Don't know much about history...

I'm telling you guys, I've had this vibe that G.W.Bush is channelling the spirit of Kaiser Willy II- remember how he totally disregarded all of the carefully crafted diplomacy that Otto Von Bismark had spent years on because he was pretty much a 10 year old absolutist boy in an adult body? Yeah, I know, I know, I'm just some stupid flaming liberal who doesn't have any good reason not to like Bush II. Whatever, I guess I just like having my presidents smarter than I am.

Dear Leaders

By Molly Ivins

AUSTIN, Texas—Nobody else seems to be asking the obvious question about Susan B. Ralston, former administrative assistant to Jack Abramoff and, until last week, assistant to Karl Rove. She got hired by Rove at $64,700 after the 2004 election and then received a raise to $122,000. Why? I've never gotten a 100 percent raise. Did you? Is this common?

I know next to nothing about North Korea, but I know how to find out. People who do know the weird country have been worrying about it in print for six years now. (See articles in The New York Review of Books.) Eric Alterman picked this bit up in "The Book on Bush": "The tone of [Colin] Powell's tenure was set early in the administration, when he announced that he planned 'to pick up where the Clinton administration had left off' in trying to secure the peace between North and South Korea, while negotiating with the North to prevent its acquisition of nuclear weaponry. The president not only repudiated his secretary of state in public, announcing, 'We're not certain as to whether or not they're keeping all terms of all agreements,' he did so during a joint appearance with South Korean President (and Nobel laureate for peace for his own efforts with the North) Kim Dae-Jung, thereby humiliating his honored guest, as well.

"A day later, Powell backpedaled. 'The president forcefully made the point that we are undertaking a full review of our relationship with North Korea,' Powell said. 'There was some suggestion that imminent negotiations are about to begin—that is not the case.' "

This was pre-9/11, when Bush's entire foreign policy consisted in not doing whatever Clinton had done, and vice versa. Also from "The Book on Bush": "As former Ambassadors Morton Abramowitz and James Laney warned at the moment of Bush's carelessly worded 'Axis of Evil' address, 'Besides putting another knife in the diminishing South Korean president,' the speech would likely cause 'dangerous escalatory consequences, (including) ... renewed tensions on the peninsula and continued export of missiles to the Mideast.' ... North Korea called the Bush bluff, and the result, notes (Washington Post) columnist Richard Cohen, was 'a stumble, a fumble, an error compounded by a blooper ... as appalling a display of diplomacy as anyone has seen since a shooting in Sarajevo turned into World War I.' "

Remember Bush's diplomatic interview with Bob Woodward in which he said, "I loathe Kim Jong Il!" Waving his finger, he added, "I've got a visceral reaction to this guy because he is starving his people." Bush also said he wanted to "topple him" and called him a "pygmy." How old were you when you learned not to antagonize and infuriate the local crazy bully?

Always a top diplomat. But I warn you, when Bush makes reference of this, as in "my gut tells me," we are in big trouble. By any measure, North Korea continued to be more dangerous than Iraq.

I don't see how this mess can be blamed on anyone but Bush, but I notice that a few Republicans have dragged out the shade of Bill Clinton because he tried to deal with North Korea. I would have thought there wasn't much water left in that bogeyman, but I guess he is the straw man for all seasons among Republicans. Why doesn't someone on Fox News ask him about it?

Meanwhile, our fiendishly clever president has dragged his daddy's old family consigliore, James Baker, out of retirement to think of something to do about Iraq. A three-part partition is mentioned. History Professor Juan Cole on his blog explains why that's a disaster, but I suspect that's where the poor Iraqis end up anyway, followed by war with Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

To find out more about Molly Ivins and see works by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Copyright 2006, Creators Syndicate Inc.  

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http://ted.mallory.googlepages.com/home.html

"The gospel is meant to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable." ~Garrison Keillor

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/10/12/5139/9897

Thu Oct 12, 2006 at 02:13:09 AM PDT

A new book charges the Bush Administration cynically manipulated social conservatives for political profit. But unlike past accusations, these come from an insider. Tempting Faith is written by David Kuo, former Special Assistant to President George W. Bush and Deputy Director of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. The book is reported to chronicle Kuo's growing frustration and eventual realization that the Republican Party in general and the Bush White House specifically were shamelessly using Evangelical Christians to advance a secular political agenda with little or no connection to the concerns of the religious right.

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http://ted.mallory.googlepages.com/home.html

"The gospel is meant to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable." ~Garrison Keillor

Rural Schools should be more prepared

Rural Schools should be more prepared
Page 3 Charter Oak-Ute NEWSpaper & Schleswig Leader- Thursday, October 12, 2006

The Congressman Foley instant-messenger sex with teenage pages and the apparent House cover-up eclipsed Bob Woodward’s new book, “State of Denial,” that scrutinized the Bush Administration’s handling of the war in Iraq. Before that, Woodward’s book overshadowed the National Intelligence Estimate that revealed many of the problems that those policies wrought.

No doubt by the time you’re reading this column, yet another story will be dominating the headlines. That’s the problem with writing for a weekly newspaper, the news cycle is 24/7 so there’s no way to know what will be relevant if you’re writing for October 12, but writing on October 5th.

But something tragic happened recently that we shouldn’t take for granted or become calloused to. Nor should we let it be lost in the media feeding-frenzy of political intrigue and personal indiscretion.

Kids were killed. Kids were killed all over the country. Not in big cities, but out here, “ out in the country.”

An October 4 story on National Public Radio (NPR) reported” Violent crime is far less common in rural areas than in cities. Rural people are four times less likely to be victims of violent crime. Yet all three school shootings in the past week occurred in rural places.”

There was a similar rash of shootings after the Columbine shootings in 1999. Virtually all of the shootings in the 90’s occurred in small cities and rural towns.

It doesn’t make sense that the safest places to live could be the most dangerous place to go to school. We feel somewhat insulated.

Schools in small towns make easier targets.

Urban schools have tighter security and more experience working with violent and troubled teens.

In rural areal guns are more easily accessible than in cities, although they’re less likely to be used in a crime. But rural kids are far more likely to be able to get a hold of a weapon easily.
In a smaller community, if a student lives on the social fringes, they have a harder time finding a place to fit in.

We’d like to think that it’s a good thing to live somewhere where everyone either knows you or knows someone who knows you, but that also means that if you’re teased or ridiculed, it’s harder to hide and it’s harder to reinvent yourself.

After the Columbine shootings, the vast majority of students identified with the victims, but a small percentage identified with the shooters because they not only got even with the bullies and the mean teachers, they also got famous.

In the years since Columbine many schools have worked hard to crack down on harassment and bullying. Districts have drafted policies and implemented programs to prevent sexual harassment, hazing and initiations of underclassmen, and discrimination based on race, religion and sexual preference.

It still may not be enough. School hallways, locker rooms, buses and classrooms are still places where it’s accepted behavior to “talk trash,” and “rip on each other.”
But it’s also not enough to work at being pro-active. Schools have to craft, review, train for and implement serious emergency management plans.

One teacher in a one-room school 80 miles from the nearest sheriff’s station suggested to an NPR reporter that they should equip schools with sirens, so that when a catastrophic event occurs, parents and neighbors will know about it for miles around.
Schools in Brown, Rock and Holt counties in North Central Nebraska were in low-down last week after a local newspaper received an anonymous call from someone who said there would be a shooting at one of the schools.

What exactly is “lock-down?” I’m a teacher and I don’t know. I’ve heard of large city schools where all of the classroom door can be closed and locked at once in case of an emergency. Sort of like battening down the hatches on a ship.

We’re told where to take kids in a tornado and for a fire drill. We know who our team leaders are for cleaning up blood, vomit, and bodily fluids. We’re trained in first aid. But what if someone was in the library with a shotgun?

Maybe my district has such a plan and I’m the one who’s negligent for not knowing it, but as a parent I’d want every teacher to know it backwards and forwards.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools suggests a framework of the four phases of crisis planning: prevention/mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.

They held training sessions this April in Colorado and this May in Pennsylvania, but they only had room for 125 school administrators and personnel.
I believe that our states should offer this kind of training for as many teachers, administrators, and school-board members as possible.

I may sound paranoid or alarmist to some, but I believe that every school board should develop an emergency and crisis management plan and make sure that teachers, staff members and students are a helluva lot more familiar with it than they are with the school mission statement or fight song. Lives may depend on it.

I heard Tucker Carlson on TV saying how he and most of his Republican collegues actually distain the religious-right. Are Christians ever going to figure out that big-business, super-rich, and ultra-right-wingers have been using and abusing their sincere (if sometimes misguided) passions? When are they going to figure out that Jesus cares about a lot of other moral issues, not just gay marriage and abortion? Like lying, hypocracy, corruption, embezzlement, poverty and pre-emptive war, social injustice, bigotry, hate, pride, anger, gluttony, lust, etc. etc.

Can you HANDLE the truth?

You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you odd.

- Flannery O'Connor

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http://ted.mallory.googlepages.com/home.html

"The gospel is meant to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable." ~Garrison Keillor

The price of children

Usually this blog is mostly politics, but when I got this email forward from my sister-in-law today, I decided I had to post it. The Price of Children This is just too good not to pass on to all. Something absolutely positive for a change. I have repeatedly seen the breakdown of the cost of raising a child, but this is the first time I have seen the rewards listed this way. It's nice. The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140 for a middle income family. Talk about sticker shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition. But $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into: * $8,896.66 a year, * $741.38 a month, or * $171.08 a week. * That's a mere $24.24 a day! * Just over a dollar an hour. Still, you might think the best financial advice is don't have children if you want to be "rich." Actually, it is just the opposite. What do you get for your $160,140? * Naming rights. First, middle, and last! * Glimpses of God every day. * Giggles under the covers every night. * More love than your heart can hold. * Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs. * Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies. * A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate. * A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites * Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day. For $160,140, you never have to grow up. You get to: * finger-paint, * carve pumpkins, * play hide-and-seek, * catch lightning bugs, and * never stop believing in Santa Claus. You have an excuse to: * keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh, * watching Saturday morning cartoons, * going to Disney movies, and * wishing on stars. * You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day. For $160,140, there is no greater bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for: * retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof, * taking the training wheels off a bike, * removing a splinter, * filling a wading pool, * coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless. You get a front row seat to history to witness the: * first step, * first word, * first bra, * first date, and * first time behind the wheel. You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great grandchildren. You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match. In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits. So....one day they will like you, love without counting the cost. That is quite a deal for the price! Love & enjoy your children & grandchildren!

The problem with my party...

Just so you don't think I pick on ONLY Republicans. Where are the Dems? What are our plans?

Sunset Flag

Here's an experiment dedicated to my home state of Arizona, using 4 or 5 layers in PhotoShop

Johnathan Livingston

Here's my demo for an assignment that I gave my Computer Graphics class in PhotoShop that involves using layers, masking, and text effects.

More to this month than just Trick-or-Treats

More to this month than just Trick-or-Treats
Page 3 Charter Oak-Ute NEWSpaper & Schleswig Leader- Thursday, October 5, 2006

Welcome to October. You may be aware that this is “Hispanic Heritage Month.” Around here, there are plenty of people who know it as National Pork Producers’ Month. There are also those (usually in the Volunteer Fire Department) who will be working to promote Fire Prevention Week, October 8-15.

But I bet that you were not aware that this is also Billiard Awareness Month. If you weren’t, be sure to be aware of billiards. I’d hate for you to get knocked in the head by one.
Someone, somewhere decided that this should also be “Celebrate Sun Dried Tomatoes Month.” Probably someone in the sun-dried tomato industry. No doubt in California or Italy or somewhere where they can dry their tomatoes in the sun in October with no fear of frost, rain, or falling leaves.

It’s Church Safety and Security Month, so talk to your congregation’s trusty trustees about making sure your church is safe and secure.

So you say you get frustrated by the whole “Hispanic Heritage Month?” You don’t mean to be racist or to resent recent immigrants, but you don’t understand the need to focus on one ethnic group? Not to worry, for all you “Traditional American” (AKA white) native-born Iowans can enjoy “German-American Heritage Month.” Listen to “Polka Party” and grill some brats and enjoy being from Western Iowa, or wherever.

Did you realize that this is also international Strategic Planning Month? No? Neither did the White House.

My Librarian and English/Language Arts teacher friends want you to know that this is National Book Month. Why not read one?

It’s National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A subject close to many people’s heart. Get it? Breast...Heart? Yeah, you’re right, it isn’t really something to joke about.
I love that it’s also National Chili Month. I’d make a pot, but let’s face it, it’s pretty much “guy food” and I live with four females. I guess I’m hoping that my Farmer-in-Law makes some, his chili is great.

It’s National Communicate With Your Kids Month, not that that’s actually possible. But just remember, you didn’t HAVE to buy them that cell-phone and you can disconnect the internet or TV satellite hook up any time you want to.
October is National Dental Hygiene Month. And what better finale than all those caramel apples and Halloween candy!

Sad to say it’s also National Depression Education & Awareness Month. (Get it?) You’re right, that was a pretty sad attempt at humor.
Why hasn’t anyone told us before now that this is National Ergonomics Month? Well, now that you know, why not get comfortable and think about redesigning your living room?
It’s National “Gain The Inside Advantage” Month. If you’d only known, maybe you would’ve already.

What else? Pajama Month, National Popcorn Poppin’ Month, and Roller Skating Month. I’d like to see some people celebrate all three of these at once.

Just to warn you, this is National Sarcastics Awareness Month. Seriously, it is, I’m not making this up, and I’m not being sarcastic.

If like me, you’re not a professional plumber, you probably didn’t know that this is Toilet Tank Repair Month. Have fun with that one. (note sarcasm).
YES! It’s finally Positive Attitude Month! It’s “Right Brainers Rule! Month.” See, I knew this because I’m a right-brainer. Oh, did I mention that it’s also Self-Promotion Month?

Believe it or not, this is Spinach Lovers Month. That’s gotta be difficult after last month!
This is the LAST week to register to vote in 2006 US general elections in November.
Tomorrow is the last day of Mental Illness Awareness Week. Crazy!

It’s National Carry A Tune Week. Wish I could.

Here’s some irony, you’re reading a newspaper right now, and it happens to be National Newspaper Week. Good going, you know how to celebrate that one.

It’s not just National 4-H Week, it’s also Squirrel Appreciation Week which, coincidentally is the SAME week as National Chestnut Week!

Did you miss October 1st? “International Day of Older Persons.”
Or did you farmers all celebrate this past Tuesday with your livestock? It was World Farm Animals Day.

Hang on to your hats, today is Mad Hatter Day.

Oh, remember how it’s German-American Heritage Month? Well, TODAY, October 6 is also National German-American Day.

I hope that made you grin because it is World Smile Day.
Sure, next Monday is Leif Erickson Day and Columbus Day. But I’m going to celebrate “National Kick Butt Day.”

Just so you’ll be aware, National Bring Your Teddy Bear To Work & School Day will be October 11. If your teacher or boss gives you a hard time, don’t fret, the very next day, October 12 will be “International Moment of Frustration Scream Day.”

Hypocracy

Foley was the Republican co-chairman of the Congressional Missing and Exploited Children’s Caucus, a group whose announced purpose included fighting against "online child sexual exploitation."

President Bush hailed Foley and his colleagues as a "SWAT team for kids" only two months ago—at a time when Foley’s conduct was widely known within the top leadership of the House Republicans.

I'm sorry, but pre-emptive war, oil, Political Action Committees, money laundering, don't forget torture, and now- of course pedaphilia and covering it up for months so that you can try to keep a seat... these are not family values.

1Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2and he began to teach them saying:
3"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Salt and Light

13"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Unfortunately, in my experience, Republicans aren't always most self-reflective people around.