Bush is so HILARIOUS! Article: It was a heckuva phrase...

It was a heckuva phrase..

Fri Dec 30, 2005 9:06 AM ET

By Arthur Spiegelman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Call it the wrong phrase at the wrong time but "Brownie, you're doing a heckuva job" was named on Thursday as U.S. President George W. Bush's most memorable phrase of 2005.

The ill-timed praise of a now disgraced agency head became a national punch line for countless jokes and pointed comments about the administration's handling of the Hurricane Katrina disaster and added to the president's reputation for verbal gaffes and clumsy turns of phrase.

Paul JJ Payack, president of Global Language Monitor, a nonprofit group that monitors language use, says Bush's statement in support of the then-director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency may be remembered for years to come.

"The 'Brownie' quote leads our 2005 list of Bushisms -- memorable phrases or new words coined by the president," Payack said, adding that Bush may be the foremost White House creator of new words, citing such past efforts as "misunderestimate" (to seriously underestimate) and "embetter" (to make emotionally better).

Ten days after Bush verbally patted Michael Brown on the back before the TV cameras, Brown resigned amid a public uproar over his qualifications and the administration's failure to get aid to New Orleans after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

Although the president did not originate any new words this year, he had several notable statements, Payack said, citing the following:

-- "See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda," Bush said in explaining his communications strategy last May.

-- "I think I may need a bathroom break. Is this possible?" Bush asked in a note to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during a U.N. Security Council meeting in September.

-- "This notion that the United States is getting ready to attack Iran is simply ridiculous. And having said that, all options are on the table," Bush said in Brussels last February.

-- "In terms of timetables, as quickly as possible - whatever that means," the president said of his timeframe for passing Social Security legislation in March.

-- "Those who enter the country illegally violate the law," Bush said in describing illegal immigrants in Tucson, Arizona, last month.

Global Language Monitor uses an algorithm to track words and phrases in print, electronic media and the Internet. The words and phrases are tracked in relation to their frequency, contextual usage and appearance in global media outlets.

© Reuters 2005. All Rights Reserved.

Xander!

Old Grandma Hardcore

This is an awesome link about a 69 year old grandma that has an online blog- she plays video games for up to 10 hours each day!
http://oghc.blogspot.com/

So Cheney REALLY HAS been the guy in charge!

This is from the Financial Times (incredible!)

‘Cheney cabal hijacked US foreign policy’
By Edward Alden in Washington
Published: October 20 2005 00:00 | Last updated: October 20 2005 00:19

Vice-President Dick Cheney and a handful of others had hijacked the government's foreign policy apparatus, deciding in secret to carry out policies that had left the US weaker and more isolated in the world, the top aide to former Secretary of State Colin Powell claimed on Wednesday.

In a scathing attack on the record of President George W. Bush, Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, chief of staff to Mr Powell until last January, said: “What I saw was a cabal between the vice-president of the United States, Richard Cheney, and the secretary of defense, Donald Rumsfeld, on critical issues that made decisions that the bureaucracy did not know were being made.

“Now it is paying the consequences of making those decisions in secret, but far more telling to me is America is paying the consequences.”

Mr Wilkerson said such secret decision-making was responsible for mistakes such as the long refusal to engage with North Korea or to back European efforts on Iran.

It also resulted in bitter battles in the administration among those excluded from the decisions.

“If you're not prepared to stop the feuding elements in the bureaucracy as they carry out your decisions, you are courting disaster. And I would say that we have courted disaster in Iraq, in North Korea, in Iran.”

The comments, made at the New America Foundation, a Washington think-tank, were the harshest attack on the administration by a former senior official since criticisms by Richard Clarke, former White House terrorism czar, and Paul O'Neill, former Treasury secretary, early last year.

Mr Wilkerson said his decision to go public had led to a personal falling out with Mr Powell, whom he served for 16 years at the Pentagon and the State Department.

“He's not happy with my speaking out because, and I admire this in him, he is the world's most loyal soldier."

Among his other charges:

■ The detainee abuse at Abu Ghraib and elsewhere was “a concrete example” of the decision-making problem, with the president and other top officials in effect giving the green light to soldiers to abuse detainees. “You don't have this kind of pervasive attitude out there unless you've condoned it.”

■ Condoleezza Rice, the former national security adviser and now secretary of state, was “part of the problem”. Instead of ensuring that Mr Bush received the best possible advice, “she would side with the president to build her intimacy with the president”.

■ The military, particularly the army and marine corps, is overstretched and demoralised. Officers, Mr Wilkerson claimed, “start voting with their feet, as they did in Vietnam. . . and all of a sudden your military begins to unravel”.

Mr Wilkerson said former president George H.W. Bush “one of the finest presidents we have ever had” understood how to make foreign policy work. In contrast, he said, his son was “not versed in international relations and not too much interested in them either”.

“There's a vast difference between the way George H.W. Bush dealt with major challenges, some of the greatest challenges at the end of the 20th century, and effected positive results in my view, and the way we conduct diplomacy today.”

Nicole's Tips #1 : ALWAYS FLOUR THE PAN

This is a chocolate mousse torte I made a few days ago- It should be round and cake like. I didn't flour the pan. It said I should but me, being the rebel that I am, didn't think it was necessary. Well, that might not have been the only problem- I got everything together and THEN realized that I didn't have any eggs! After searching on the internet, I found some conversions and I tried 2 tbs of Baking Powder to 2 TBSP of water. It did turn out delicious and fudgy despite the appearance.
A quick shout out (like I'm pretending anyone knows about this blog or reads it) to a REALLY GOOD cooking site. I've learned and have been inspired by it. It belongs to my friend Kim so it's even better! http://www.walkernewyork.com/eats

Ithaca IS Gorges!

This last month was hectic- it has actually been exactly one month since Chad and I visited Ithaca, NY and Cornell University. We found Ithaca to be not only beautiful, but full of some of the kindest people we've ever met.
We ate at the Moosewood, a famous vegetarian restaurant that I would definitely recommend. We did the Carl Sagan Planetwalk- the Planetwalk is a scale model of the universe built in the center of Ithaca. Mostly, we drove around, checked out the grocery stores, etc (things that will be important if we are to move there- especially with Xander's special diet.) They call Ithaca "10 square miles surrounded by reality."- it was like heaven for us. We think Xander will love it there- the school's are excellent, and with it being so small it's easy to get around. Ithaca sits on Cayuga Lake, the largest of the Finger Lakes. We stopped at a few wineries, watched the sail boats in the Lake- it's really the kind of life we are looking for. The whole move still freaks me out a little- but mostly because of Xander and not wanting him to have a traumatic experience!
Colorado Springs is unorganized, hectic- too much traffic. We don't go to stores, etc, on the weekends too much with Xander because just going into one can be exhausting between driving, parking, and dealing with a lot of the jerks who live here. I know there are lots of nice people here, too- but unfortunately the Dobson/FOTF freaks are much more vocal and in your face. Ithaca is more liberal, and that is definitely a plus for us. In fact, there we will probably be seen as the moderates we are.
Little Update: When I posted this entry, Chad was looking at law schools. Since this time, he decided he didn't want to be a lawyer and is pursuing a graduate degree in Public Administration, so we are not moving anywhere for a few years. I would still love to move to Ithaca (or somewhere similar) someday.

Grandma's Obituary

Phyllis Jean Walker McLellan (click to see her obituary.) RIP

Balloon Classic Pictures

A few weeks ago we went to the Balloon Classic in Colorado Springs. This year, Xander just LOVED it. In past years he wasn't so aware, making this year even more special for us! Even on the mornings that we don't go down to the park we can see the launch from our kitchen Window.

Reality

I am so worried about people. Things are getting even worse now that there is so much violence.
There is an excellent story on Salon. Turns out, "In 2001, FEMA warned that a hurricane striking New Orleans was one of the three most likely disasters in the U.S. But the Bush administration cut New Orleans flood control funding by 44 percent to pay for the Iraq war."

http://www.salon.com/opinion/blumenthal/2005/08/31/disaster_preparation/
(you have to sit through an ad to see it, but big deal)

I always think about people with special needs at times like this. Xander's diet is so strict, he somewhat needs routine (although compared to many kids with ASD we are lucky that he likes trying new things)- after a few days of not being at home there would be trouble. I really feel for the poor and handicapped that were left behind. Unlocking Autism has set up a fund to go directly to families with ASD children in their time of need.
https://www.unlockingautism.org/ssl/shop/proddetail.asp?prod=GDRP_donation
(Like I'm pretending people read all this :)
Also, the American Red Cross needs help
http://store.yahoo.com/redcross-donate2/

We're running in negative numbers ourselves but we have more than so many others do right now. We have water, we have food, we have a roof over our heads and we have each other. So many people aren't that lucky.

I've also been thinking so much about what cities can do to evacuate- at this time they are unsure who left and who didn't, causing even MORE disorganization and confusion. It doesn't seem like things are going very well right now, I can only hope that these people get the help they need soon before there is more bloodshed.

Anyone need Zucchini???

Here is Xander with a 8 1/2 pound Zucchini I picked from the garden yesterday. I have lots more and am taking suggestions on what to do with it.
The zucchini seem to be the most successful part of my garden this year- not like that's very difficult. My tomato plants are HUGE and full of flowers- but no tomatoes yet. My parents in Northern Colorado are experiencing the same thing- and we have both noticed the lack of bee's this year.

Is the dark side of our Moon an alien satellite?

I have long been fascinated by the skys. The moon, being our only moon--- and by the way, isn't it kind of self important of the Earth to name our only moon "the Moon"- I guess it's really the same thing with our sun, too. It's not the only sun by far, but since we are the only important planet we call it "the Sun."
A few years ago, Xander and I were re-admitted into the hospital just a few days after returning home from his birth. He had a serious case of jaundice. As the nurses were checking Xander in, we became fascinated by a documentary about the moon landing...or lack thereof. The evidence against us landing on the moon was quite fascinating---- coding on rocks, the flag which seemed to be influenced by wind, strange shadows in photos, etc. The show was amazing- and we were entertained. We felt a little strange when the nurses walked in and we were hypnotized by this show.
http://www.ufos-aliens.co.uk/cosmicapollo.html Here is one link of evidence against the moon landing happening.
The thing I have never understood---- in 33 years we have not had another moon landing. Computers in the early 70's took up entire rooms. No one can argue that technology has far, far advanced since the days of the moon landings--- how is it that NOW we see landing on the moon as being a goal again? What has kept us away for over 30 years? Why have we sunk billions into an artificial space station when we have a natural satellite that would be a perfect "base."
Here is an article that came out a few years ago about Bush wanting the US to "return" to the moon.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A36960-2003Dec4.html
Why is this such a milestone if we've done it before? In the 60's and 70's!
I have come to believe a mixture of theories. I believe we DID go to the moon- at least once. I believe that some of the later missions to the moon were a hoax to keep up appearances AFTER we were threatened to leave by ..... aliens.
Here is an article about the subject. I don't know if any of this is true, but it would actually make the most sense.
*************
According to the NASA Astronaut Neil Armstrong the Aliens have a base on the Moon and told us in no uncertain terms to get off and stay off the Moon.
According to hitherto un-confirmed reports, both Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin saw UFOs shortly after that historic landing on the Moon in Apollo 11 on 21 July 1969. I remember hearing one of the astronauts refer to a "light" in or on a crater during the television transmission, followed by a request from mission control for further information. Nothing more was heard.
According to a former NASA employee Otto Binder, unnamed radio hams with their own VHF receiving facilities that bypassed NASA's broadcasting outlets picked up the following exchange:
NASA: Whats there?Mission Control calling Apollo 11...
Apollo11: These "Babies" are huge, Sir! Enormous! OH MY GOD! You wouldn't believe it! I'm telling you there are other spacecraft out there, Lined up on the far side of the crater edge! They're on the Moon watching us!
A certain professor, who wished to remain anonymous, was engaged in a discussion with Neil Armstrong during a NASA symposium.
Professor: What REALLY happened out there with Apollo 11?
Armstrong: It was incredible, of course we had always known there was a possibility, the fact is, we were warned off!(by the Aliens). There was never any question then of a space station or a moon city.
Professor: How do you mean "warned off"?
Armstrong: I can't go into details, except to say that their ships were far superior to ours both in size and technology - Boy, were they big!...and menacing! No, there is no question of a space station.
Professor: But NASA had other missions after Apollo 11?
Armstrong: Naturally - NASA was committed at that time, and couldn't risk panic on Earth. But it really was a quick scoop and back again.
According to a Dr. Vladimir Azhazha:
"Neil Armstrong relayed the message to Mission Control that two large, mysterious objects were watching them after having landed near the moon module. But this message was never heard by the public -- because NASA censored it."
According to a Dr. Aleksandr Kasantsev, Buzz Aldrin took color movie film of the UFOs from inside the module, and continued filming them after he and Armstrong went outside.
Armstrong confirmed that the story was true but refused to go into further detail, beyond admitting that the CIA was behind the cover-up.
**********
Of course, there is a school of thought that doesn't believe that our moon is a natural satellite at all. http://www.aliendave.com/Moon.html

Next time, I'm going to talk about Phobos, a moon of Mars. Many believe that Phobos is a hollow, artificial base. I know this all sounds crazy, but it's more fascinating because we likely won't know the truth about these mysteries.....ever. Look it up if your interested in the meantime.
http://www.aliensurgeon.com/phobos.htm pictures of supposed artificial structures on Phobos.

My Career Goal stolen from "Say Anything"

" I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that. "

Mercury spill on GL Set

Look at the what happened when some Mercury spilled on the set of Guiding Light (the only soap I watch!) The amazing thing is that up until a few years ago, the government was purposely injecting mercury into children and claiming it would do no harm......

AP Story Posted on Fri, Aug. 19, 2005

'Guiding Light' cleared to resume tapingAssociated Press
NEW YORK - The soap opera "Guiding Light" was cleared to resume taping Friday after the cleanup of a mercury-contaminated set, officials said.
"There are no detectable levels of mercury in the air this morning," said Ian Michaels, a spokesman for the city's Department of Environmental Protection. "The `Guiding Light' people showed us paperwork consistent with proper disposal and the set has been reopened."
Taping at the show's 222 East 44th St. studio was interrupted Thursday morning just before a dramatic emergency-room scene when a set designer dropped a blood-pressure device that was being used as a prop and mercury spilled onto the floor. The DEP found elevated levels of mercury in the air and a 24-hour evacuation was ordered.
The crew and the actors, several of whom were dressed like doctors and nurses, were checked for contamination before being sent home.
Alan Locher, a spokesman for Procter & Gamble Productions Inc., which produces the soap, said taping would "pick up where we left off," with a scene in which Tammy pledges her devotion to Sandy despite her lust for her cousin Jonathan.