YKYW - Nursing Student Blog

I tried several times to write something to sum up how I felt five years ago, but I cannot find the words. Gene’s touching and thought-provoking Five Years After 9/11 is better than anything I could write.

What’s more, exercising our rights to free speech and a free press are now considered aiding and abetting the terrorists who hit us on 9/11 and would like to again. Pointing out the disastrous handling of the Iraq war and the lies that led up to it is encouraging the terrorists. Demanding that we come up with a plan to resolve the situation in Iraq, or that we not rush headlong into a war with Iran, is “appeasement”, the crime committed by Chamberlain when he met with Hitler in Munich.

The fact that so many Americans think we should meekly surrender so many of our rights in the name of “security” is a absolute disgrace, and when this chapter in our nation’s history is written we will have much to be ashamed of. The fact that the Bush Administration chose again and again to ignore the Constitution and go with with the lazy, easy, and venal path is to be expected, given their track record. But the fact that so many Americans think that the best way to be “safe” is to hand over power to the government and hope they’ll take care of us is profoundly disturbing.

Be sure to read the whole thing. I still have goosebumps.

I’ve seen this in a few places, but it amuses me, so here it is in case you haven’t seen it:

10 reasons gay marriage will ruin our society

01) Being gay is not natural. Real Americans always reject unnatural things like eyeglasses, polyester, and air conditioning.

02) Gay marriage will encourage people to be gay, in the same way that hanging around tall people will make you tall.

03) Legalizing gay marriage will open the door to all kinds of crazy behavior. People may even wish to marry their pets because a dog has legal standing and can sign a marriage contract.

04) Straight marriage has been around a long time and hasn’t changed at all; women are still property, blacks still can’t marry whites, and divorce is still illegal.

05) Straight marriage will be less meaningful if gay marriage were allowed; the sanctity of Britany Spears’ 55-hour just-for-fun marriage would be destroyed.

06) Straight marriages are valid because they produce children. Gay couples, infertile couples, and old people shouldn’t be allowed to marry because our orphanages aren’t full yet, and the world needs more children.

07) Obviously gay parents will raise gay children, since straight parents only raise straight children.

08 ) Gay marriage is not supported by religion. In a theocracy like ours, the values of one religion are imposed on the entire country. That’s why we have only one religion in America.

09) Children can never succeed without a male and a female role model at home. That’s why we as a society expressly forbid single parents to raise children.

10) Gay marriage will change the foundation of society; we could never adapt to new social norms. Just like we haven’t adapted to cars, the service-sector economy, or longer life spans.

A pro-life group is protesting Planned Parenthood’s sale of a line of ‘condom key chains’ that include a takeoff on Michelangelo’s famous Sistine Chapel image in which the hand of God gives a condom to Adam.

The abortion provider is in a “never-ending quest to sexualize everything in our culture,” said Jim Sedlak, executive director of American Life League’s STOPP International. Some of the 28 versions of the key chain, sold by Planned Parenthood of Connecticut, are “blasphemous,” asserted Sedlak, who urges Americans to contact local schools and churches and insist “that the promiscuity promoters at Planned Parenthood not be allowed anywhere near our children.”

The money quote from the comments section:

“The people who came up with the Catholic school girl outfit don’t get to talk about other people sexualising anything.”

Personally, I wish I had more reasons to carry around condoms. These keychains are hilarous!

Hat Tip — Dahne, Worldnet Daily, Pandagon

Washington, D.C. (AP) - Congress today announced that the office of President of the United States of America will be out-sourced to India as of February 1, 2006. (more…)

“In America, anyone can be president - that’s one of the risks you take.”

DC is awesome! I told her that I was going to see this weekend and she offered me her frequent flyer ticket. And while I was trying to figure out what time to fly back on Sunday night, she said “Why don’t you just fly back on Monday morning?” Wonderful idea! And now I get another night of cuddle time with The Girl. Even though I’m going to be tired! on Monday afternoon, it will be worth it! I’m very excited!! *happy dance* Oh! AND! T.G. is trying to get us tickets to see the Astros play at some point over the weekend. That would be too cool (it would be even better if they actually won but I realize that I’m probably asking for too much…)

I’m supposed to go play with MW tonight, but I’m not going to have time. I have to dig out some sweaters (because it’s brrr cold here…55 degrees this morning!) and pack for the weekend. But, I need to meet up with her at some point because most of the pictures from this past weekend are on her camera. I have a few, but she has the video of me saying “Be My Bitch!” Haha! (I didn’t know I was being recorded, I thought she was just taking pictures.)

I missed the part in the debates last night where gay marriage was discussed. Dammit. Really though, I didn’t want to watch the debates. The more I watch Bush speak, the more I think people who vote for him are blind, dumb or suffer from some sort of brain impairment. I’m pissed off that we still have an electoral college, because I feel like my vote will not really matter since I live in Texas. (Yes, I will vote anyway.)

Since almost everyone is making politcal entries these days, I’ve been trying to stay away from it. However, this was too funny:

“Cheney points to anti-Bush site
During the Tuesday night vice presidential debate, Cheney cited a Web site…as a place for citizens to find details about the charges Democrats have made against Halliburton…However, while the project’s Web site is at factcheck.org, the address that Cheney provided was factcheck.com…Factcheck.com redirects visitors to another site, georgesoros.com, a personal site of billionaire George Soros titled “Why We Must Not Re-elect President Bush: A Personal Message from George Soros.”

Whole article:
http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2004/1004/web-fact-10-06-04.asp

(found on Google News)

I saw the best bumper sticker in my parking lot at work this morning:

“I can not vote for Bush and still love America”

***

For those of you in DFW:

“Gay Day at the State Fair in Fair Park
This Sunday, October 3, 2004
National Coming Out Day Celebration

Come out and come as you are (wear red if you’d like!) for a full day of fun at the State Fair of Texas®. Join gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people and their family, friends, and allies to enjoy the rides, exhibits, and food at the fair.

General admission is $12, and most of the shows and attractions are free once you get inside. Seniors (60 & over) and children ages 3 up to 48-inches-tall pay only $8. Children 2 and under are admitted free. Discounted general admission ticket in advance for $10.50 at Kroger. State Fair parking is $8 per car.”

I have some friends going, but I prolly won’t. I am going twice next weekend, so I think going this weekend would be over-kill. Plus, I have a wedding to go to on Sunday (although I really don’t want to go, I can’t figure out how to not go and manage to not hurt DDB’s feelings). Next weekend is Brad Paisley and Los Lonely Boys, if anyone would like to join us!

Where do you fall on the liberal - conservative political spectrum? (United States)
brought to you by Quizilla

PS - Can you tell class is boring today?
SOMEONE - Please post something interesting to read/comment on.

Oh, and I’m not diggin this new update screen.

Here are 100 banned books of 1990-2000. Bold in the ones you’ve read. From ala.org

Scary Stories (Series) by Alvin Schwartz
Daddy’s Roommate by Michael Willhoite
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling
Forever by Judy Blume
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Alice (Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
The Giver by Lois Lowry
It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris
Goosebumps (Series) by R.L. Stine
A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Sex by Madonna
Earth’s Children (Series) by Jean M. Auel
The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
The Stupids (Series) by Harry Allard
The Witches by Roald Dahl
The New Joy of Gay Sex by Charles Silverstein
Anastasia Krupnik (Series) by Lois Lowry
The Goats by Brock Cole
Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane
Blubber by Judy Blume
Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan
Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam
We All Fall Down by Robert Cormier
Final Exit by Derek Humphry
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters by Lynda Madaras
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Beloved by Toni Morrison
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
The Pigman by Paul Zindel
Bumps in the Night by Harry Allard
Deenie by Judy Blume
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Annie on my Mind by Nancy Garden
The Boy Who Lost His Face by Louis Sachar
Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat by Alvin Schwartz
A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Sleeping Beauty Trilogy by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice)
Asking About Sex and Growing Up by Joanna Cole
Cujo by Stephen King
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
The Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell
Boys and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
Ordinary People by Judith Guest
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Boys: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Sons by Lynda Madaras
Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
Crazy Lady by Jane Conly
Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher
Fade by Robert Cormier
Guess What? by Mem Fox
The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende
The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Native Son by Richard Wright
Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women’s Fantasies by Nancy Friday
Curses, Hexes and Spells by Daniel Cohen
Jack by A.M. Homes
Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo A. Anaya
Where Did I Come From? by Peter Mayle
Carrie by Stephen King
Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume
On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer
Arizona Kid by Ron Koertge
Family Secrets by Norma Klein
Mommy Laid An Egg by Babette Cole
The Dead Zone by Stephen King
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
Always Running by Luis Rodriguez
Private Parts by Howard Stern
Where’s Waldo? by Martin Hanford
Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene
Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Running Loose by Chris Crutcher
Sex Education by Jenny Davis
The Drowning of Stephen Jones by Bette Greene
Girls and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
View from the Cherry Tree by Willo Davis Roberts
The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
The Terrorist by Caroline Cooney
Jump Ship to Freedom by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier

Am I the only one who sees the humor in this headline and associated picture?
(Screenshot taken from Google News earlier today)