres ()
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden (x)
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne (x)
41 Animal Farm - George Orwell (x)
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown ( )
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez ( )
44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving ( )
45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins ( )
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery (x)
47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy ( )
48 The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood ( )
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding (x)
50 Atonement - Ian McEwan ()
51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel ()
52 Dune - Frank Herbert ()
53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons ( )
54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen (x)
55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth ( )
56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon ()
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens (x)
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley (x)
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon ()
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez ()
61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck (x)
62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov ()
63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt ()
64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold ()
65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas (x)
66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac ( )
67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy ( )
68 Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding ()
69 Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie ( )
70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville (x)
71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens (x)
72 Dracula - Bram Stoker (x)
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett ( x)
74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson ( )
75 Ulysses - James Joyce ()
76 The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath ()
77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome ( )
78 Germinal - Emile Zola ( )
79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray ( )
80 Possession - AS Byatt ( )
81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens (x)
82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchel ( )
83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker ()
84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro ()
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert ()
86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry ( )
87 Charlotte’s Web - EB White (x)
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom ( )
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle(x)
90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton ( )
91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad (x)
92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery ()
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks ( )
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams (x)
95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole ()
96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute ( )
97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas ()
98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare (x)
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl (x)
100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo (x)

42/100 - I give that number a solid B+

Truffles and purses

There is a bowl of cream cheese, whipped cream and chocolate at home waiting for me to make them into truffles.

I have every intention of getting them done tonight. We will see how that goes.

There are also two large pieces of jean material and green canvas that are waiting for me to whip them into a sling bag by Friday.

I also must pack to go back home to Indiana. Alas, I am not going to be getting my necessary 8 hours of sleep this week.

Consider yourself warned.

Guy Fawkes Day

In honor of Guy Fawkes Day I went to the Capitol to protest the healthcare bill today.

My Peeps on the Mall paying Nancy a visit

Met a bunch of awesome Texans.
Talked with some truckers that reminded me of my dad.
Taught some fellow Midwesterners to use the metro.
Clapped a lot.
Yelled a lot more.
Cheered on the few politicians that are actually listening.
Fawned over Mike Pence.
Fawned even more over Jon Voight.
Made some new friends.
And then went back to work.

Okay, so it wasn't nearly as exciting as the Gunpowder Treason Plot.

But Pelosi and her gang are committing treason against the Constitution and instead of blowing anything up to show our displeasure we chose to invade their offices and let them hear us instead.

And now, a Guy Fawkes Day poem:

Remember, remember, the 5th of November
The Gunpowder Treason and plot ;
I know of no reason why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes,
'Twas his intent.
To blow up the King and the Parliament.
Three score barrels of powder below.
Poor old England to overthrow.
By God's providence he was catch'd,
With a dark lantern and burning match

Holloa boys, Holloa boys, let the bells ring
Holloa boys, Holloa boys, God save the King!

Hip hip Hoorah !
Hip hip Hoorah !

A penny loaf to feed ol'Pope,
A farthing cheese to choke him.
A pint of beer to rinse it down,
A faggot of sticks to burn him.
Burn him in a tub of tar,'
Burn him like a blazing star.
Burn his body from his head,
Then we'll say: ol'Pope is dead.

I hope today's showing on the Mall will be enough to kill the Bill.

Chicken Divan

Tonight I made chicken divan and it was wonderful as it always is.

Here is the recipe from my 1996 Grace Fellowship Church Cookbook. Reformed Baptist shoutout!

4 chicken breasts, cooked and diced
16 ounces cooked broccoli
1/2 c. grated cheddar cheese
1/2 c. mayonnaise
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 c. milk
1 can cream of chicken soup
Bread crumbs
melted butter

Layer the chicken, then broccoli, then cheese in pan.

Mix the mayonnaise, lemon juice, milk and cream of chicken soup.

Add salt and pepper to taste to the mixture.

Pour mixture over the chicken, broccoli and cheese.

Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

Mix breadcrumbs and butter, sprinkle over the top and bake 5 more minutes.

mmmmmm, Midwestern yumminess.

Toxic

Forget about the kids singing Obama's praises, this is a far more dangerous type of indoctrination.

Move On Loves Them Some Hoosiers

Here is another gem from Moveon.org. For all you Hoosiers out there, this one is directed at Bayh and Lugar's support on Obamacare.

The most annoying thing about this email is that it is so childish. Personifying Obamacare? Really? Apparently this works for the people they are targeting. To me, it looks like desperation.

On a positive note, all of Lugar and Bayh's phone numbers are listed. I suggest you call their offices and tell them that they are slimy and plan on voting them out in the next election.

>>> "The public option" <moveon-help@list.moveon.org> 9/23/2009 5:22 PM >>>
Hi, I'm the public health insurance option.

People have been saying all sorts of untrue things about me lately, so I decided it was time to stand up and set the record straight.

First off: the reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated. I'm happy and healthy. And I'm proud to play a starring role in four of the five health reform bills currently on the table.

Second: I have a lot of friends. President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi support me--as do 77% of the American people.1 In fact, I'm feeling pretty popular.

But there is one area where I could use your help. The Senate Finance Committee is considering a "trigger" proposal that could kill me through indefinite delay.

Can you call your senators, Evan Bayh and Richard Lugar, and tell them that health care reform must include a real public health insurance option that's available immediately--not a "trigger"?

Here's where to call:

Senator Evan Bayh
Phone: 202-224-5623
District Offices:

Evansville: 812-465-6500
Fort Wayne: 260-426-3151
Hammond: 219-852-2763
Indianapolis: 317-554-0750
Jeffersonville: 812-218-2317
South Bend: 574-236-8302

Senator Richard Lugar
Phone: 202-224-4814
District Offices:
Evansville: 812-465-6313
Fort Wayne: 260-422-1505
Indianapolis: 317-226-5555
Valparaiso: 219-548-8035

Then click here to report your call:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSIN_2.FSIN_1&cp_id=1120&id=17309-9504367-ZdDa_ex&t=10

A "trigger" that would make me wait to become available is just a trap designed to kill me. As Senator Charles Schumer has pointed out, "any reasonable criteria for triggering a public plan has already been met" because insurance companies have already failed to rein in costs and
expand coverage.2

Here are some other things you might not know about me:

* I like candlelit dinners, overseas travel, and long walks on the beach. Whoops, sorry--wrong email.
* Some people say they don't like me because I'm too expensive, but that's just a flat-out lie. Keeping me around will actually save money--I'd cost 10% less than the typical private plan.3
* I'm the best way to keep insurance companies honest. Like my friend Senator Jay Rockefeller has said, "Without the steady, positive influence of a public plan option in the marketplace, we will never truly solve the health care crisis in this country. Private health insurance has a long history of cutting people off or charging too much for too little."4
* Over 60 House progressives have publicly pledged to only vote for a bill that has me in it.5 So without me, health care reform doesn't have enough votes make it through Congress.

And I'm counting on your help to make it through the Senate. Can you call
Sens. Bayh and Lugar today?

Senator Evan Bayh
Phone: 202-224-5623
District Offices:
Evansville: 812-465-6500
Fort Wayne: 260-426-3151
Hammond: 219-852-2763
Indianapolis: 317-554-0750
Jeffersonville: 812-218-2317
South Bend: 574-236-8302

Senator Richard Lugar
Phone: 202-224-4814
District Offices:
Evansville: 812-465-6313
Fort Wayne: 260-422-1505
Indianapolis: 317-226-5555
Valparaiso: 219-548-8035


Then click here to report your call:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSIN_2.FSIN_1&cp_id=1120&id=17309-9504367-ZdDa_ex&t=11

Thanks for all you do.

--The public health insurance option (and the MoveOn team)

Sources:

1. "New Poll: 77 Percent Support 'Choice' Of Public Option," The
Huffington Post, August 20, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51799&id=17309-9504367-ZdDa_ex&t=12

2."A 'trigger' for the public health insurance option? Already triggered."
NOW! Blog, May 20, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51443&id=17309-9504367-ZdDa_ex&t=13

3. Letter to Rep. Charles B. Rangel, Congressional Budget Office, July 14,
2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=84763&id=17309-9504367-ZdDa_ex&t=14

4. "Rockefeller Unveils Public Plan Option," Office of Sen. Jay
Rockefeller, June 10, 2009
http://rockefeller.senate.gov/press/record.cfm?id=314224

5. "60 Members of Congress Say 'No Public Plan, No Conference,'"
Firedoglake, August 17, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51784&id=17309-9504367-ZdDa_ex&t=15

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million
members--no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny
staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

References

Visible links
. http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSIN_2.FSIN_1&cp_id=1120&id=17309-9504367-ZdDa_ex&t=10
. http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSIN_2.FSIN_1&cp_id=1120&id=17309-9504367-ZdDa_ex&t=11
. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51799&id=17309-9504367-ZdDa_ex&t=12
. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51443&id=17309-9504367-ZdDa_ex&t=13
. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=84763&id=17309-9504367-ZdDa_ex&t=14
. http://rockefeller.senate.gov/press/record.cfm?id=314224
. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51784&id=17309-9504367-ZdDa_ex&t=15
. http://political.moveon.org/donate/email.html?id=17309-9504367-ZdDa_ex&t=16
________________
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Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This
email was sent to ________ on September 23, 2009>.
To change your email address or update your contact info, visit:
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And Now Some News From Emily's Non-political Life

Still looking for a house. Boo NoVa (northern virginia) real estate market. Investors planning on flipping who undercut families who just want to buy a house are evil. Also, if the bank forecloses on you, chances are it is your fault not the bank's. So, it would be much appreciated if you quit stripping out everything (appliances, fixtures, switch plates, vanities, mirrors, baseboards, toilets, door knobs, etc.) in an effort to screw the bank. All you are really doing is screwing your used to be neighbors because that house is now worth half of what it was and now their property value sucks.

i have more sewing projects than I have time. I guess that isn't a bad thing, it must mean people like the stuff I make. Someday I will not have a job and I will be able to stay at home a make clothes for Daphne all day....or take care of children, whatev. But before that can happen we need to find a house, see above.

Daphne is as spoiled as ever. She has become slightly obsessed with rawhide chewtoys and gets mad when we take them away. Brandon is trying to teach her to play dead, she doesn't like having to lay still, but she is starting to catch on. We took her to the hotel with us for our 1st year anniversary, so spoiled.Daphne at Helix

And that is pretty much it for what is going on in my life outside of eating, breathing, sleeping, watching politics 24/7. Yes, I'm lame. Informed, but lame. I really need to find a job that will put my compulsive need to watch the news for political information/read blogs with political rantings/tweet the latest way Obama's trying to screw us/update facebook with news the mainstream media won't report, to use.

If anyone knows of this type of job I can be reached on twitter 24/7.

Moving on Over to Astroturfing

The following is text from a MoveOn.org asking people to post the Will Ferrell pro-Obama care video on their facebook and twitter statuses. They were even so kind as to tell you exactly what to re-tweet.

I've got one question for you, who are the Astroturfers now?

I have the email if you would like me to forward it to you. I thought text would be more helpful than just screen shots. I took out the name of the original person this was sent to for his privacy.

>>> "Kat Barr, MoveOn.org Political Action" <moveon-help@list.moveon.org> 9/22/2009 5:24 PM >>>

Dear MoveOn member,

Earlier today, we sent you a funny video featuring Will Ferrell talking
about the plight of insurance company executives--the "real" victims in
the health care fight.

The video is catching FIRE! Already over 600,000 people have seen it, and
it's on the verge of going truly viral. Can you help make sure it does by
posting this as your status on Facebook, with a link to the video?

No health insurance company should have to lose one cent of their billions
in profits just because sick Americans need health care. If you agree with
Will Ferrell, please post this as your status for a
day: http://bit.ly/kNKpA

You probably saw a couple weeks ago when a similar--but serious--status
update went viral on Facebook. Let's make it happen again, this time using
the power of snark to continue to spread the word about how crucial health
care reform is.

And watch the video if you haven't yet! It's pretty darn funny, if we do
say so ourselves. ;)

--Kat, Laura, Stephen, Marika, and the rest of the team

P.S. If you're on Twitter, can you tweet this, too?

RT @MoveOn Will Ferrell's sticking up for the "real" victims--the
super-rich health insurance executives: http://bit.ly/sW8uN #sickofit

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million
members--no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny
staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

References

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Why I Marched

Why did I go to the march in Washington?

Someday I am going to have kids and if all these bailouts/health care/stimulus continue to pass they are going to be in debt up to their eyeballs. They are going to ask me why I let this happen and why they can't have the same opportunities I did.


I want to be able to tell my kids that I was fighting for them.



And hopefully, I won't have to answer those questions because I and a couple hundred thousand of my closest friends spoke out to stop the madness and the people in Washington actually listened.


And that is why I marched on 9/12.

Remember.

Take time to remember the lives lost on 9/11, say a prayer for our leaders and thank God for the freedom we have in this country.



And on Saturday we will remember the people we were on 9/12/01.

See you all on the Mall.

Glenn Beck 1, Van Jones 0

Major win for Glenn Beck today. Only about 30 more to go. I am going to put my effort behind getting Mark Lloyd outed next.

If you don't know, Mark Llyod is the FCC Czar and likes to say things like:

"It should be clear by now that my focus here is not freedom of speech or the press. This freedom is all too often an exaggeration. At the very least, blind references to freedom of speech or the press serve as a distraction from the critical examination of other communications policies.

"[T]he purpose of free speech is warped to protect global corporations and block rules that would promote democratic governance."

Sounds pretty dangerous to me.

It was a close one between going after Cass Sunstein and Mark Lloyd, but I think Lloyd presents a more present danger at this point. They are going to want to shut down the right (Beck, Limbaugh, Hannity, Coulter, Malkin, etc) as fast as they can at this point. They are causing major damage. Expect a couple blog posts on Mark Lloyd in the next few days.

I Pledge Allegiance

Now I know that I have been out of school for a little while, but I don't remember the pledge going like that.

Elementary schools are turning into indoctrination camps.

No thanks, I prefer the original version.

El Guacamole de Emily

I have had two avocados sitting on my counter for less than 24 hours, this means I must make guacamole. That's just the way it is:

El Guacamole de Emily

2 avocados
3 Tbsps. mayonnaise
1 Tbsp. lime juice
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. chili power
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
Hot sauce to taste


Mash it all together to as lumpy or smooth as you like it.

Que Bueno!

I like my fruit as unhealthy as possible...

Mmmm, fresh fruit. The only way fresh fruit is better is doused in sugar and baked with pastry on top.

I have made a lot of cobblers lately using recipes. I decided that I have gotten to the point where I don't need a recipe anymore because it is pretty much impossible to screw it up.

I started with strawberries, peaches, cherries, and blueberries.



Number One important thing to do when using fruit. Wash it wash it wash it. You don't know what was sprayed on it, who picked it, what kind of truck it came in on, and who handled it at the store before you. A way to solve this is to grow your own fruit, but I live on the 6th floor of an apartment at the moment. Rinse in cold water and move fruit around. Let drain. Play with Daphne while fruit is draining... if you have a Daphne. Or just continue to next step.

The Blueberries
First, preparing the blueberries: do nothing to them, throw them in a bowl and move on to strawberries.

The Strawberries
Chop the tops off all the strawberries and any discolored spots.
Chop them up into whatever size you want, I made my pieces about the same size as the blueberries. Then throw them in with the blueberries and move onto the peaches.


The Peaches
Peaches can be a pain to peel. So I have a solution, don't. I flash boil peaches when I want to peel them. Bring a pot of water to a boil, lower the peach in the water for 10-20 seconds. Then transfer to ice water. Sometimes the skin will split on its own, other times you need to lance it with a paring knife. Either way, the skin should peel off easily, meaning you save the fruit that you usually cut off when peeling and the hassle of peeling fruit in the first place. De-pit the peach and chop the pieces up. Put the pieces in the bowl of blueberries and strawberries.



The Cherries
Cherries are by far the messiest. (Note to self, buy a cherry pitter) De-pit all the cherries. I just ran a knife around the edges and pulled the pit out. I left the cherries in halves, mostly because it already looked like I had slit my wrists by the time I was done taking out the pits. Put the cherries in the bowl with all the other fruit. Now you are a ready to make the syrup for all the fruit.




The Filling
I have found the cornstarch and sugar are the best things to use to create the syrup that makes cobbler so good. I have about 6 cups of fruit, so I used 3 tablespoons of cornstarch and a 1/2 cup of sugar. Mix it all together and the cornstarch and the sugar absorb the liquid making the juice. It will be runny right now, but after it bakes, it will be thicker and darker.

Transfer the fruit mixture to a greased pan. Any glass pan will work as long as it is deep enough that it won't run over the sides when it starts bubbling in the oven.

Cut up 2 tablespoons of cold butter and dot it all over the top of the fruit. This helps the dough on top cook and just makes it all around healthier...maybe.


The Dough
The dough on the top of cobbler can be made lots of different ways. Some of it is almost like pie crust, others it is more like granola. I like the biscuit type that you drop on top of the fruit. I also like to use cornmeal instead of oatmeal like most recipes.

Mix dry ingredients together:
2/3 cups sugar
2 cups flour
1 1/2 cup cornmeal
4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg (if desired, i desired)
1/4 tsp. salt

Mix 1 cup milk and 1/2 cup vegetable oil and add to the dry mixture. Mix it all together until just moistened. If you are using an 8x8 pan, make half of the dough mixture.

Cover the top of the fruit with the dough mixture. If you don't like as much dough on top, feel free to use less. I like lots of dough on the top of my cobbler so I usually try to cover the entire pan.





Baking
Place pan in a 375 degree oven for 30 minutes or until the top is brown and the fruit is bubbling.

I recommend putting the cobbler on the top rack and placing a baking sheet on the bottom rack. Sometimes cobbler boils over and can make a pretty big mess on the bottom of the oven.

Remove from oven and let it cool a little bit before serving.

Viola!

Share with Daphne and/or husband if desired.

Project Cobbler

I have an assortment of peaches, cherries, strawberries and blueberries. I plan on turning this into cobbler by the end of the day. I'm gonna wing it with no recipe. We will see how this goes.

Glenn Beck: America Senses Something's Not Right

I have been saying it for months, people are waking up. It is just too bad that it took putting this guy in the presidency to shake them out of their slumber.

3 Phases

The Left and the Mainstream Media

First Ignored Us,

Then Ridiculed Us,

We're presently under Attack

We are the Mob.

We have their Attention.

They are running Scared.

Keep fighting because its working.

You Are Not Alone

Keep it loud and proud.

I can almost taste the 2010 election

You are not alone:

Rowdy crowd grills congressmen over healthcare reform - FOX16.com

Tempers flare in South Florida over healthcare overhaul

Crowd Explodes When Arlen Specter Urges That We "Do This Fast"

Senator During Health-Care Protest: 'We Need More Police.'

TIM BISHOP PROTEST, SETAUKET, NY

Lloyd Doggett's meeting on Obamacare in south Austin, TX, 1 Aug 2009

Keep it peaceful and keep it up.

I Am The Mob

This girl is 5'2 with eyes of blue and she is

God clingin'

Gun totin'

Constitution quotin'

Global Warming Denyin'

Free speakin'

Red White and Blue bleedin'

Liberal irritatin'

Lipstick wearin'

Libertarian believin'

CrEatiVe ThINkIn'

Midwest lovin'

Feminist hatin'

Big Brother fightin'

Fun havin'

Hoosier on the loose in DC

I am the mob and I'm coming for you.

Twitter and Facebook are down!?!?

Now what am I supposed to do all day?!

I am slightly prone to conspiracy theories, but this has hints of a DOS attack.

Other people seem to think so too.

It seems like everyone took the day off work today too. Prepare for massive boredom.

Hrmm, maybe I will just blog today.

Everyone's Doing It

Pre-Marital Sex: Everybody’s Doing It According to CBS’ Rodriguez

Source: newsbusters.orgAustralian researchers released new findings concerning marriage and divorce this week and it has received mild coverage on the news programs in the United States. "The Early Show" on CBS decided ...
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/zoe-ortiz/2009/07/15/pre-marital-sex-everybody-s-doing-it-according-cbs-rodriguez

You know, everyone does it. Everyone sleeps around, everyone lies, everyone steals, everyone cheats on their taxes....didn't your mom tell you that just because everyone does it, it doesn't mean it is right?

All I can say is, have fun with those STDs that serve as evidence that everyone does it.

Summer Party Punch

I am a lover of punch, just about any kind, any flavor, any time. Sugary, fruity, fizzy, I like them all.

So, assuming there are other punch lovers out there.

Ali and I discovered a great one to make for a summertime party this weekend. We made the, ahem, adult kind...but you could use Strawberry Faygo and it would be just as good.

Pink Punch
1 bottle (2-liter) of 7-up or Sprite
2 cans of frozen pink lemonade concentrate
1 bottle (1 liter or around there) of red wine or strawberry Faygo- I suggest using a fruity red rather and a dry red.
1 orange
1 lemon
Maraschino cherries for garnish

Put the concentrate in a punch bowl, pour 7-up over it and mix until all the clumps are gone.
Add wine or Faygo
Cut lemon and oranges in thin slices and let them float on top.
Serve in small glasses with cherries on swizzle sticks for decoration.

It was just a perfect punch for a late afternoon birthday party. It would make a good punch for a summertime wedding too.

In a word: Yum.

I'm in the Mood for a RINO Hunt

I am currently working on a list of people that are running against the 8 traitors in the Republican party. In the mean time, here are their DC office numbers. Remember, they had to get that vote in so they could go on vacay this week. So save your extra special words for next Monday when they get back to DC.

Bono Mack (CA) 202-225-5330

Castle (DE) 202-225-4165

Kirk (IL) 202-225-4835

Lance (NJ) 202-225-5361

Lobiondo (NJ) 202-225-6572

McHugh (NY) 202-225-4611

Reichart (WA) 202-225-7761

It has been a while since I called myself a Republican, but what these 8 did last Friday with the Cap and Tax bill was more than I could take. I firmly believe that if the Republican party is to be saved (which I am not totally sure it can be), we need to clean house, hard core. If that means electing a Democrat in the place of a RINO so be it. To hear people tweeting and calling into radio shows about how they were told their congressman or woman was voting in favor inspite of their outcry against it, it just about put me over the edge. How dare they be so brazen? They work for us; apparently they have forgotten.

There are plenty of Democrats out there that will say what they mean and mean what they say. I am exceptionally proud of the 44 House Democrats that crossed party lines to stand in the way of Cap and Tax. Shout out to Joe Donnelly from Indiana's 2nd District; I know I have said some mean things about him, but I am very proud that he listened to his constituents. I would rather have someone in office representing me that I ideologically disagree with and is honest about what they believe than a RINO in Elephant's clothing.

When I round out my list of candidates running for the seats of the 8 turn coats, I will be sure to post it. It is time that we vote with our pocketbooks and start supporting the candidates who have honor and dignity. I don't know about you, but I want to be proud of my congressmen and women. Extra special shout out to John Boehner and Mike Pence for standing firm on the House floor last week. You are men of honor!

Baby, not Fetus, Hand

Today I had a pro-abortion friend berate me for daring to post the famous "Hand of Hope" picture where children could see it.

Their argument, children have no concept of an adult issue like abortion. They claimed that having other people informing children about abortion is like telling them there is no Santa Claus.

I don't know about you, but my parents never lied and told me there was a Santa in the first place.

Their next point, it is up to a parent alone to talk about. It is up to each of us to decide if we are up to the responsibility of explaining it to our children.

Excuse me? So if you decide you are not up to explaining it and your child asks a question, then what? I can see why you don't want the picture to be up where your child might see it, they might ask too hard of questions.

Moving on, next talking point, if their child saw this they would have nightmares about a bloody baby hand.

whoa whoa whoa, wait, did you say baby hand? I thought that wasn't a baby? You mean that you child recognizes this as a baby?

It turns out children have a very clear understanding of what a baby is, a better understanding that a large portion of the general public.

Get your talking point in order and start indoctrinating your children before they make up their minds that the Hand of Hope is in fact a living baby's hand. Make sure they realize that it is just a scary bloody hand those evil conservative are trying to scare you with. Aren't those people just terrible, scaring you like that?

I wouldn't want those awful pro-lifers to confirm to your child that they are in fact babies and do not deserve to be murdered.

Rain Rain Go Away

If it doesn't stop raining in DC soon, I am going to have to take a boat to work. I don't enjoy my pants being wet up to my knees when I arrive at work.

I, however, do not mind walking in the rain if I don't have anywhere to be. I walked approximately 5 miles in the rain yesterday and felt great afterward. There is something calming about the noise I think.

In other news, we have started looking for a house. I hate living in an apartment, there is just no getting around it. And living in an apartment that overcharges for everything has motivated us to start looking. We have every intention of taking advantage of the crappy real estate market and buying a foreclosed awesome house. We are in no hurry and I am sure one will present itself at some point.

I miss Indiana. Springtime in DC is alright, there is a lot of stuff blooming and it looks really pretty. But I miss not having a yard and just having to look at everybody else's stuff and not being able to plant anything of my own.

Twitter has become my new addiction. Love all the new conservative peeps I have met. They seem to enjoy my biting sarcasm; I'm glad someone does!

Give to Ceasar...and to Swine Odor Management Research?

Luke 20:22-26

[22] Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" [23] He saw through their duplicity and said to them, [24] "Show me a denarius. Whose portrait and inscription are on it?" [25] "Caesar's," they replied. He said to them, "Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." [26] They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.

I have no problem paying my fair share of taxes. It is right; it is fair; it is Biblical. They pay for our schools, our roads, our police and our parks. I like all those things (minus some issues with the schools, but that is another post) and we need them for our way of life to work.

But what is going on in Washington is wasteful, which is decidedly unbiblical and wrong.

I prefer my taxes to go towards things I use, so will someone please explain to me why my tax dollars are going toward textile research in North Carolina? That is right, $1,000,000 for the Textile/Clothing Technology Corporation in Cary and $1,000,000 for North Carolina State University in Raleigh. I like textiles, they make my clothes stay together. But I would like an explanation from Congressman David Price as to why my federal tax dollars need to be spent on this.

And I know that Detroit is having serious problems. So I am pretty sure that $3,800,000 for the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy for preservation and redevelopment of a public park and related business activities in the Corktown Neighborhood is just what they need to get Detroit running again. But I live in Virginia, so Sen. Carl Levin, what impact will said Conservancy have on my life?

And, while I know Mississippi is a tourist mecca, why are my tax dollars flooding into that state? I have never been there, but maybe I should visit to see what my hard earned money has bought. $46,756,750 of your hard earned tax dollar are being spent on 38 projects proposed by Thad Cochran, including: $950,000 for Audubon Mississippi for a nature-based education facility; $950,000 for Downtown Jackson Plaza, Inc. for construction of a civic gathering place; $475,000 for the JATRAN light rail feasibility study; $427,500 for Natchez riverfront trails; and $380,000 for renovation of Jackson’s Thalia Mara Performing Arts Center. In March, patrons of the Thalia Mara Performing Arts Center could enjoy a rendition of “Jesus Christ Superstar.” In April, the Arts Center will present, “Bob the Builder: Live.” Tickets range from $15 to $36.50.

Bob the Builder, huh? I wonder how he is with economics. Can we fix it? I sure hope so.

I attended DC's tea party today, it was wet and cold and cut short by a possible bomb (aka box of tea bags). But people were fairly pleasant and seemed to understand what this movement is all about. It isn't anti government, or anti tax, or anti Obama. It is anti waste.

We want accountability from the people who are supposedly representing us.

I want term limits.

I want earmark reform.

I want the people in Washington to listen.

And I don't want to pay $1,791,000 for swine odor and manure management research in Ames, IA.(it's true, look it up).

Finally, let me make a predicition, a mass exodus of incumbents in 2010.

All the stats come from the Citizens Against Government Waste 2009 Pig Book. It can be found at http://www.cagw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=reports_pigbook2009

Hoofbeats

A conversation I had with some liberal, Obama loving, co-workers right after the inauguration.

Them: Emily, don't you know we are all going to have to work together to make [Obama's presidency] work?

Me: Okay, I will do my part by letting you know when I hear the hoofbeats of the apocolypse.

Them: You just hate him because he is a democrat.

Me: No, I disagree with his plans because I think he is going to run this country in the ground.


This is what I deal with everyday. Sigh.

On a brighter note, fast forward 3 months, these same co-workers are screaming about bank and private business nationalization.

Seems to me that someone tried to tell them so.... are those hoofbeats I hear in the distance?

Manufactured Crisis

A thought came to me the other day on why people are freaking out about this economic crisis...it is a real one.

We live in a world that manufactures crisis to increase ratings. Most of these crisis are solved by the media within a 24 news cycle and then the news anchors, blogs, and pundits are on to the next thing.

Things like a West Nile outbreak or a salmonella contamination are so blown out of proportion, they have you thinking you are probably going to be the next victim, that is until it disappears from the news tomorrow.

Political correctness issues, correct job titles for women, no Christmas trees in public places, women who won't take off their headscarves for a photo, are thrown at us thousands of times every week.

We begin to think that these are the real problems in life. We have been so desensitized to crisis that when it doesn't disappear in 24 hours, people cannot handle it.

The media can't solve it, the politicians can't talk their way out of it, the best minds in business can't wheel and deal their way out of it. Maybe this is God's way of telling us to quit trusting in man and return our trust to Him.

I don't have a solution to the economic problems, but I do have a piece of advise. Stop worrying and pray. I have had trouble with panic in the past and have found the Psalms to be a comfort. David knew real crisis and wrote many of the Psalms. Some verses I find especially fitting for our current situation is:

Psalm 146:3

Put not your trust in princes, Nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. The following verses are ones I have quoted again and again to people who have asked me where my stability in times of trial comes from. Jesus' Sermon on the Mount gave believers an outline of how they should go about their lives:

Matthew 6:25-34

²⁵"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

These are not lilies. I like sunflowers more than lilies and the point is still the same.

²⁸"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ³²For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

My ability to deal with crisis does not come from myself. It comes from a faith that is bigger than me or any other human could provide.

The Blue Box Lies

The macaroni in the blue box is lying to you. This homemade macaroni will ruin any future experience with boxed macaroni. Be prepared, once you have had it, you won't go back.

Not Blue Box Macaroni

20 oz. elbow macaroni (16 oz. if you are planning on baking it)

Cook macaroni according to package directions.

3 c. (24 oz.) 4% cottage cheese

Put cottage cheese in a food processor and run until smooth.

1/2 c. butter

Melt butter in a large sauce pan (large enough to fit 4 cups of liquid, plus 4 cups of cheese)

1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. garlic salt
1/2 tsp. white pepper
1/4 tsp. salt

Keep the saucepan on medium heat. In small amounts, stir in flour, garlic salt, pepper, and salt. Use a whisk to mix it to get all the lumps out.

3 c. half and half cream
1 c. milk

Mix the cream and milk in a separate bowl. Over medium heat, adding about a half cup at a time, add the mixture to the saucepan. Again use the whisk to keep it smooth before adding more liquid. After it has all been added, bring to a boil for 2 minutes or until it is thickened. Make sure to keep stirring to keep it from burning.

4 c. (16 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese

Turn the heat off and add the shredded cheese to the saucepan, mix until melted. Transfer the cottage cheese from the food processor to a large bowl and add the sauce to the large bowl. Mix well.

When I make this recipe, I drain the macaroni, add it directly to the sauce, and serve. I use a large metal bowl to mix everything together. The bowl has a lid so I can put it in the fridge and just portioned it out when I am hungry for it.

If you like baked macaroni, mix the sauce and noodles together in a bowl and then transfer to a greased 9" x 13" pan.

1 c. dried bread crumbs
1/4 c. melted butter

Mix butter and crumbs together and sprinkle over the top of the macaroni.

Bake uncovered at 400 degrees till it is bubbly.

I originally got this recipe from Taste of Home, but I have altered a few things and used magic to remove all the calories...

Religious Reboot

The coming evangelical collapse | csmonitor.com

Coming from a very strong healthy church, it is very easy for me to see a sick church. One of my hardest struggles in moving to a new state has been finding a solid church. I can honestly say that I have visited more sick churches than healthy ones and that is sad.

I have annoyed more than one person with my dislike of the megachurches who cater to everyone. It almost makes me sick to my stomach when I go to a church on Sunday morning and am subjected to rock music, skits, and a feel good sermon. It doesn't make me feel good, it makes me feel bad. I feel bad for myself, who wasted a Sunday morning on something I could have gotten watching Oprah (who I refuse to watch), and I feel bad for everyone else who is getting fooled into thinking this is what will get them to heaven.

I can't help but think that a lot of "Christian" churches have brought this on themselves. They have sold out their doctrine in favor of decorating a new building, chosen entertainment over evangelism, and tried to commingle coffee bars with the Commandments. The combination of all these accommodations and concessions, along with their decision to pick and choose what to follow in the Bible has uprooted their foundations. It is no wonder that they are crumbling. A crisis of this magnitude could cause America to become like France, a godless, dark country. It it my hope that we have a religious reboot and true revival will take place before it is too late for American Christianity.

You Go Joe

'Joe the Plumber' sues over Ohio records probe

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D96O2D380&show_article=1

Take these people for all they are worth.

The way Joe was treated is dispicable, it still is dispicable.

This guy made the mistake of catching Obama off guard and without a teleprompter and, because Obama doesn't speak off the cuff, he accidently said what he really meant.

So of course the logical course of action would be to go after his character, dig up his tax records, and spread it all over the mainstream media.

The Obama thugs did a better job vetting a random guy who asked an honest question at a campaign stop than any of their loser nominees.

This is what Obama and his cronies do to private citizens who get in their way.

Demean, discredit, and destroy.

Satanic Poses

Indonesia holds yoga festival despite Muslim fatwa

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.da993057fc1b3034b22c1f2903602b9f.01&show_article=1

Last time I checked, I didn't see people practicing yoga blowing themselves up in the streets. Maybe those clerics should check their priorites.

Store Bought(en) Biscuits

I love biscuits, especially the fluffy buttery ones. Therefore, I will share with you a fantastic recipe I found. They turned out just like the Pillsbury Grands kind in the tubes. Or, as those in the Amish community say, they taste store boughten.

Store Bought(en) Biscuits
(makes about 9 large biscuits)

2 c. flour
4 t. baking powder
2 T. sugar
1 t. salt

Mix the first 4 ingredients

1/3 c. cold butter

Cut butter into the dry mixture

3/4 c. cold milk (buttermilk or sour milk works too)

Stir milk in till it forms a ball

Roll out dough to one inch thickness.

Use a cookie cutter or floured glass to cut out biscuits.

Grease a cookie sheet, place biscuits on sheet.

Bake at 425 degrees for 10-12 minutes or till they start getting brown.

Make sure to eat them warm and put lots of butter on them. I am pretty sure that takes out all the calories and fat. And yes, this fits right in with my new workout routine.

Keep them in the Dark

Malaysia Restores 'Allah' Ban for Christians

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,503504,00.html

The Malaysian government must think their population is retarded and can't tell what Christian literature is on their own. Or, the more likely explanation is that when they say it might "confuse" Muslims, they really mean "convert."

Fat Fatty

My cutie little puppy wuppy is getting bigger. It hasn't been very noticeable day to day, but I have a surprising display of how much Daphne has grown since we got her in November.

It is a darn good thing that I have mad sewing skills. Otherwise, I would have bought my third harness in 5 months. Besides, the ones I make are so much cuter than anything you can find in a store. If you don't know how to sew, I suggest learning. If you get good enough at it, you start looking at stuff in stores and saying, "I could make that, I could do that, I could sell that," and you can make money off of it. I can't wait to have kids so I can make clothes for them.

That little blue harness was big on her when we brought her home...now she is just a fat fatty. She actually isn't fat at all. She has only gained 2 pounds since we got her. I better quit calling her fat, I might hurt her self esteem.

Speaking of fat fatties, Johanna and I are sick of being ones and have joined a gym. I personally blame working somewhere that constantly provides free donuts, muffins, bagels, and other fattening things to people who sit all day long. So instead of waiting for the government to come bail me out of my fatness, I am going to do something about it. Don't worry, I will update you on our progress... if I can move at the end of the first week.

Something Wicked This Way Comes

Maybe I am just a hate monger, but has anyone else noticed the escalation of violence coming from the direction of our southern border? Believe me, it isn't just the right wing nuts trying to stir up hostility toward the Hispanic population in this country. The destabilization of Mexico due to corruption and the drug trade is spilling into this country and making things very dangerous. If you think that people who want a secure border just hate Hispanics, you are sadly mistaken. It is no wonder they want out of Mexico, it is so corrupt it is almost unlivable. And now, due to our unwillingness to secure our border, this horrible corruption and violence is seeping into our country.

Take a look:

Homeland Security official affirms Mexican drug cartel violence has spilled over into Texas

http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_11770847

If Violence Escalates in Mexico, Texas Officials Plan to Be Ready

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,491964,00.html

The Gruesome Nature of the Border War

http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/10869/

Universities: Spring breaks south of border to be avoided

http://www.azcentral.com/community/tempe/articles/2009/02/23/20090223springbreak0223.html

After threats, Juárez mayor moves to El Paso

http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_11770841

Phoenix, kidnap-for-ransom capital

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-drug-kidnappings12-2009feb12,0,1264800.story


Now I am not saying that we should deport all illegals and erect a 15 foot electrified fence, dig a 3 mile moat inhabited by crocodiles and have snipers posted every mile...but I am not not saying that we should deport all illegals and erect a 15 foot electrified fence, dig a 3 mile moat inhabited by crocodiles and have snipers posted every mile...I'm just saying.

Celebrating a Nation of Losers

I have respect for teachers that will fail a student who deserves to fail. It takes guts to fail a student. I always felt like my good grade meant more from a teacher who I knew was willing to give a failing grade when deserved. But those teachers are few and far between. We give trophies to 25th place, Bs to students who do nothing more than show up to class, and diplomas to seniors who can't add or read. Failure isn't an option for most people under the age of 30. We have grown up in a society that has protected us from the almightly F and now we don't know how to deal with a failing grade in life.

With that said, it has always really annoyed me when teachers curve the grading scale. (Can I get an amen from Matt Longbrake?) There are cases when tests are severely unfair, material that was not covered appears, questions that require a biased answer to get them correct, ridiculously minute details; I am not talking about those. I am talking about tests with fair questions from covered materials that require thoughtful answers.

In any American college classroom there are students with a range of abilities and motivations. There are always the students who study, read, take notes, and listened in class to prepare for a test. They do their work and more because they enjoy learning or want a good grade or just have to be perfect, their motivation doesn't really matter. Then you have the average students who show up to class sometimes or even the majority of the time, read what is required, do the work, but don't put in that extra effort, and take the same test. They all show up and the test is hard, but everything on it is things that should have been learned.

When tests are returned the groans are audible from the majority of the class as they see their Bs and Cs and *gasp* maybe lower. Then the grumbling and protests begin, well if everyone did so poorly the test must have been skewed. The begging and pleading starts from students. Pleas for a retest or to go back over their test with thier notes, or a curve of the test results. And if the teacher is not sympathetic to their please, they try to organize an email assault on the professor, or flooding his office during prep hours, or threatening to go to the department head with their complaints of unfairness. With every excuse in the world, they try to get the test thrown out or the scale changed. And in most cases, with enough badgering, a teacher will cave because it is just easier and they don't want the stigma of being an unfair professor. So what is the result? Those students who worked hard, took their studying seriously are rewarded with getting about the same grade as the students who did the bare minimum. To me, the injustice here is not a hard test but the rewarding of just average.

This senario is replayed in thousands of classrooms all over the country. It amazes me that if the kids who spent all that time begging for a grade change would spend that same time on their studies, they could have avoided the whole issue. I see a direct link between this sense of entitlement toward good grades and the bailout of every industry who has made poor decisions. They want bailed out of their mortgage they never should have gotten, and unemployment when they quit their jobs, and full benefits for working a part-time. And just as they did with their teachers, they organize protests against the unfair system, they elect someone who is sympathetic to their please and then ask for him to change the rules. And just like in the classroom, our government has given into their pleas. I truely believe these people don't know how to fail. From the time they were children, someone else has always fixed their mistakes, changed their grade, and rewarded their mediocrity. Their parents or teachers didn't want them to have to feel the pain of failure and now we are all paying for it.

And the rest of us feel like those kids who did their work in class. We play by the rules, pay our taxes, live within our means, and work hard for our money. Our payment? We are rewarded with higher taxes, devalued property, and the general burden of taking care of all the losers. This system that Barack Obama is proposing, the general bailout of society, rewards stupid decisions and people who cheat the system. Obama is like the teacher that changes the grading scale or curves the test results to favor those who didn't do the work. I know I am not the only who feels like she got cheated out of my good grade. Only in this case, it isn't just a grade on a report card. We are being cheated out of our money, our trust, and our freedom.