Quote for the day

If we believe a thing to be bad, and if we have a right to prevent it, it is our duty to try to prevent it and damn the consequence.

It's Official - My Brother Hates Me

I tried to believe that it wasn't true but then it happened. He brought over the movie Chuck & Larry for us to watch. You would not subject anyone you love to that movie. Clearly the people in it thought that acting was optional for a movie and funny was optional for a comedy. I only made it through 14 minutes and if I could have found the DVD faster I'm sure that time would have been cut by about 5 minutes.

Save yourself - Don't see this movie and don't give it to someone you LOVE. Just Don't.

Quote for the day

Circumstances tell about weaknesses.

Ongoing behavior tells about character.

Quote for the day

If you really put a small value upon yourself,rest assured that the world will not raise your price-unknown

Not Only is Stephen King a great author, he is an Intelligent Man

Her articulated this very well and yet I know some people will still refuse to "get it"

Here is the beginning section of a CNN article I read today that really sums up my own feelings about the news we get today. The article is titled The monster that ate entertainment and can be found here.


(CNN) -- Stephen King knows a horror show when he sees one.


The ups and downs -- mainly downs -- of Britney Spears' year became endless grist for the media mill.

In an interview last month with Time magazine, the master of the macabre asked who the magazine's person of the year would be. Then he offered his own candidates: Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan.

The news media, he observed, is being overwhelmed by entertainment gossip. "[I told 'Nightline,'] 'You guys are just covering -- what do they call it -- the scream of the peacock, and you're missing the whole fox hunt.' Like waterboarding [or] where all the money went that we poured into Iraq. It just seems to disappear.

"And yet you get this coverage of who's gonna get custody of Britney's kids? ... You've got these things going on ... that could affect all of us, and instead, you see a lot of this back-fence gossip." (Read: Who was Time's Person of the

My Fantasy League

I've always wanted to do a fantasy league but I can't figure out the concept. I decided to jump in anyway but instead of sports I'm doing it with gossip. Figure it is a way to learn in an easy setting. Being a sports fan I know how seriously people take their sports and I definitely don't want to mess anyone else up. Anyway, just thought I would share some happenings in my life.

Quote for the Day

I am not a has-been. I am a will be
-Lauren Bacall

Sharing our Christmas Tunes

I know that Christmas is over but really why wait until next year to hear these songs

Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated

Woke up this morning to the news that Bhutto was assassinated. I sadly wonder will this get the news coverage that it should or would we still be wondering what Britney Spears or Lindsay Lohan are doing. So many people I know have no idea of the world outside of the nearest tabloid.


Here is a bit of CNN's article the comeplete article can be found here:

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (CNN) -- Pakistan's former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated Thursday outside a large gathering of her supporters where a suicide bomber also killed at least 14, doctors and a spokesman for her party said.

Benazir Bhutto greets her supporters at the rally that was hit by a suicide attack.

While Bhutto appeared to have died from bullet wounds, it was not immediately clear if she was shot or if her wounds were caused by bomb shrapnel.

Police warned citizens to stay home as they expected rioting to break out in city streets as a shocked Pakistan absorbed the news of Bhutto's assassination.

Video of the scene just moments before the explosion showed Bhutto stepping into a heavily-guarded vehicle to leave the rally.

Quote for the day

Real generosity is doing something nice for someone who will never find out. - Frank A. Clark

Quote for the day

I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be

Earthquake Widgets

I live in California. My family in Florida often mention our "earthquakes". While I know we've had a few severe I always have to put it in perspective when I hear about the death and devastation that other places suffer when they have earthquakes. I found this widget today and I think the developer did a terrific job with it so I am sharing it with you my blog readers



I admit, it is a HUGE widget

Quote for the day

Today's quote is a Chinese Proverb:

Govern a family as you would cook a small fish - very gently.

On this Day

Tell someone you love them -without any expectations

Give someone a hug

love yourself

Refrain from negativity

Quote for the day

No one is so opinionated than the totally uninformed.

I love it! This one I intend to use a lot

A message from the astronaut who recently lost his mother

I hate reading about stories and then not hearing a followup. I was glad that Abcnews.com reported that a statement was released. My prayers go with Tani & his family.

Here is the text of Tani's message:

"I would like to thank everyone who has expressed their condolences during this time of grieving for me and my family. Living on the space station means that I experience all aspects of life -- be they joyous or tragic -- while circling the Earth without a convenient way to return. Of course, I was aware of this situation before my mission and I fully accept that I will proudly complete my mission on the International Space Station and join my family when I return. My NASA management and colleagues have been fully supportive through this and I would like to thank them for their concern and compassion.

"My mother was a complete joy. Those who knew her will know that words cannot describe her vitality, generosity and warmth. She was my hero. We will all miss her dearly."

Quote for the Day

Integrity is telling myself the truth. And honesty is telling the truth to other people. - Spencer Johnson

When you think of how many people run from the truth only wanting to hear what they want to hear I think this quote is right on time. Political Correctness can be necessary but it also can do damage when people aren't hearing what they need to hear and continue self destructive behavior.

-AnIntelligentMind

In the News: Astronaut's Mother Dies While Son in Space

I woke up this morning to read the above headline (complete article can be found here and other places) It made me think of how he will get the news (I have not read the complete article) and about the various regrets we have when people die. Even the dumbest person know that death will eventually come to all. Are we prepared for our own? Are we prepared for those around us. If we knew death would strike our enemy would they still be our enemy or would we decide it isn't worth carrying around the grudge/hate, etc. Would we invest more in relationships? I thought about my own mother. I'm sure the outside believes we have a great relationship yet I've been pushing for a relationship for years now. I often wonder if it will ever be worth it to her. Sadly, I feel that she will only believe it is worth it upon the death of herself or I.

Texting, emailing is nice. Building relationships is better.

-AnIntelligentMind

Does this thing work?

Quote for the day

I've always enjoyed quotes. A good quote makes you think and dissect, reflect and repeat.

Here is one I came across today

Determination is the wake-up call to the human will. - A. Robbins


-AnIntelligentMind

Support the Breast Cancer Site

Know your postal rules

I think it is great to send cards and letters, etc. to the military. In fact, it is something we've enjoyed doing for many, many years. It is important to know the rules though. I'm including part of an article that I've seen repeated in the new over the past two years:


No More Letters For 'Any Wounded Soldier'
December 12, 2007 8:27 a.m. EST

Preciosa Dumlao - AHN News Writer
(AHN) - Hundreds of thousands of holiday greeting cards and get-well-soon letters for injured American soldiers were returned to sender or thrown away unopened and never reached their destinations.

The Pentagon and Postal service have refused to deliver mail letters addressed to wounded troops since the September 11 attacks and the anthrax scare, for fear terrorists might send toxic materials or bad messages to the recovering soldier wounded during war.

A rule specified that all mails must be addressed to a specific member of the armed forces. Some American troops were disappointed by the rules because special greetings and well wishers were there greatest inspiration this lonely Christmas season since they are far from their loved-ones.

This news article was found here at All Headline News.

One of my favorite things - AnySoldier.Com

We've been doing this for a few years and it is something that never get old. For us it is about supporting Soldiers. If you have free time or just want to do something consider writing a soldier or supporting the anysoldier.com website in whatever way you see fit. Since the Anthrax scare and 9/11 this is one way to make sure your card, letter or care package gets into the hands of a soldier.

I snipped this from their front page to tell you more about them

How this works:


We have Soldier contacts on the "Where to Send" page. Click through the names and select the one(s) you wish to support. They list what the folks they represent want and need. We even have a search capability so you can easily identify what the troops need most.
All the Soldiers involved in this effort are military volunteers stationed in areas that are in harm's way. You send your support (letters and/or packages) addressed to them and when they see the "Attn: Any Soldier" line in their address they put your letters and packages into the hands of Soldiers who don't get much or any mail first. Everything is shared.

We have "What to Send", "How to Send" and "FAQ" pages to help you properly send letters and packages, please read these. Be sure to also read our "New & Stuff" and "Success Stories" pages. This effort is 110% voluntary. You send your support, and maybe some stuff, directly to whatever unit or units you want, you don't send us anything.

We also have a video you may watch free online, "Tango Mike!" which is a great overview of how the site works. The video is available for purchase HERE.


PLEASE read the entire web site before you send anything.
We want you to be informed and comfortable with this effort.
Thank you for your support!

Widget for the day

In the News

You know for someone who is already a bit wary about vaccines, the last thing I wanted to see while checking the news was this:

Common Children's Vaccine Recalled

By MIKE STOBBE and LINDA A. JOHNSON,

ATLANTA (Dec. 12) -- More than a million doses of a common vaccine given to babies as young as two months was being recalled Wednesday because of contamination risks, but the top U.S. health official said it was not a health threat.

The recall is for 1.2 million doses of the vaccine for Hib, which protects against meningitis, pneumonia and other serious infections, and a combination vaccine for Hib and hepatitis B. The vaccine is recommended for all children under 5 and is usually given in a three-shot series, starting at two months.



you can read the complete article at AOL NEWS

Doing Something

Sometimes I feel so helpless. There is so much need and so much I want to do. I've found that sometimes that put me in a holding pattern of doing nothing so now when I feel like that I take a breath and decide "I CAN DO SOMETHING" and then I do that thing. It doesn't have to involve money. It could be time, a care package, a call to an elderly friend or anyone who you know may be going through a rough time. The key is to take the focus off of your worries and see what you can do for others.

The thing I hate most is to do nothing yet decide you know what others should do and how they should be doing it - something I read too frequently on blogs.

A widget that I thought was interesting

So many commercials

Tis the season for commercial after commercial after commercial. I notice there are more and more geared towards getting people to medicate themselves. The scariest part is the small printed disclaimers and then the side effects that they listed. One that scares me said that women who are pregnant should not even handle the medicine due to possible birth defects. Sorry but if a female can't even touch it, I would be terrified to take it as a man. Sadly, I can't think of the medicine right now just that side effect. Can't even remember what it is suppose to cure or help with.

The World, The News and Us

I am finding so many things that I end up reflecting - sometimes obsessing - on so I thought it would be good to put some words to my thoughts. I created this blog to do that and hope that some of my friends and family will join me. We'll see.

Meanwhile, keep an eye on this space

-MidAgeMind