Picture of the Day

After a long day at the lake, the boys decided to take float out on the tube and relax in the sun. When my Aunt Kathy yelled out that we were going to untie them, they took us seriously! David is in front, saving his glasses. And Ben is in the back, saving the Pringles.

Michael Buble

My mom and I completely adore him! So much so, that my mom found this information about his songs, and I wanted to share it with everyone here :)
Michael Bublé was engaged to long-time girlfriend Debbie Timuss, a stage actress, dancer, and singer. Timuss was listed as one of the dedicatees in Bublé's self-titled album "Michael Bublé" and "It's Time," and as background vocalist on "It's Time." While away in Italy, Bublé co-wrote the hit single "Home" for Timuss. Timuss was also featured in the music video for "Home." Their engagement ended in November 2005. Their breakup inspired Bublé to co-write the hit original song "Lost." During an appearance at Australian television's Logie Awards in 2005, he met British actress Emily Blunt backstage. She also provided background vocals on the cover of "Me and Mrs. Jones" on the album "Call Me Irresponsible." The hit original song "Everything" was penned by Bublé for her. Later, Bublé's publicist confirmed that he had broken up with Blunt in 2008.
As of May 2009, he is dating Luisana Lopilato a famous Argentinian actress and model.

Brand New Eyes

Paramore released a new CDlast week, so Reid and I rushed over to buy it. Much to our great excitement Border's was having their Educators Discount weekend, and we saved 30% off everything!
With this great news, we also bought the new RelientK, A Fine Frenzy, and Regina Spektor. I am thrilled and suddenly have a million reasons to be in my car with the CDplayer :)

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

We just went to see this movie tonight. We all loved it! Especially since there were so many plane references. (we're kind of dorks)
I thought I'd post some of the quotes that I liked:
Kowalski:[the plane has crash landed and the penguins are looking at a clipboard] Only two passengers unaccounted for, Skipper.
Private: That's a number I can live with! Good landing, boys! Who says a penguin can't fly?

Melman: Listen Moto Moto. You better treat this lady like a queen because you my friend, you found yourself the perfect women. If I was ever so lucky to find the perfect women I would give her flowers everyday and not just any flowers, okay? Her favorites are orchids, white, and breakfast in bed... six loaves of wheat toast with butter on both sides, no crust. The way she likes it. I'd be her shoulder to cry on and her best friend and I'd spend everyday trying to think of how to make her laugh. She has the most, most amazing laugh. Well that's what I would do if were you.

Alex: I wanna prove to my dad that I'm a *real* lion.
Marty: As opposed to what, a *chocolate* lion?

Private: In case of a loss of oxygen, please place your masks over your faces to hide your terrified expressions from the other passengers.

Julien: [after Melman has announced he has only 48 hours to live] "If I had only two days to live, I would invade a neighboring country, and force my ideology on them, whether they wanted it or not."

The lies they feed you...

Using an undercover camera, Students for Life of America (SFLA) has produced new evidence that infanticide "does happen" at Planned Parenthood abortion clinics. When asked by a pregnant mother if her baby could be born alive at a New Jersey clinic, the nurse responded, "It does happen, but it wouldn't be able to survive on its own so eventually the baby does die." The tape,one in a long line of incriminating videos released to the media, was posted on YouTube to show Planned Parenthood's refusal to comply with the federal Born-Alive Infants Protection Act. Just days later, YouTube removed the post, saying it "violated the web site's terms of use." YouTube may turn blind eye to these injustices, but the U.S. Congress should not. Time after time, the leadership on Capitol Hill has refused to investigate Planned Parenthood, one of the biggest beneficiaries of your taxpayer dollars.Instead of freezing its funds, liberals are seeking ways to increase them!Before you vote for the next class of congressmen, make sure you know where your candidates stand on taxpayer-funded abortion.

What they said...and what we did

According to the story, after every Quantas Airlines flight the pilots complete a 'gripe sheet' report, which conveys to the ground crew engineers any mechanical problems on the aircraft during the flight. The engineer reads the form, corrects the problem, and then writes details of action taken on the lower section of the form for the pilot to review before the next flight. It is clear from the examples below that ground crew engineers have a keen sense of humor - these are supposedly real extracts from gripe forms completed by pilots with the solution responses by the engineers. Incidentally, Quantas has the best safety record of all the world's major airlines.
(1 = The problem logged by the pilot.) (2 = The solution and action taken by the mechanics.)
1) Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
2) Almost replaced left inside main tire.
1) Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.
2) Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.
1) Something loose in cockpit.
2) Something tightened in cockpit.
1) Dead bugs on windshield.
2) Live bugs on back-order.
1) Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute descent.
2) Cannot reproduce problem on ground.
1) Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
2) Evidence removed.
1) DME volume unbelievably loud.
2) DME volume set to more believable level.
1) Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
2) That's what they're there for.
1) IFF inoperative.
2) IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.
1) Suspected crack in windshield.
2) Suspect you're right.
1) Number 3 engine missing.
2) Engine found on right wing after brief search.
1) Aircraft handles funny.
2) Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious.
1) Target radar hums.
2) Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.
1) Mouse in cockpit.
2) Cat installed.

The Wisdom of Albert Einstein

All these are his quotes:
"Imagination is more important than knowledge."

"Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love."
"I want to know God's thoughts; the rest are details."
"I never think of the future. It comes soon enough."
"The eternal mystery of the world is its comprehensibility."
"Sometimes one pays most for the things one gets for nothing."
"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new."
"Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds."
"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."
"Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen."
"Science is a wonderful thing if one does not have to earn one's living at it."
"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources."
"Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school."
"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing."
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."
"Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts."
And my favorite:"Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind."

Trick or Treat!

Life From Where I Stand

In atheist Sam Harris' book, "Letter to a Christian Nation," he talks about what he calls "Real Morality." He claims that anything that is not a direct result of suffering, and that gives you joy for the present time, is moral. Therefore, Abortion, Adultery, and same-sex marriages, are all moral. I wonder if Sam Harris is married and has kids. Because if so, I wonder how his wife stomachs the fact that her husband thinks sleeping around is OK? And I wonder how he punishes his kids, since putting them in time out causes them suffering; it is therefore immoral.

Why do we strive to do good in the eyes of the good? But yet at the same time, love doing bad in the eyes of the bad? Is this instinct? Is it just human nature? Was it brought about through Adam and Eve's sin? And can we ever get rid of it?

I think we have lost sight of the fact that Jesus said "Seek first the Kingdom". We spend more and more time worrying about the things of this world. And less and less time about getting to heaven.


Do It Anyway
People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.

-Kent M. Keith

College Lessons to Learn Now

From Monsignor James M. McDonald
Dear Friends:
There will be a lot of high school graduations this weekend and many of our Catholic High Schools have already conducted theirs. Now there is that last summer at home and the preparation for the big move in late August or early September. I thought in this letter I would like to talk realistically to our new graduates and soon-to-be freshmen. You have serious responsibilities to yourself and your parents and certainly to Christ.
Those of you who are going away will be entering a far different world. You will have to make adjustments and compromises with roommates; in short you will have to learn to live with people other than members of your own family. Some of these people may be great but others can be annoying and definitely unpleasant. I'm hoping that you get a roommate who is a decent, considerate human being. And by the way, be that kind of roommate yourself. You represent your family and all the values you have been taught in your home.
That very different world of college has very definite moral problems. Often enough, the atmosphere is poisoned by immorality. Practically every school considers itself a big drinking school and there is enormous pressure to fit in with an established pattern of drinking that is a considered a part of college life. Don't! Any dope can be a drunk in college - it takes no ability and is an indication of a lack of moral backbone.
Drunkenness kills and if it doesn't do that immediately, it destroys lives through the tragedy of alcoholism. You are a follower of Jesus Christ and not a follower of the world. Be different! You will find others who share your same point of view.
The sixth commandment, which forbids all sexual activity outside of marriage, is not suspended by God during the four years of college. No matter how lonely you may feel or romantically inclined you may be, you are expected to be a living image of Christ at all times. Your parents brought you up with distinct and definite moral values. Please don't disappoint them! Happy marriages do not begin with college immorality.
You have a definite responsibility to go to Mass each and every Sunday or Saturday evening. I'm counting on you to go even if an awful lot of others don't. I urge you to participate in the campus ministry program and make yourself known to the chaplain. Help prepare for Mass if you are fortunate enough to have Mass on campus. Try to participate in the ministry programs. You should meet some wonderful people there.
Finally, you are in college to study. Do it! And, oh yes, use that cell phone to call mom and dad very, very frequently. They will be missing you more than you'll ever know.
In Jesus and Mary, Monsignor James M. McDonald

Trails West!!!

Trails West is the biggest thing to hit St. Joseph since the Pony Express...which is pretty sad. But we always have a really great time. Blooming Onions (me and Mom) and Root Beer (Rachel, Caroline, me, and Katie) are two of the best reasons to go.

Faith, Hope, and Love

Love is patient, love is kind.

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes always perseveres. Love never fails.

But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will come to pass away.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.

When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.

Now we see but a poor reflection; then we shall see face to face.

Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am full known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
(I CORINTHIANS 13: 4-13)

I read a quote once that said "You can't fully love a person until you have stopped hating the rest of the world."

Hate is so easy to feel. It can come upon you faster than you know how to stop it.

Which do you think is more powerful, hate or love? If Hitler could cause so much uproar with his hate, how much uproar do you think Christians could cause with their love?

Show someone your love for them today. It doesn't have to be a big thing. But show it. See how much better your day will go when you spread the love!

John McCain Ad Responds to Biden Attack on Sarah Palin on Stem Cell Research

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The campaign of presidential candidate John McCain has responded to attacks on his running mate Sarah Palin with a new ad touting his support for stem cell research. Palin came under attack from pro-abortion vice-presidential candidate Joe Biden claiming she doesn't support the science.
Biden questioned Palin's commitment to special needs children by attacking Palin's stance on the issue of embryonic stem cell research, which has never helped a single patient.
"Well guess what folks? If you care about it, why don't you support stem cell research?" Biden asked.
Today, the McCain campaign released its latest radio ad, entitled "Stem Cell" that highlights a McCain administration's support for stem cell research to advance medical discovery and treatment.
The ad will air in key battleground states, the campaign told LifeNews.com Friday.
"John McCain will lead his Congressional allies to improve America's health," the ad says.
"Stem cell research to unlock the mystery of cancer, diabetes, heart disease; stem cell research to help free families from the fear and devastation of illness; stem cell research to help doctors repair spinal cord damage, knee injuries, serious burns; stem cell research to help stroke victims," it explains.
"And, John McCain and his Congressional allies will invest millions more in new NIH medical research to prevent disease," the ad continues. "Medical breakthroughs to help you get better, faster. Change is coming."
After the Biden attacks, the McCain campaign released a statement to LifeNews.com saying his comments were "offensive."
And Marjorie Dannenfelser, the head of the Susan B. Anthony List, a pro-life women's group, also took strong exception to Biden's "caustic" comments."Biden outrageously implied that Americans who refuse to sacrifice innocent human life in the name of unproven, desperate attempts to cure our nation’s ills through embryo-destructive research somehow don't really care about children," she told LifeNews.com.
"I am a mother of five children, one with a mental disability. The fact that Joe Biden questioned the compassion of parents like me – Governor Sarah Palin, among them – makes me sputter in disbelief," she added.
Related web sites:Listen to the ad - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-2ayFo3BXs

Jane Austen and Mastering the Fine Art of Flirting

Jane Austen's novels are frequently called courtship novels because they trace one or more young woman's courtship experience Courting followed various rules and protocols that made getting to know each other far more difficult for young couples than it is today. Just spending too much time together led to gossip and speculation. But what is especially intriguing about reading an Austen novel is seeing how the author, while completely aware of the etiquette of courting, also respects the common sense and good morals of her characters as they deal with society's strict and often unreasonable, even hypocritical, notions about male-female relationships. Despite the difficulties involved, though, young couples met, married, and lived happily ever after - or not.

"Oh Lizzy! Do anything rather than marry without affection." (Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 59)

Abortion: Protecting the Womans Rights???

The main argument of abortion is that we are protecting the woman's rights. Her right to decide what is done to her body. We are giving her a chance to speak up for what she believes, and then act on that.

But who decides for the child? The mother? Do you honestly think that if you have that child a choice it would choose death? No, of course not!

Where do the people of our world get off deciding that child's fate? No one ever gave him or her a chance. We are humans, are taking on the role of God.

The parents of a child only give the body. God is the one who gives the soul! If we kill the body, we are murders. If we kill the soul, we are putting our selves about God.

People of this world: stop acting like you know more than God!

Every person is special. God has a plan for every single one of those children. Let them fulfill that plan.

Here are 10 Arguments Against Abortion:

1. Cost of Abortions: The Ministry of Health claimed that the 45 000 women treated in public hospitals for incomplete abortions each year is costing the state R19 million.

2. Backstreet Abortions Increase: Dr Christopher Tietze, an abortion advocate, concedes: "Although one of the major goals of the liberalisation of abortion laws in Scandinavia was to reduce the incidence of illegal abortion, this was not accomplished. Rather as we know from a variety of sources, both criminal and total abortions increased."

3. Parallels between Abortion & Slavery: Slavery in centuries past and abortions in this century were defended and promoted by the same arguments.

4. Indisputable Medical Evidence: The Unborn baby is a Human Being

5. Abortion Aggravates Child Abuse: If children are viewed as expendable before birth, they will be viewed as expendable after birth.

6. Even Legal Abortions are Unsafe: There are many complications that may arise from an abortion. It is not a 'quick fix' at all. The complications include: Ectopic pregnancies, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (reported in up to 30% of all cases), subsequent infertility and miscarriages, future premature births (often because of a cervix that was damaged during the previous abortion), small-for-dates babies and placenta previa, which is 7-15 times more common among women who have had abortions than among those who have not.

7. Increase in Breast Cancer: "Every study of induced abortions performed before the first live birth is consistent with an initial increase in risk of at least 50 percent," reports Dr Joel Brind.

8. Most South Africans Oppose Abortion: A professional survey done by the MarkData arm of Human Sciences Research Council in September and October 1995 shows that the public were strongly opposed to abortion.

9. The Overpopulation Argument: However, is the world really overpopulated? Can we not feed ourselves? In his book "Exploding Population Myths" Jim Peron conclusively proves that the population is not the problem:"In most of the world, food production is easily outstripping population growth, and on a world-wide basis the problem of overpopulation no longer exists."

10. The Bible Declares the Sanctity of Human Life:

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves...defend the rights of the poor and needy." Proverbs 31:8-9
"For you created my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother's womb....Your eyes say my unformed body." Psalm 139:13-16

(Taken from ChristianAction.org)

End-Less War???

While driving down the highway yesterday, we passed a car with a bumper sticker that read: "End-Less War" What in the world does that mean? We are not fighting in a war! We are there to keep the peace, not fight an enemy! How can people see it that way? I know that our nation is suffering because of the war that is happening. I just don't view it in those eyes.
The other thing is gas prices. Obama said that he would tax the oil and gas companies to help lower taxes for the people. Does he realize that it will be the direct cause of the prices going through the roof? The oil and gas companies would make that money back in less than a week! Gas prices are $3, which is the same price as Monsters, or Starbucks coffee drinks. If people gave up one drink a day, they could afford gas!

Fallacy: Appeal to Emotion

I am happy to report that the Tuesday Night Bible Study finally finished discussing fallacies!!!

Three weeks (and 42 Fallacies) later, I think everybody is ready to move on!

You really don't realize how many fallacies you use in your daily speech until you have to read through (with examples) all of them. Appeal to Pity, Straw Man, Genetic Fallacy, Red Herring, Appeal to Flattery, Appeal to Popularity...but I must confess that my favorite was the Bandwagon! (oh Dearest Becca!)

Be careful how you talk, and listen carefully to what others say. Know when someone is committing a fallacy, because it might be your only way out of a very hard situation. (such as someone questioning your beliefs).

Today my mother brought out a book with the title "Eats, Shoots and Leaves." On the first page it tells the story of a Panda who goes into a restaurant, eats his food, pulls out a gun and fires it into the air, and then proceeds to walk out the door. The waitress stands there dumbfounded. But when she looks at the table she sees a pamphlet concerning Pandas. On the front of it are the words "Pandas: Eats, shoots and leaves."

The whole point of the books is how important punctuation is. (I know, this lady had WAY to much time on her hands!) But the books is very interesting and has some funny things to say along the way. For instance, did you know the movie "Two Weeks Notice" should instead say "Two Week's Notice"? A famous movie, and it is missing the punctuation! My mother was appalled! But then again, she is appalled whenever we are driving down the Belt and Green Hills has spelled something wrong! I guess that's what you get when you have employees who make minimum wage.

New Library...and other such adventures with Reid

Well, today was the first day of our new weekly trend. My piano lessons (in Kansas City) are from 2:30-3:30, and Reid has hockey practice at 8. So the parentals have decided that we will stay in Kansas City during the in-between time. So today Reid and I located the nearest public library and signed up for our "new" cards! (I must say that so far it has been the highlight of my day!) I guess it will end up being good because I will have a set time every week that I can check my email and Facebook at a very slow rate!

The Young Riders

I can not believe that I am actually blogging this, but oh well, I suppose it will give me good graces with my mother!

Last night we finished the final episode of The Young Riders. The single season TV series based on one of the Pony Express Mail Stations. It has now taken up a month of our Netflix rentals (which I am less than pleased about), but I must confess that I did learn something from it. And that I will be better at my job because of it.

The boys are head over heals for it. Watching every episode three times.

The romantic parts did draw me in. And the "shoot em up" scenes had me on the edge of my seat. Although, with that said, I do not think that I will be watching them again!