Reflections of the Unemployed Week - 12

Week twelve has come and gone so quickly. I have been busy blogging politics, sifting through my enormous database of photos and spending time with my family. It was announced today that I have won a photo contest on Quadsville.com, small but notable as it was my first contest, the photo will appear in our local "Quad City Times" this Sunday. I was so excited to look for that next photo for the next contest but learned that I can only win once in four weeks. Although I am still allowed to participate. The perfect photo op presented itself while watching my Grandsons. The theme of the contest is "Strawberry Fields" and my precious Grandsons were doing strawberries in each others faces, how convenient.

My last blog "Illinois Senate Ok's Medical Marijuana" has introduced me to new friends with the same medical condition as myself, Fibromyalgia isn't something I normally discuss. I don't want to appear to be a whiner, its just something I "deal with" but felt under the circumstances, that I must put in my two cents for the sake of others. It also allowed me to meet others with different conditions, fighting the fight to legalize Marijuana. I've found myself writing many letters to my public servants regarding many other issues as well and it feels good to be doing something productive while unemployed. You can write yours at Congress.org

I was surprised this week to find more jobs in the newspaper than online and dutifully updated my resume' and composed cover letters. My writing skills seem to have improved and I wrote some awesome cover letters but wonder if they could be too good. I do have to admit, my strongest asset is my business writing skills and combining that skill with my creative writing skills has made a big difference in the final product. The advantage of "mailing" a cover letter and resume' vs. filling out an online application is quite evident now. Sometimes I surprise myself.

I'm still contemplating the school option and my new friends have given me some good ideas for freelancing and ideas for books. A week from today I will be taking a little jaunt to house sit for my cousin for the weekend, not that I don't have a lot of "self" time here but I am looking forward to being surrounded with wildlife and the beautiful view at their home overlooking the Mississippi River. I hope it will be inspiring as well as meditative. Camera and laptop will be in tow.

Peace
Liz

George Bush and Tony Blair Love Song

This was way too funny not to pass up posting...

Reflections of the Unemployed Week - 11

It is now week 11 of being unemployed. Nothing new really to report. I want to thank everyone who has commented on my writing. At least I feel like I'm being productive and I'm making a few bucks in the process (and I do mean, only a "few" bucks) I could easily spend an eight hour day writing about whats going on in the news and I have a few odd ideas just for giggles but I, for some reason, feel guilty spending so much time at the computer because its not a "real job". I've made more money from just one poem than I have over a dozen blog posts. It was enough to purchase two pair of much needed glasses at the time but my poetic muse seems to have left me and who has the entrance fees anyway to enter contests? But I sure could use a pair of bifocals.

My newest endeavor is entering some of my photos in contests being hosted by a couple of big nature magazines and I've been sorting through hundreds of my photos. I don't carry my camera with me at all times, which I'm learning I should. I was leaving the grocery store on Friday and sitting at the red light, it began raining feathers. My first thought was that a bird was hit by a car but the feathers continued to fall in front of my van. I glanced up to see where they were falling from and on the top of a telephone poll, on one of our cities busiest streets was a Redtail Hawk, defeathering his dinner, one feather at a time. Now that was a shot for a Nature Photo contest (kicking self in rear for not having camera).

In the news from the workforce, more businesses are closing and more layoffs are coming on June 1st from Alcoa. One of the businesses closing is a car dealership and its not a GM dealership and a tanning salon closed its doors unexpectedly last week. I'm a bit discouraged on the job hunting, there's not much out there and our community is saturated with people looking. Every so often, the thought of relocating comes to mind but who has the money to relocate and where would one go? Its the same story nearly everywhere.

I've been spending a lot of time with the Grandsons and now that the weather is nicer we can spend more time outside. Last week I drug their toys outside and let them play until dark. Joseph learned how to climb "down" stairs, only one stair off the deck so he's in no danger, however he found the cellar doors and climbed to the top, I heard him whimpering around the corner only to find him stuck. I was running around the yard with the camera and asked Joseph what he was doing "way up there", he stopped whimpering and threw his hands in the air, indicating he really didn't know. Geffory learned how to fly helicopters and I had to teach him how not to crunch them all up in his hands before he tossed them in the air, otherwise they wouldn't fly. They have provided many great photo ops. Geffory is quite the ham and when he's doing something he deems interesting enough I hear "Grandma, take a picture". If only I knew where to send those photos?

Peace
Liz

What Gives with GITMO?

Something about the flack that President Obama is receiving over his decision to keep GITMO open and the reporting of his decision to detain a number of prisoners being held just didn't ring complete to me. I'm not even trusting my own "Watchdog's" reporting any more.

On the "Rachel Maddow Show" last evening, Rachel criticized Obama for his "Radical new claim in Presidential power, which has never been attempted in American History before".

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

If Rachel is referring to the Presidents suggestion of "Reform", Rachel is mistaken. In an article from October 20th, 2005, Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day O'Conner in an address to West Point Academy Cadets, spoke out for "clearer and more high-minded rules governing the detention and interrogation of prisoners in the war on terrorism". President Obama recollected, in his speech that in 2006, he "strongly opposed legislation proposed by the Bush administration and passed by the Congress because it failed to establish a legitimate legal framework with the kind of meaningful due process, rights, for the accuses that could stand up on appeal." In light of those statements it is clear that the "reform" in which Obama is talking about has been an ongoing issue, not one that "has never been attempted before".

Rachel also failed to mention that Obama was referring to "captured prisoners of war" when he stated that he would prevent them from harming Americans. According to the Geneva Convention Document adopted August 12, 1949, prisoners of war can be detained until the close of the conflict (Article 118). If you question whether or not we are technically at war, the beginning of the document defines and answers that question for you. It was a very informative and interesting read.

I was able to obtain a transcript of the speech of President Obama and he does not claim that he is going to "Redefine" the rule of law, only to "Reform" it, making it more "Clear" as Sandra Day O'Conner also thought was necessary in 2005. If it were more clear we may not be going through this circus right now. Nor did the President say the detainees would be detained indefinitely, he said in regards to the "prolonged detention" that our goal is to construct a legitimate legal framework for the remaining Guantanamo detainees that cannot be transferred". One should not assume that "prolonged" means "indefinite" as it surly does not in the dictionary.

What I got from the speech was that we will detain these prisoners until the President can construct a "legitimate legal framework" and not by himself but with "judicial and congressional oversight". Once that happens, it still has to be approved by the Senate does it not? And we have plenty of time if we can detain them until the conflict is over. Its a packaged deal with ending the war.

On a different note, a small community in Montana has asked for some of the detainees be transferred there and here we sit, or I do, in Illinois where North of us in Thompson, there sits a nearly brand new "EMPTY" prison. Why don't we utilize that and in the process produce more jobs? I'm writing my letters to my representatives. I'm not afraid of having them in my state, that argument is ridiculous and being instigated by the "Republican Conspiracy" to maintain a state of fear across our Nation.

Article by Elizabeth Hall
5/22/09

. .

The Republican Conspiracy

Its almost sickening to watch the news anymore. Whats up with the Republicans these days? In the beginning there was the stimulus package and the Republicans refusing to pass the bill. President Obama, in an attempt to appease them (being bipartisan) compromised by incorporating some of their interests into the bill and yet they still boycotted it. There were numerous delays in approving his appointments to his cabinet. They were acting like children, testing the new babysitter and in the process wasting time and money and to accomplish what?

They continue to behave like children, especially a handful of them. Cheney, who is no longer a public servant to the Country, continues to antagonize the President and the American People. As evidenced in the below video, Cheney continues to twist the news, leaving out pertinent information to his statements and invoking fear into the people as usual.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Rachel Maddow digs up contradictions in Cheney's speeches comparing "Then" and "Now". At least in Cheney's attempts to discredit the President, Cheney is discrediting himself and has admitted to torture.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Special Commentary by Keith Olbermann...Give 'em Hell Keith!

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

I keep trying to find the rationalization in these actions by the Republican Party. I can find none. At best, I believe they are upset over President Obama having won the election, they don't appear to want the "War on Terror" to end and are continuing to use "fear" tactics to sway the American People into coming back to their side. But Why?

Rush Limbaugh was interviewed by Glenn Beck Yesterday, May 21, 2009,("Rush to Judgement") and seems to think we will "realize we made a mistake". They know they have done wrong by the Country during the Bush Administration and are trying to "Justify" their actions. In addition I believe, and its just my opinion that they are relentlessly trying to make the President look bad to his voters and possibly make him crack under pressure.

Thus far President Obama has remained unflappable and is earnestly trying to improve the image of America and bring us back to being a "law biding" Country. It appears to me that at this point in time our biggest adversary is the G.O.P. rather than the countries abroad. They are dividing the Nation and looking out for the best interest of themselves and as I've said before, our elected officials are supposed to be working for "we the people", not "they the republicans".


Article by Elizabeth A. Hall
5/22/09

(I had wanted to comment on the GITMO issue but am finding that I have too much to say and it will have to be another blog. Hopefully I will have it posted by this evening.)

Why We Believe in Conspiracies

Ironically in the "Scientific America Magazine that came in the mail yesterday (June 2009 pg 36), there is an article called "Agenticity" by Michael Shermer. Michael Shermer asks the question why do we believe in "souls, spirits, ghosts, gods, demons, angels, alien, intelligent designers" AND "Government Conspirators".

He answers the question in two parts, first explaining the meaning of his coined term "patternicity", he defines it as "the human tendency to find meaningful patterns in meaningless noise". He does state that there are some patterns that are real, such as those found in science of course, (And in my own opinion, the Kennedy Assassination conspiracy)

"The problem" he says "is that we did not evolve a baloney-detection device in our brains to discriminate between true and false patterns." On the positive side of the coin, because of this animal instinct we have survived the ages. "But" he goes on to say, we do something other animals do not do...we have the capacity to be aware of such mental states of desires and intentions in both ourselves and others--we infer 'agenticity': the tendency to believe that the world is controlled by invisible intentional agents."

"There is now substantial evidence from cognitive neuroscience that humans readily find patterns and impart agency to them" He goes on. The article is in the June 2009 issue and you can also visit www.skeptic.com. Michael is also the author of the book "Why People Believe Weird Things". I'm going to have to read that one.

Peace
Liz

The Phantom Shadow

Although this poem was written in the fall, the thunderstorms of spring have the same results. As it thundered and poured this past week and having my Grandson's here, I was reminded of this poem and thought it worthy of sharing. Losing ones power can be a fun and creative experience.

On a chilled autumn

Afternoon of late

Dormant minds

Are forced awake

Sunset makes

its fall descent

While blustery winds

Cause power spent

Conceived on Techno's

Hungry grasp

From gluttonous play

The children fast

A Halloween relic

One vampire's cape

Is transformed by one youth's

Attempt to escape

The shroud conceals

My teenage son

The "Phantom Shadow"

He now becomes

Veiled in darkness

The shadow waits

While giggling after

My grandson skates

Through ghostly lit halls

The duo parade

Setting the scene

For precious memories made

By the amber glow

Of candlelight

The hungry children

Devour night

Then--collapsed center floor

Faint laughter is muddled

Having ate their fill

'Neath the shadow they huddle

On homemade delicacy

Their bellies full

Purged of their energy

By the "Phantom Shadow".

by Elizabeth A. Hall

2003

Liliaceous Trillium

My seeds dispersed by bees and birds,
carried on a summer breeze;
beside the highway, quiet streams,
an open field embraced by trees.

Should you pluck me, I shall last
a while in your vase and die;
ugly, brown, I will turn;
becoming dust before your eyes.

Transplant me in your garden,
view me through stained glass.
I wilt; you saturate my soil
with passion from the past.

I can not live within restraints;
pots or planters ringed with gold,
contained in walls or window sills.
Alas, I will not grow.

Between the pages of your word,
press me in your book of love,
to look upon, remembering
how beautiful I once was.

Published December 3rd, 2007 in the Midwest Writing Center's 2nd Annual Anthology.

© 2006

Disturbed by Picketers Against Obama

On my way to the grocery store yesterday on 23rd Avenue and 41st street, I passed a small group of picketers, toting signs that read "Stop the Obama Deception". Did I miss something? Or do they not understand the definition of "deception"? I'm guessing they've been listening to Rush Limbaugh and I can't say that I'm up to date on what he's preaching at the moment (not worthy of my time).

There is a difference between "deception" ie...the Bush Administration and "transparency" ie... The Obama Administration. "Deception" dear picketers is when someone misleads you by giving you a false impression of the truth. ie...that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and that there was a connection between al-Qaida and Sadam Hussain and the 911 attacks.

Our President has disclosed everything, including the reasoning behind his decisions to "change his mind" and if one reads all the news, not just listens to biased Republican chatter, they might understand, he had good reason for everything he's changed his mind on and I agree with those reasons. I'm sure there was a lot of negotiating, advising and consideration for the consequences of those actions as there should be. He didn't just up and change his mind.

So the closing of GITMO has been extended and disturbing photos of torture are being kept from the "public". You would assume that this would make the Republicans happy, but as I have discovered from watching the news, they will take every opportunity to try to make our President look bad by twisting the stories to suit their agenda. THAT IS DECEPTION!!

Anyway, back to our picketers, they were encouraging cars to honk if they were in a agreement. The intersection was pretty quiet except for the car in front of me. I observed that they were all young men with shaved heads..hmmm. I found myself falling into "stereotyping" and yelling out my car window "Republicans!" as if it were a bad word. Reflecting on it as I walked through the grocery store, I was a bit ashamed at myself (I also called the people in the car in front of me "skinheads")

This incident is a good example of what is happening to the country by just a few talking heads in the news. Subconsciously we are all being brainwashed. I love my country and I am falling for rhetoric that is deviding it. The news is no longer objective and we read and listen to "other peoples opinions". Those that don't have one take what they hear as fact rather than making up their own minds by looking at the big picture with logic, common sense and reasoning and developing their own opinion.

Peace
Liz

Firsts and Food

Joseph took his first steps yesterday at Grandma's house and for a few brief moments he stood in place and clapped for himself. I've not forgotten my daughters first steps, taken in sand on the beach in Spooner Wisconsin at Leesome Lake (she too had just turned 12 months). Unfortunately Grandma didn't have her camera handy this time. However it is moments like these that prompt me to get it out and there were plenty more photo opportunities the rest of the evening.

I've never microwaved a pot pie before; a Grandma's first. The package said to microwave it on high for four minutes. Who wrote those directions? There was nothing left of it after four minutes, fortunately I had another one in the freezer and it cooked in two and a half minutes. Joseph was so patient sitting in his high chair waiting.

After letting it cool for a few minutes I gave Joseph the bowl and decided to see how he did with a spoon, I think another first (if not, it was another Grandma first with Joseph). He knew what to do with the spoon, however getting it in his mouth right side up was a challenge and after several failed attempts I pulled out a fork. I'm pretty sure he got enough to eat, though having a pea stuck to ones forehead is distracting to the onlooker.

Mom showed up before I was done feeding Joseph, or should I say "before Joseph was done feeding himself". Geffory was in tow along with Daddy (as we all know, Daddy's follow Mommy's and do what they are told), they had just been to the demolition derby and for a day in late May, it was too cold to stay.

Mom started to come in the house through the kitchen and spied her youngest covered in food and immediately closed the kitchen door. The door opened again, this time Daddy was in the lead, he too closed the door after peeking in and seeing Joseph. They must have been outside deciding if they should turn and run or brave coming in. They decided to be courageous and enter the battle grounds of what looked like a food war.

Geffory was just in time to share in the desert (peach yogurt, what else?) Afterward they were both stripped and sent to the bathtub. By this time the food on Josephs face had begun to dry and we worried it would be a permanent scar. Fortunately that was not the case and by the time the two of them were turning blue and wrinkled Josephs dinner had softened and was easily removed with a washcloth. It was a redeeming moment for Grandma as I had previously lost the last photos of the two brothers in the bath on Easter because I wasn't yet familiar with the photo program I was using. (Always delete photos on the memory card in "safe" mode).

I used to be thankful my children were five years apart, however watching the two brothers in the bath was almost like watching twins as close as brothers can be. Joseph attempted to assist me, washing Geffory's hair and at one point, for no reason, other than that of having a deep, loving bond, big brother smothered little brother with kisses. They do have their moments of rivalry, as they did later when Geffory, cunningly distracted Joseph to take possession of the die cast corvette using the flashy number 48 Jimmy Johnson car. I don't think Joseph minded, as it turns out, he is a fan of Jimmy Johnson too.

After having lost the dirt and food in the bathtub, both boys were wound for sound and a little lighter as they ran through the house squealing and chasing each other (Joseph didn't really run, just crawled really fast). I don't think Mom and Dad were used to the loud squeals and left their earplugs at the race track. Grandma and Grandpa Neil, however were having a great time encouraging them (We have the advantage of loss of hearing). And when it comes to noise and noisy toys, we live to "bring it on". I don't know yet but I bet both boys were asleep as soon as they hit their car seats.

Reflections of the Unemployed Week 10

What a dreary day! Its actually been a dreary week. Its the 10th week of being unemployed and there have been absolutely no leads. There are two more companies in the news laying off or closing their doors. I was excited about going back to school but rationally, journalism doesn't seem to be a realistic decision.

Over Mother's Day we discussed other options. Healthcare workers are in high demand but I think they always are. At one point I had considered becoming a Hospice Nurse, I enjoyed working with the elderly long ago and death doesn't bother me. I believe we all go to a better place, another dimension perhaps. But after taking care of both my dying parents, I changed my mind. It was a lot of wear and tear on me physically and emotionally.

Yesterday there was only 1 job on my job search engine and today only 4 and I wasn't qualified for any of them. Ironically, there haven't been any jobs that I qualify for on the Unemployment website since I've been unemployed. What does one write on their unemployment job search form, when there aren't any jobs to apply for? Apply for them anyway? Yup! that's what I did. I've applied for every government job that I'm "almost" qualified for as well. I've been trying to get work on the Rock Island Arsenal, there are always jobs available there. The last one I applied for was a "cage attendant". How difficult can it be to hand out tools and such from behind a cage? Maybe I'm "overqualified" for that one.

Should I "blog" my resume'? I'm considering it. Although I have 20 years experience with Accounts payable/receivables/purchasing and payroll I don't want to do that anymore..grrr! I don't want anything remotely associated with Accounting. I'm not quite sure how I ended up doing it for 20 years. Has anyone else blogged their Resume and if so, did it produce any results? Inquiring minds want to know.

Peace
Liz

G.O.P REHAB

I found this post by Ken Rynne; hysterical!

Steele: Put GOP On A "12-Step Program"
Sam Stein Huffington Post
March 4, 2009 11:50 PM
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele pledged on Wednesday to place his party on a "12-step program of recovery." He added that if Republicans wanted to ascend back to the heights of political power, they had to stop trying to be "cool and hip in a Democrat way," and admit their past mistakes." I am putting the party on a 12-step program of recovery," said the RNC chair. "This is going to take some time, it is going to take some effort...We are not the party to be in opposition just for the sake of opposition."

EXCLUSIVE! PLANET WASHINGTON has obtained a first draft of the STEELE STEPS OF RECOVERY.
FIRST DRAFT
RNC Chairman Michael Steele’s
Twelve Steps of Republicans Anonymous
1. We admitted we were powerless over Washington —that our party had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to majority.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of Rush as we understood Him.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of our opponents.
5. Admitted to Rush, to ourselves, and to every human being the exact nature of others’ wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have Rush revile all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked Him to overlook our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons who had harmed us, and became willing to accept amends from them all.
9. Made direct amends to people wherever absolutely necessary, except when to do so would injure us or ours.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when others were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and medication, especially medication, to improve our conscious contact with Rush as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His Will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to the media, and to practice these principles and deny all our affairs.

PlanetWashington.com
When news breaks, we fix it

More Torture Photos? Does The Public Really Need To See Them?

Watching Chris Matthews 5/13/09, the argument about weather or not President Obama is "flip flopping", "re-nigging"...blah blah blah on the release of 2000 torture photos, really disgusted me. Let me ask you if you want to see the crime scene photos of a young girl who was tortured, raped and murdered? If you do, you're one sick bastard! I don't want to see them, I don't have any reason to see them and neither does anyone else other than those who will be in charge of prosecuting those responsible!

The photos in question that portray the torture of prisoners "have been" released and reviewed. They are in the appropriate hands now and the American Public has no reason to view them. They are crime scene photos and President Obama's decision not to release them to the public is the correct decision. The previously released photos caused unnecessary retaliation, why would we want to endanger the lives of our servicemen overseas, or instigate more terrorism?

Anthony Romero, Executive Director of ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) is fighting to have them released to the public. "Shut up Anthony"! You just had your 15 minutes of fame, the photos were released, leave it alone and let the Federal Courts do their job and quit whining because you didn't get to see them.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

"The Truth About Richard Bruce Cheney"

Rachel Maddow tweeted this website today, so I checked it out. I'm not going to spend a lot of time writing about it, the author of the article, Lawrence Wilkerson of "The Washington Note" can fill you in. A fine job of Reporting the Truth Mr. Wilkerson! Thank you!

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Also check out the link Commission on Accountability Sign the petition against torture and abuse and make sure this doesn't happen again!

If You Can't Trust the Media, Who Can You Trust?

I'm an avid MSNBC viewer and two shows worth watching, no matter what party you belong to, are Countdown with Keith Olbermann and The Rachel Maddow show. Before the last election I would occasionally catch something on the news and it didn't matter what was said, I believed what I heard. Isn't reporting supposed to be non-biased and objective? Simply report the facts! What I've learned since then is appalling.

I used to think Politics were boring, I couldn't have been more wrong. Politics has drama, suspense, humor and sometimes verges on the ridiculous. When I voted in the past, I voted the issues but I also took into account a candidates character. What annoyed me last night was what Dick Chaney had to say about Colin Powell vs. Rush Limbaugh. I didn't know before the election that I was a Democrat, but if I had to choose between a flighty, shady Democrat and a Republican such as Colin Powell, who is a man of honor and integrity, I would have chosen Colin Powell hands down.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

I'd rather have someone with integrity and honor in office than a Democrat that I couldn't trust, someone that holds the interest of the American People at heart. Remember, we elect these people, they work for us and are are "our" servants, "We the People" have the power to say how our Government should be used! that's "Democracy"! We are partially to blame for voting the last administration into office and then letting them rule the roost and doing what was in their own interest. I don't think that these handful of "Republicans" that are sounding off because they're unhappy about how the election turned out, realize the majority no longer recognizes them, we have a new administration and the "majority" are quite happy with the decision we made.

Knowing what I know now, there is no way I would walk into a voting booth and vote straight "Democrat"! (which I've never done anyway) That's probably how we ended up with some of our most corrupt officials. I think we should remove the option to vote straight Democrat or Republican from our ballots; Force the American people to "think" and use their common sense (if they have any). When we were forced to choose between McCain and Obama, the people saw the extreme differences in the two candidate's "Character" and that's why many of the Republican voters, with common sense, crossed over and voted for a Democrat, it was a "no-brainer". I'm certain that Colin Powell took that into account when he cast his vote.

The hand full of Republicans who have "Gone Overboard" (and they have) no longer represent the people, and are grasping at recovering their image and making it worse by trying to discredit our current administration with lies and twisting the news to suit them and on top of that they have the media reporting biasedly on the news. Would not the act of trying to discredit our President and his administration constitute as "treason"? They are in essence betraying the Country and by "Country" I mean the American People who, by overwhelming majority, voted in the current administration. They are being counter productive in their pursuit and its beginning to verge on the "Ridiculous". Sadly, they make the entire Republican Party look bad.

There was a great article in the June 2009 issue of "Readers Digest" entitled "We're Done With Greed" by Michael Crowley encouraging the people to be more informed. He stated "The only way to get America back on its feet is for regular folks to speak up". The Country belongs to us "Regular Folk" and it is our job to make sure the Government is being ran in a manner that we approve. "We" are partially to blame for not doing so.

Included in the article was a side bar with links to some great websites so we can "Check up" on our servants, check the facts, see how our congressman are voting, read the text on bills such as the stimulus, see where the funds are going. I've included this list of sites on my own side bar. Its become quite clear from today's media, we can't trust what they say as truth as evidenced often by my friends at MSNBC, they love to check facts and find discrepancies in our politician's statements as well as other members of the press.

Which leaves the question for me, If I run the Government does that mean I can have Rush and Cheney's mouths duct taped? Just a thought.

Peace
Liz
5/12/09