Last night, or this morning, or whatever, for instance, I dreamed that we were in a war. (Who “we” were is not very clearly defined.) Anyway, we (obviously the good guys) were camped out in a pavilion. We were trying to fight but were a bit challenged when it came to weapons. I had a knife, but it was rusty (it also looked remarkably like one that I drew a few months ago, except it didn’t have Elvish inscribed on it) and dull. So I set out on a mission to find something to sharpen it on.

I think we went with a rock. Well, it took the rust off at least! Well, okay, it took some of the rust off.

Then another girl (Atanvarne, maybe… it sort of seemed like her but not exactly) and I were wandering around in a field. I’m not sure what we were doing. I think we may have been in search of water. And Edward was with us. He was supposed to be our body guard, because there were all sorts of nasty Nazi-youth type people from the other side running around.

And just then they convinced him to join up! So we had to run away from EDDIE! *gasp* Traitor! We went dashing back to our somewhat fortified pavilion. On the way there we ran through another pavilion and I noticed Jesse F sitting in there. He, for some reason, was deeming it prudent that I pretend not to know him. So I tried, while signaling to him that we could really use some help.

We made it back to our base and everything was fine and dandy until Edward came strolling in to try to recruit MORE people for the Nazi-youth.

This was a bit too much.

Apparently Jesse felt the same way, because he came up behind Edward and bashed him in the head with an axe. We all screamed and stared at Jesse rather open-mouthedly. Jesse looked ashamed of himself for a minute and then began jumping up and down on Edward (who was quite dead) and yelling things and…

Honestly, I wonder what gives me these dreams. This one has, perhaps, two points of grounding in reality.

1) There has been a point at which we all were thinking about bashing Edward (not with an axe, just with something that knock him out for a while) so that he’d quit whistling on the bus on the way home from LIFE.

2) Jesse plays a mean game of Assassin. He plays for world domination, basically. Still, I’ve never seen him bash anyone in the head. (I’ve never been at any of his Dag battles, either, though, so…)

Anyway, goodnight… we’ll see what my mind comes up with tonight…

Currently Reading The Brothers Karamazov By Fyodor Dostoevsky see related

And how could I have failed to report on the big excitement in Devastatingly Handsome’s life? Saturday he was Invited to Participate in a Composting Workshop and brought home his very own Earth Machine (yes, it kind of looks like R2-D2 gone over to the dark side). (How sad is your life when such an invitation is the social event of the month? How can it be that two upstanding Bananas such as ourselves did not merit an invitation to the Bush-Hager Nuptials?

So tonight he was instructing the Bananalets in the fine art of what does and does not go into the Earth Machine. Meat and meat products do not. Miss Dog Lover asked about rice and Devastatingly Handsome explained that it is from a plant. Miss Dog Lover did not think so. You do not even want to know where the discussion went from there. Trust me. Just know that the leftover rice is in there now, becoming rich, dark soil.

“If black nationalism would uplift the race, then the hurt it might cause well-meaning whites, or the inner turmoil it caused people like me, would be of little consequence.” - Barack Obama, Dreams From My Father, (about his attraction to his pastor’s church as a vehicle for social change.)

“Something of the gallant fire which was animating him seemed to pass out of Sir Aylmer Bostock. He blinked, like some knight of King Arthur’s court, who, galloping to perform a deed of derring-do, has had the misfortune to collide with a tree.”

This one is from Uncle Dynamite, one of the hilarious Uncle Fred (Frederick Altamont Cornwallis, fifth Earl of Ickenham) and Pongo books that for some reason I have never read before. It’s a dilly. Uncle Fred is one of our family’s favorite Wodehouse characters, known for spreading sweetness and light as well as for stepping high, wide, and handsome.

And for the Bananalets. Who honored me with stir-fried chicken, chocolate raspberry cake, Dark chocolate raspberry creams (note a theme there?), a potted impatiens, a butter bell, and a millefiore necklace. And numerous cards featuring both interesting quotes and creative spelling.

Psalm 113:9 ~ He gives the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the Lord!

Mr Music’s venture into Little League is all new territory for me. I only have the fuzziest notion of sports rules so I have to do the same thing I do at classical concerts and look to see if everyone else is clapping (or cheering) to know if we are between pieces or just movements or if anything really good is happening in the game or if it is in fact too much action for the Other Team. So, I do not actually know what “infield chatter” is, though I’ve heard the term, and dictionary.com does not know what it is, either.

But, ignorance will not stand in the way of my having Opinions. No, no. I am not easily deterred like that.

I am amazed at the way the coaches and parents and kids keep up a steady stream of things to say when to my mind nothing is going on except some kids occasionally managing to hit a ball with a stick and usually remembering where to run and less occasionally someone catching the ball and throwing it to where every once in a blue moon another kid catches the ball and the umpire does some things with his hands and Mr Music can get his hot dog or slim jims and cheesy pretzels and we can go home to clean up the grass stains. Yet, all this while, as I am watching (how horrible is it to say that I only care about one child on the field and could just as easily be home admiring how beautiful he is when he sleeps?) they are all talking about stuff and making it sound like they understand mysteries I can only guess at.

There is a steady stream, as I say, of “Good eye!” “Be a hitter!” “Step back” “Where’s the Play?” “Choke up!” “Nice swing” “Come up throwing!” “Swing, batter, batter, batter, swing” “More just like that” “Grab the grass” “Get your glove dirty” “Cover first!”… I am choosing to interpret this stuff as “baseball chatter” and am wondering if the encouragement to the players is like what we get in a different sphere from the angels mentioned in Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Are they in the stands cheering for us? And do we get a chance to “Chatter with the Angels”?

Chatter with the angels soon in the morning,

Chatter with the angels in that land.

Chatter with the angels soon in the morning,

Chatter with the angels join that band.

I hope to join that band,

And chatter with the angels all day long.

This is a clearly something that Christian women need whatever their calling, whatever their age. It is a spiritual trait, given by the Spirit, not something we can generate ourselves. What is it that makes us flexible, able to bend without breaking? It is our faith. And to maintain flexibility, what do we have to do? Exercise our faith. Practice what we know. Use our opportunities.

When changes in our circumstances arise, we must remind ourselves that He has ordained all things, that He loves us, and that whatsoever comes to pass is for our good and His glory. This is our faith.

When do we need flexibility? Well, when don’t we? We need to adapt to change pretty much day in and day out. Our mothers needed it when they were raising us, and we’ve needed it all along. Each new milestone in our lives requires flexibility. Whether it is

Andune: This is so impractical it’s almost funny.

Rats, I had some with A1 but the computer ate them… maybe another time…

(This was one of my favorite conversations…)

Me (9:48:17 PM):

You’re back!

Madeline (9:48:21 PM):

yup

Me (9:48:27 PM):

*grins*

Madeline (9:48:39 PM):

*glares*

Madeline (9:48:48 PM):

*eats popsicle*

Me (9:48:56 PM):

What are you glaring at me for?

Madeline (9:49:00 PM):

*rolls eyes*

Me (9:49:04 PM):

Huh?

Madeline (9:49:05 PM):

*acts indignant*

Me (9:49:12 PM):

What’d I do??

Madeline (9:49:15 PM):

she’s not glaring at you, she’s glaring at me

Me (9:49:22 PM):

Who…

Me (9:49:25 PM):

is this Atanvarne?

Madeline (9:49:25 PM):

*laughs*

Madeline (9:49:29 PM):

no

Madeline (9:49:34 PM):

Atanvarne says no

Me (9:49:40 PM):

Oh, I begin to see.

Me (9:49:50 PM):

Never mind, I’m utterly confused.

Me (9:49:58 PM):

But hopefully not irretrivably so.

Madeline (9:50:23 PM):

*sighs*

Me (9:50:28 PM):

Who’s eating the popsicle?

Me (9:50:30 PM):

M or A

Me (9:50:32 PM):

?

Madeline (9:50:49 PM):

madeline

Me (9:50:58 PM):

Who was glaring?

Madeline (9:51:02 PM):

madeline

Me (9:51:09 PM):

At Atanvarne?

Madeline (9:51:15 PM):

at her poor amanuensis

Me (9:51:24 PM):

What’s an amanuensis?

Madeline (9:51:29 PM):

O_O

Madeline (9:51:54 PM):

you’re a greek student and are unacquaited with the term amanuensis!?

Me (9:51:55 PM):

Even I can’t know everything!

Me (9:52:04 PM):

uh…heh heh… yes?

Madeline (9:52:08 PM):

tsk

Me (9:52:11 PM):

I agree.

Me (9:52:14 PM):

What is it?

Madeline (9:52:43 PM):

an amanuensis was a scribe who would take dictation

Me (9:52:56 PM):

ohhh

Madeline (9:52:59 PM):

and was used by the likes of paul and peter in writing the new testament

Me (9:53:01 PM):

So who is typing?

Me (9:53:03 PM):

Atanvarne?

Madeline (9:53:09 PM):

Atanvarne says no

Me (9:53:17 PM):

WHO?

Madeline (9:53:18 PM):

and asks how she would know all that

Madeline (9:53:26 PM):

madeline says she thought you were smarter than that

Madeline (9:53:35 PM):

and continues eating her popsicle

Me (9:53:40 PM):

I’m SO confused.

Me (9:53:43 PM):

This can’t be Andrew

Madeline (9:53:44 PM):

Atanvarne says no, it’s a new popsicle

Me (9:53:48 PM):

it doesn’t sound like him

Madeline (9:54:00 PM):

madeline says you don’t know him well, then

Madeline (9:54:23 PM):

Atanvarne says he’s always logical when you’re around or when visitors are around, but not so in private

Me (9:54:24 PM):

???

Me (9:54:29 PM):

I know that!

Madeline (9:54:35 PM):

Atanvarne says poor Anya

Madeline (9:54:44 PM):

madeline says she is so confused

Me (9:54:45 PM):

Is this Tom?

Me (9:54:48 PM):

I agree

Madeline (9:54:51 PM):

who’

Me (9:54:51 PM):

with Madeline

Madeline (9:54:53 PM):

s tom?

Me (9:54:55 PM):

TOM

Me (9:55:01 PM):

He lives on your roof.

Madeline (9:55:01 PM):

madeline’s boyfriend tom?

Me (9:55:04 PM):

Don’t you know anything?

Madeline (9:55:12 PM):

HE LIVES ON OUR ROOF NOW!?!?!?!

Me (9:55:20 PM):

Last I knew, anyway.

Me (9:55:25 PM):

I guess that this is not Tom.

Madeline (9:55:28 PM):

I shall have to talk to that girl, this is completely unacceptable

Me (9:55:39 PM):

Okay, I like this game.

Me (9:55:41 PM):

Is this Andrew?

Madeline (9:55:48 PM):

is it not?

Me (9:55:56 PM):

That’s what I’m asking you.

    Madeline (9:56:08 PM):

and thus I asked in reply

Me (9:56:18 PM):

you’re sounding more like Andrew now.

Madeline (9:56:49 PM):

Madeline just choked on her popsicle when she read that

Me (9:56:52 PM):

LOL

Me (9:56:57 PM):

Oops, I mean, is she okay?

Madeline (9:57:30 PM):

I would guess I sound more like andrew to you now because you knew him back in his debate days, and would have more exposure to this side of his personality

Me (9:57:41 PM):

true

Madeline (9:57:41 PM):

madeline’s on her third popsicle

Me (9:57:45 PM):

which side?

Madeline (9:57:51 PM):

with a fourth in her other hand

Me (9:58:01 PM):

She’s going to go into sugar shock

Me (9:58:09 PM):

so… is this A2?

Madeline (9:58:19 PM):

isn’t it?

Me (9:58:20 PM):

Please give me an answer without teeth and without horns!

Madeline (9:58:35 PM):

ok

Madeline (9:59:35 PM):

im typing with my big toe now

Me (9:59:46 PM):

That’s disgusting.

Me (9:59:53 PM):

no wonder it took you so long.

Madeline (10:00:02 PM):

Atanvarne says she’ll never touch the keyboard again

Madeline (10:00:13 PM):

looks like she’ll need an amanuensis, too

Me (10:00:14 PM):

Of course she won’t, she’s germaphobic.

Me (10:00:22 PM):

I guess I’ll be talking to you a lot, then.

Madeline (10:00:36 PM):

she says she’s just extra-aware of her surroundings, not germaphobic

Me (10:00:48 PM):

*skeptical look*

Madeline (10:00:55 PM):

I bet if she lost a leg she’d be “handi-capable”, then, too

Me (10:00:55 PM):

actually *disbelieving look*

Me (10:01:07 PM):

Rightho

Me (10:01:12 PM):

Why don’t you get on your own name?

Madeline (10:01:19 PM):

madeline says she thought you said rigatoni

Me (10:01:20 PM):

Assuming that this is still not-Madeline?

Madeline (10:01:28 PM):

I have my own name

Me (10:01:43 PM):

Is this the internet equivalent of cross-dressing?

Madeline (10:01:48 PM):

but directly answering questions goes against the socratic method

Me (10:01:59 PM):

Oh, so now you’re Socrates.

Me (10:02:00 PM):

Great.

Madeline (10:02:06 PM):

no

Madeline (10:03:03 PM):

socrates’ philosophy, though narrative based and recognizing the need for a higher standard in value judgments, failed to provide an acceptable account of the divine

Me (10:03:13 PM):

Puh-leeze. 

Me (10:03:19 PM):

I read that stuff.

Madeline (10:03:22 PM):

madeline’s on her fifth popsicle

Me (10:03:30 PM):

I’m classically educated, for goodness sake.

Me (10:03:35 PM):

Good for her!

Madeline (10:03:51 PM):

then we could have an intelligent discussion of socrates

Madeline (10:03:54 PM):

or descartes

Me (10:03:57 PM):

Did you want to?

Madeline (10:04:01 PM):

descartes also erred greatly

Me (10:04:06 PM):

No, please, I don’t really like Descartes.

Me (10:04:09 PM):

Too much math.

Me (10:04:15 PM):

How ’bout about superstring theorum?

Madeline (10:04:20 PM):

hence his error

Madeline (10:04:38 PM):

a little bit too scientific for my tastes

Me (10:04:46 PM):

The wheels in your head go round and round, round and round, round and round…

Me (10:04:55 PM):

Oh, but it’s meta-physics.

Madeline (10:05:17 PM):

*shrug*

Me (10:05:47 PM):

Does this mean that you don’t know anything about it?

Me (10:06:00 PM):

or that you prefer your brain un-exploded.

Madeline (10:06:41 PM):

I have not looked into it in a while

Madeline (10:06:52 PM):

is that the theory that proposes additional dimensions?

Me (10:07:39 PM):

Si, senor

Me (10:07:50 PM):

(or senorita, depending on whom I’m talking to.)

Madeline (10:07:53 PM):

ah, okay, i remember that then

Me (10:08:02 PM):

it’s interesting.

Madeline (10:08:13 PM):

somewhat

Me (10:08:45 PM):

weird, for sure.

Madeline (10:08:50 PM):

it’s rather difficult to wrap one’s mind around

Me (10:08:55 PM):

Heh, yeah.

Madeline (10:09:09 PM):

madeline’s on her sixth pospicle now

Me (10:09:17 PM):

Do you think that I care?

Madeline (10:09:21 PM):

she’s glaring at her amanuensis

Madeline (10:09:31 PM):

she’s shocked that you don’t care

Madeline (10:09:38 PM):

on the verge of tears, I’d say

Me (10:09:40 PM):

I didn’t say that I didn’t

Madeline (10:09:49 PM):

she’s crying so hard she’s convulsing

Me (10:09:51 PM):

I asked if you thought that I did?

Me (10:09:54 PM):

Yeah, right.

Me (10:09:56 PM):

She’s laughing.

Madeline (10:10:11 PM):

my, she can’t speak she’s so shocked

Madeline (10:10:18 PM):

nor can she stand straight

Me (10:10:22 PM):

*she’s laughing so hard

Me (10:10:29 PM):

Let me guess, she’s rolling on the floor.

Madeline (10:10:33 PM):

Atanvarne says she can only make hideous gasping noises

Me (10:10:39 PM):

I believe it.

Madeline (10:11:04 PM):

now Atanvarne wants to clarify that it’s madeline, not her making the hideous gasping noises

Madeline (10:11:14 PM):

CLARIFY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Me (10:11:14 PM):

I knew that

Madeline (10:11:25 PM):

quoth the Atanvarne

Madeline (10:11:33 PM):

er, madeline

Madeline (10:11:36 PM):

er…

Madeline (10:11:39 PM):

someone

Me (10:11:41 PM):

*laughs*

Me (10:11:47 PM):

Call the paramedics

Madeline (10:12:02 PM):

madeline just fell into a cabinet

Madeline (10:12:09 PM):

she hurt herself ratehr terribly

Me (10:12:20 PM):

poor girl.

Me (10:12:29 PM):

I sympathize greatly.

Madeline (10:12:31 PM):

she’s putting pressure on it to hold the blood in

Madeline (10:12:43 PM):

and by pressure I mean her seventh popsicle

Me (10:13:13 PM):

What, is she now addicted to popsicles?

Me (10:13:27 PM):

What flavor?

Madeline (10:13:29 PM):

no, she’s attempting to osmose it through her foot

Me (10:13:37 PM):

EWWWW GROSS.

Madeline (10:13:38 PM):

she keeps sobbing

Madeline (10:13:47 PM):

I think she’s still sad about earlier

Me (10:13:49 PM):

From so much laughing?

Me (10:13:55 PM):

I am deeply sorry

Me (10:13:58 PM):

*cough*

Madeline (10:13:59 PM):

no, she says it hurts

Me (10:14:06 PM):

From laughing so much?

Madeline (10:14:11 PM):

and there will be a big bruise there forever

Me (10:14:12 PM):

Or from falling into the cabinet?

Madeline (10:14:15 PM):

probably on her heart

Madeline (10:14:18 PM):

from your insult

Me (10:14:29 PM):

Um, Madeline, tell him that he sounds like Antion.

Madeline (10:14:29 PM):

she says I think i’m so clever

Madeline (10:15:03 PM):

madeline says it’s cool

Madeline (10:15:15 PM):

Atanvarne says it’s all good

Me (10:15:17 PM):

What, him sounding like Antion?

Madeline (10:15:23 PM):

no, the popsicles

Madeline (10:15:26 PM):

sheesh

Me (10:15:43 PM):

What flavor are your siblings eating?

Madeline (10:15:45 PM):

madeline claims she’s about to die

Me (10:15:48 PM):

Are you eating them too?

Madeline (10:15:50 PM):

no

Me (10:15:53 PM):

Can I have her scrapbooks?

Madeline (10:15:57 PM):

they’ve run the gambit of flavors

Madeline (10:16:04 PM):

she says ew

Madeline (10:16:08 PM):

they look like dandruff

Me (10:16:08 PM):

if she dies, I mean

Me (10:16:14 PM):

The scrapbooks?

Me (10:16:16 PM):

O_O

Madeline (10:16:18 PM):

yes

Madeline (10:16:19 PM):

oh

Madeline (10:16:22 PM):

she says no

Madeline (10:16:27 PM):

apparently that was another conversation

Me (10:16:29 PM):

I think you’re confused

Me (10:16:39 PM):

Well, may I have them if she dies?

Me (10:16:43 PM):

The camp one, anyway?

Madeline (10:17:18 PM):

no, Atanvarne wants it

Me (10:17:22 PM):

Sheesh

Madeline (10:17:28 PM):

she says photos make wonderful fireworks

Me (10:17:46 PM):

Oh, BAD Atanvarne

Me (10:18:09 PM):

Where have your capitalization skills gone?

Me (10:19:11 PM):

oh, and Madeline?  I still don’t know how to put my own picture in the avatar place.

Madeline (10:19:41 PM):

madeline burps in response

Me (10:19:47 PM):

TMI

Madeline (10:19:47 PM):

and then hits her amaneuensis

Me (10:19:53 PM):

Good for her.

Madeline (10:19:56 PM):

TMI?

Me (10:20:03 PM):

*hits her amaneuensis as well*

Madeline (10:20:04 PM):

is that some sort of acronymal assault?

Me (10:20:12 PM):

Too much information

Madeline (10:20:34 PM):

you have an amaneuensis?

Me (10:20:49 PM):

They’re called my fingers!

Madeline (10:20:52 PM):

ah

Me (10:20:56 PM):

I said that I hit HERS

Madeline (10:21:22 PM):

which could equally have been a pronoun referring to you in the third person, given the narrative form of your statement

Me (10:21:38 PM):

I meant you.

Me (10:22:02 PM):

I’m at a safe distance.

Me (10:22:11 PM):

Hasn’t she finished that popsicle yet?

Madeline (10:22:27 PM):

she’s on a new one

Madeline (10:22:33 PM):

I think it’s her eighth

Madeline (10:22:34 PM):

ot ninth

Madeline (10:22:36 PM):

I lost count

David:  could you please start ranting about something so I have something to do?David:  sooooo how was whateveryoudo? [Districts]

Antion:  I like the lawyer… he makes things more interestingAnd mhmm.  I could find a lot more amusing stuff, but I don’t feel like continuing to do that… it has been amazing.  A lot of goofiness, a lot of thought-provoking stuff, a lot of blessings.  Things ranging from, “goodnight… get a good sleep” to “ve con la amor de Dios”.  It’s like an online L’Abri. 

 I have been in awe and amazement at the blatant disrespect of viewers and dishonesty in the primary coverage this year. Some cable news networks have been nothing more than ooh and aah sessions and cheerleading for candidates of their choice. The media has driven this primary like none other I can ever remember. Just two weeks ago, while Obama was “on a losing streak”, finally the media admitted the bias in coverage .  (video)

Of course, if everyone’s buying the spin and parroting the lines, why should they stop? Now, the same dynamic was going on to a lesser extent in the RNC primary, but the voters didn’t vote as instructed (for Mitt Romney or Fred Thompson or Rudy). In the RNC campaign, we did hear talk about winning the correct states , but in the DNC campaign it seems that is off limits. Perhaps that is because the RNC structures their delegate system fairly similar to the electoral college system.  If Obama was the RNC candidate and won the states he did, he would not win the primary.

Ten days ago, The media was reporting a wane in the momentum of Senator Obama’s campaign,  and that he just couldn’t close the deal. They talked about how last minute voters were breaking for Clinton in every primary.On Tuesday, the senators split states and now the media declares the game is all but over for Senator Clinton . I can not be the only person in America who sees the electoral college standard is one that must be considered.At this point in the race, one begins to ask when is an honest assessment of the electoral results going to be discussed? How much longer are democratic primaries going to be detached from electoral realities?

For example, if today was the general election and Senator Obama wins every state he won to date in the primary (not likely) he would have 212 electoral votes and if he took the remaining states of WV, KY, OR, SD and MT, he would have 238 electoral votes. 270 are needed to win the election, so he would lose the general election.

 Senator Clinton on the other hand currently has 297 electoral votes in the states she has won to date. If you subtract Michigan’s 17 delegates she still has 280 electoral votes . Please remember Senator Obama withdrew his name from the ballot, it was “on there” and then he had it removed.

 None of this is secret  or new information and I simply do not understand how people can not do the simple mathmatics and realize if this was a presidential contest Clinton won already and Obama could not mathmatically win, but yet we hear this is “how we figure delegates” and the real winner of the election doesn’t have enough delegates by democrats standards? What kind of rank idiots are running the party anyway?  Is this who we are to trust change to?.

 Does anyone see a correlation between how the Democrats system is not based in reality and continually losing presidential elections?  Does anyone else see a leadership gap in the DNC ? If the Democrats want to be taken seriously as the party of change, shouldn’t change begin in the Democratic Party ?  Shouldn’t we see they can run a primary without major problems that they created themselves?  Dean’s attitude toward the voters of states he needs to win the general election should be reserved for other politicians. How can Democrats be taken seriously if they plan to disenfranchisie Florida (and Michigan) voters  who had nothing to do with the decision on when to vote, especially after crying for 8 years about the 2000 election? Where has Howard Dean’s leadership been? Have any of the democratic candidates called for his resignation publically? Now that would show a sign of intestinal fortitude and leadership.  video

 If the best the Democratic Party has to offer for leadership, or as a foretaste of what is to come, what kind of change is that? We  keep hearing that we want to get beyond politics and beyond race but what do we have, politics, spin and race coming out of both campaigns. In fact, how much more old politics can you get than Howard Dean? Listen to him-not me !

The North Carolina  primary showed that America has not gotten beyond race. Maybe post-racial  is supposed to be defined as describing whites being post-racial ? When I hear Barack talk condescending about white voters, it certainly can not apply to him. He keeps telling white folks what our predispositions are. I have even heard Hillary lambasted for mentioning that white blue collar workers tend to support her. If we are so post-racial, why is stating a polling result biased or wrong? Why can one candidate mention attributes of a race and it be fine while another can not mention race at all?  To pretend race is not an issue in Harlem, the Bronx, LA, Philadelphia, The Loop, South Side Chicago, Trinity United Church of Christ, Boise, Miami, Matha’s Vineyard or Coral Gables is to be detached from reality.  Have peoples attitudes changed drastically? Sure they have.

But this pipe dream being sold is a lie. Race will always matter to many black people and white people. Reparations are still being discussed. A realistic view is that the emotinonal healing still needing to occur is among the black people. Just look at Michelle Obama, a woman who has risen to an enviable place in life is still very bitter and trying to get beyond injustices she perceives has been done to her and her people. That very language shows that we are still divided even among the leaders of the black community and those wanting to lead the country, it is still an issue.

I was glad to see this video point to the fact that his appeal is to a limited demographic, even in the primary cycle with favorable press coverage. Indiana points to the same thing. (video)

I certainly am not advocating a change of rules at this stage of primary elections, But when one considers the electoral college is the standard by which presidential elections are decided,  then there is  more than a compelling case for the superdelegates to nominate Hillary Clinton. It is pure electoral mathmatics and why you have a superdelegate system.  The superdelegates system was put into place as a corrective.

No one is going to win the nomination without the superdelegates putting them over. The problem is fear of being called a racist if they balance this to what the electoral system is. The main problem was the system  iteself, a problem Dean knew existed and did nothing about. Secondly, the next problem came when state legislatures voted to move their priomary dates up and the “party committees” wanted to show who was boss and said if you do that your votes won’t count and your delegations won’t be seated. He played chicken and the states said who do the political parites think they are to tell the states in a federal system when they can vote? But Howard Dean, is going to show the states who he is, and teach them a lesson to mess with the DNC.

Don’t people get this? These party leaders think they are gods who can order state governments around when they are just a political party. Who pays for the primary elections? Not the political parties. This whole situation just spotlights the insanity of the democratic party politics and how people don’t even question it is even worse! No wonder it is happening- people just take it.

We hear things like hope and change, but let’s see the candidates get presidential and take control of their party and have some straight talk, not politics. If this Barack Obama is about change, lets see him tell Howard Dean to take a hike for overstepping his position and disenfranchising voters. Or Hillary Clinton. If you can not take on those in your party, and clean up your own party, why should any sane person believe you can accomplish it in the country?

So, in their honor, some quotations:

An expert is a person who avoids small error as he sweeps on to the grand fallacy. ~ Benjamin Stolberg

Where facts are few, experts are many. ~ Donald R Gannon

An expert is a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field. ~  Niels Bohr

Don’t be buffaloed by experts and elites. Experts often possess more data than judgment. Elites can become so inbred that they produce haemophiliacs who bleed to death as soon as they are nicked by the real world. ~ Colin Powell

There are as many opinions as there are experts. ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

Always listen to experts. They’ll tell you what can’t be done and why. Then do it. ~ Robert Heinlein

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. ~ Galatians 5:16-18

Arianna Huffington is doing for Senator Mc Cain what no ad he could run may ever be able to do. She has distanced Senator Mc Cain from president Bush.

The LA Times reports:

“On her Huffington Post website Monday, the pundit said the presumptive Republican presidential nominee had confided shortly after his bitter loss nearly eight years ago that he had not voted for Bush.

McCain suffered sharp attacks from Bush supporters in the 2000 race, and his disdain for the tactics was no secret. But Huffington’s revelation, if true, would debunk the Arizona senator’s longtime stance as the loyal Republican who closed ranks behind Bush.”

Now if only his campaign would be smart enough to shut up and send her a thank you note.

Let’s see.  Tonight at youth group Peter banned me from sitting on Triopolis.  (That’s what he named the couch… I don’t know why.)  So, what else could I do?  I moved onto the other couch between him and Richard.  Richard didn’t seem to mind a bit.  Peter, on the other hand, GLARED at me and told me to get back to Triopolis.  I pointed out that he had banned me.  He pointed out that he was now squished on his own couch, and that I am a girl, and he is a boy, and I am 17, and he is 13, and he was finding this awkward.  Gracious.  He’s difficult to please.  But I moved back.

Bryan brought glowsticks and we really got the LIFE feeling going.  That was cool.

Samwise and Ross and I hung out for a while, just talking.  We got going on various accents, which was absolutely hysterical.  Ross is a riot.  Samwise is also a riot, but in a different way.  And the three of us had a rather rollickingly good time.

I’m working on a slideshow for Here in America, largely with pictures I’ve taken this spring.  It should be lovely, I think. 

Yesterday we were in a city.  (I would have said “a big city”, but I’m guessing that I would have heard from Griffin about that one.)

Anyway.  Dad had instructed that there was to be no gawking in the one section of town.  A while later, Ibey asked, ”Hey, are we out now?”

Dad said yes.

Miss Dog Lover followed this affirmative answer up immediately with, “So it’s okay to gawk now?”

And… I’m supposed to be getting off.  Goodnight.

Last night’s was Life without chocolate is too terrible to contemplate. Rather like the old ad A day without orange juice is like a day without sunshine. Or Socrates’ The unexamined life is not worth living.

My thoughts: life could still be good without chocolate, though probably not as sweet for the stockholders in Dove Chocolates. Life is completely fine without orange juice and the accompanying sugar rush, and we can get by with marginal sunshine, being part bookworm and part hobbit. But, the unexamined life? Ack! Where would that leave bloggers?

Things I hate to go a day without:

* saving knowledge of Christ

* something to think about

After a mere, what? 6 weeeks? I now have a website up again!

Now - all of you who have been anxiously checking the internet every day, holding your breath and going on hunger strikes until you can buy a Skirty . . . this is your lucky moment!

Here’s the tricky bit though. The Skirty comes to you now with a new web address. (I finally gave up the battle with the cyberspace bureaucrats who were holding my website hostage and just got another one. That’ll learn ‘em.)

So . . . NOW when you want to order a Skirty, you need to go to www.amoretti-designs.com

Alright then. No more excuses. Sally forth and go get yourselves some Skirties!

This year we had a friend and his daughter over to celebrate with us. After they left, we all played outside in the backyard while daddy enjoyed a cigar. Emmie (2yrs) came to him with a yellow piece of candy and asked him to open it, so he did. Then he asked her, “Does it taste like lemon?” She said, “Yes.” A few minutes later Emmie came back to Josh and pointed at his cigar and asked, “Does it taste like lemon?”  

They were gone for over an hour, and when they came back my dad came in and asked my mom, “Deb, where’s my shotgun?”  I laughed, because that’s just my dad’s sort of humor. I knew things had gone well.  Josh came into the kitchen where I was washing dishes and officially asked me to be his girlfriend.  Of course I said yes =)

How many times when we discuss God’s attributes do we create a American God instead of the Biblical One? Do you feel it may actually be tougher to grasp the concept of God, His Sovereignity, His Divine rights of the Creator over the created, His Rule, King, Kingdom, Kingdom Authority, being a subject, the power of the King’s Word and His commands under an american style of governance?

What say you?

____________________

The only freedom we have is in a man nailed to a tree.  Check out this video