Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Young and Old

I was watching a friend/co-worker's 5 year old this past weekend and we were in the backyard enjoying the wonderful weather. I experienced a few things that afternoon.



1. Those Razor Scooters are danger on wheels.. Holy Crap I almost bit it so many times... but like the idiot i am, I kept going, and going, and going.....

2. The Power Wheels - pretty entertaining, even at 26 years old. You know the little "mini cars" that the kids drive around...That is until a certain 5 year old says



"Miss Julie.... why does it go so SLOOOWWW when you're on it?"



Damn.



My friend Tam showed me this photo when she was in town a couple of weeks ago. This is from December 2002.

"oh ugh" notices

- I had the mile long fake nails going on (lost those 4 years ago.. $60 a month is ridiculous)

- I was drinking a Smirnoff Ice (in my defense, I had only been 21 for a few weeks at the time)

- I still have that blue sweater... time to let go Julie... time to let go.



For the record, Avril Lavigne was VERY nice - can't speak for her now (I think she lost my number), but when we ran into her at the hotel that night - she was friendly.
Stay out of trouble or don't get caught....

Monday, October 27, 2008

A Cluster of This and That

Well last week I attempted the baby steps of “getting out more.” I had wine with a new friend, and really enjoyed it. Thursday my friend Christina and I went to UT to catch a free Gavin DeGraw show. I have always liked his songs, but his live show… and him.. well there isn’t much to complain about there. And hey, I was out on a Thursday and I survived!!!

I want to address a comment now left on a previous blog – it was left on this one – http://senselessjewels.blogspot.com/2008/10/where-does-hate-come-from.html

The Comment is from “Rebecca” (whom I know ATLEAST 5 of so this could be one of them or someone new, I have no clue), and here is what it says.

“To add some objectivity... your region and demographic affects your perspective about hateful propaganda. For example, if you were a first generation Mexican-American living in Los Angeles, there's a good chance you would be fixated on Republican supporters at a recent rally noting that they were "afraid of Obama" and that he is an "Arab". Luckily, McCain grabbed the microphone from the woman and said "no ma'am." I think the candidates have kept the hatefulness to a minimum between them. As for supporters, people get emotional and say terrible things on behalf of both tickets. Racist comments abound regarding Barack and have little to do with his ability or inability to be president. Search and ye will find nastiness on both ends. And remember that it is easy to be biased if you're inundated with the beliefs of those in your community. The only purpose in that is to distract you from making your own decision and to make you focus on an Us vs. Them mentality. We're all citizens for crying out loud.”

Now I must say I am rather offended by this persons “assumptions.” First of all, to state my view of “hateful propaganda” is only because of my demographic and region is ignorant, and not me at all. First of all I live in Austin, TX, a majority of this city is liberal. Second of all 90% of my friends and acquaintances are liberal, I am the minority in my political beliefs here. It does not take any region or demographic to see how incredibly biased the media is on Barack Obama. How either side could ignore that is crazy to me. Yes hateful things are said on and by both sides… but it is the people at the McCain/Palin rallies that have the repetitive media coverage, while the Obama/Biden backers are swept under frivolous stories of Paris Hilton or Angelina Jolie. I am an intelligent young woman and I can think for myself, please do not assume to know my IQ level.

Ok – off that, on to other things.

I woke up last night around 2am and could not fall back asleep until 5am. Wow – the amazing things that come across tv between 2 and 5am.
1. I want me a Kymora body shaper! Those things look awesome! Lose weight, no work out… 39.95, no thanks.
2. Some funky named straightener that can also curl your hair… I’m confused…
3. Bridezillas. I have no fear of dying alone if these crazies can get someone to marry them. One woman actually REFUSED to let her 2 year old walk with her down the aisle because it “was her day.” – Wow. Another was upset her boobs were not falling out the sides of her dress. You read that right.

Quality programming my friends.

I will leave you with my new sign off that my Dad says to me on a regular basis

Stay out of trouble, or don’t get caught.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

A Break From Politics to Focus on Me



I feel I’ve lost my way

I have gotten so involved in politics. So trapped in the pattern of waking up, going to work, going home for dinner, some puppy and tv time, and then to bed, I’m on auto pilot. I suppose I am reaching this plateau. The realization that I am standing still and not moving side to side, up and down, but remaining sedentary hits me in the one question I have received lately from old friends.

“What have you been up to?” or “What’s new with you”

To these questions I have no response, merely “same old, same old.” I am almost 27 years old. I am in the middle of what some people would label an amazing and fun filled time. Yet I truly have nothing new to say or add to my recent “happenings.”

Last week I stepped outside my box, just a bit. I went to see So You Think You can Dance with two friends, one old, one new. I dyed my hair red, yep, red.




I went to see New Kids on The Block for the first time since I was 9 years old and truly thought they would appreciate it if I wore one of their shirts to the concert and take notice. (They didn't) It was SO FUN to sit there and sing the old songs from when I was a kid. And they looked pretty good too.





What an amazing time I had last week. Here I am in the middle of this week asking myself, now what? Do I just go back to the routine? Do I just associate with the same people? What do I look forward to?

I have recently found myself doing something I never thought I would do…. Missing Dallas. Don’t panic, or get excited, I’m not going back. I am just starting to appreciate what it was to have the life I led and how much I truly enjoyed it. I could drop in and visit with my parents. I still talk to my Mom often but getting my Dad to chat on the phone is like pulling teeth. I hardly talk to my brother and sister. I have left so many great friends behind and they have just fallen beneath the cracks. Please don’t misunderstand, I have AMAZING friends here in Austin and I love all of them dearly and would not trade our friendships. I hope they continue to grow, but I don’t feel I’m seeing them either!

What I feel I am saying is I want
-to extend the figurative branch back out to my Dallas people
-I want to go out more
- I want to have fun
- I want to sleep less
-I want to reconnect
- I want to laugh

I need out of this politic bubble the world is constantly shoving at us. I need to leave my home more, see more sights, take the dogs for longer walks, and hell even run up some more credit card debt if that’s what it takes.

Three years ago, I was exhausted, deep in debt, and flying by the seat of my pants. Today I am well rested, for the most part out of debt and about as bored with myself as they come.

Where is the mix between the responsibilities adulthood and life?

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Joe for President

One man can make a difference. Not only was he brought up 25 times in the debates last night, but he is standing strong on his belief that Obama's tax plan is wrong.

Here he is not backing down to Diane Sawyer, you go Joe.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Where does the hate come from?

This is a late night blog of basic commentary and opinion. It all begins with a question I have posed to many liberal friends of mine.

Where does the hate come from?

From my experience and what I have heard, most of this hate is directed at Sarah Palin. To name a few of the things actual associates/friends have said;

- "Palin should be hung up and shot" (a. hateful, b.. hung up AND shot?!?!?)
- "Her entire family makes me want to vomit"
- "She is a stupid c**t"
- "She is an embarrassment to women"

WHAT?!?! Seriously? Where does this come from? How is it possible to have such hate for someone you do not even know and has only been in the "public eye" for 5 weeks?

Her children - what's wrong with them? We can accept Jamie Lynn Spears pregnancy at 16 and even pay her $1 million dollars to be on the cover of a magazine....so Bristol Palin is pregnant?! She's keeping and raising the baby, what a huge decision. And what a brave girl to do that in the public eye. Who are you to judge? Did you raise a child as a teenager? No... you probably think it's better to follow Obama and support a failed abortion leaving the baby in a soiled linen room breathing and dying ALONE.

I think she's a great woman. What has she done? The problem is she has done more than THEIR CANDIDATE... she;s been a real mayor, he hasn't.. she's been a real governor, he hasn't... she's been in charge of the Alaskan National Guard.. he hasn't.

But don't be down.... he did help "community organize" an organization... maybe you have seen them in the news... ACORN? Heard of them?

Point is.. I have NEVER called Barack Obama a terrorist, said I hated him, or that he should be "hung up and shot", I have only presented FACTS of his past history and voting record.

I know he is "the one" to you and the super candidate, but I have an open mind, and yours is closed. Next time you come to me saying "Go Obama", BACK IT UP. Tell me a policy you believe in, tell me a vote you support or a stance you stand behind. Then, and only then, will I RESPECT YOU as a voter and as an American.

PS - My best friend in the world is a liberal supporting Obama and I still love and admire her. However, she told me in a "not good" tone, "you and Elisabeth Hasselbeck should do lunch. Seriously." For the record, I ADORE and LOVE Elisabeth Hasselbeck.. to be attacked DAILY by 3 women and barely offered a voice is courage in it's finest.. I would be honored to have lunch with her anytime, anywhere.

Back at it, Monday

I hope everyone had a great weekend! I received a call from my Mom yesterday morning with a special request. She wants me to go back to writing funny blogs :), understood - I do too. However, right now I think this video should be an eye opener.

Major points for these patriots for doing this, it could not have been easy, but I wouldn't mind joining them.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Evil

I am truly reconsidering my respect for anyone who would vote for this man.

How you can turn a blind eye to this just because you don't want "4 more years of Bush" is ignorance, and a slap in the face to America.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

This is What He Stands For

Everyone needs to read this article. This is disgusting. Babies that have a CHANCE AND ARE ALIVE, even admittedly by Obama, should not have the right to live? I am disgusted.

The Obama Debate Every American Should See Wednesday, October 08, 2008By Terence P. Jeffrey

The most telling debate Barack Obama ever had was not with John McCain but Patrick O’Malley, who served with Obama in the Illinois Senate and engaged Obama in a colloquy every American should read.

The Obama-O’Malley debate was a defining moment for Obama because it dealt with such a fundamental issue: The state’s duty to protect the civil rights of the young and disabled.

Some background: Eight years ago, nurse Jill Stanek went public about the “induced-labor abortions” performed at the Illinois hospital where she worked. Often done on Down syndrome babies, the procedure involved medicating the mother to cause premature labor.

Babies who survived this, Stanek testified in the U.S. Congress, were brought to a soiled linen room and left alone to die without care or comforting.

Then-Illinois state Sen. Patrick O’Malley, whom I interviewed this week, contacted the state attorney general’s office to see whether existing laws protected a newborn abortion-survivor’s rights as a U.S. citizen. He was told they did not.

So, O’Malley—a lawyer, veteran lawmaker and colleague of Obama on the Illinois Senate Judiciary Committee—drafted legislation.

In 2001, he introduced three bills. SB1093 said if a doctor performing an abortion believed there was a likelihood the baby would survive, another physician must be present “to assess the child’s viability and provide medical care.” SB1094 gave the parents, or a state-appointed guardian, the right to sue to protect the child’s rights. SB1095 simply said a baby alive after “complete expulsion or extraction from its mother” would be considered a “’person, ‘human being,’ ‘child’ and ‘individual.’”

The bills dealt exclusively with born children. “This legislation was about preventing conduct that allowed infanticide to take place in the state of Illinois,” O’Malley told me.

The Judiciary Committee approved the bills with Obama in opposition. On March 31, 2001, they came up on the Illinois senate floor. Only one member spoke against them: Obama.

“Nobody else said anything,” O’Malley recalls. The official transcript validates this.

“Sen. O’Malley,” Obama said near the beginning of the discussion, “the testimony during the committee indicated that one of the key concerns was—is that there was a method of abortion, an induced abortion, where the—the fetus or child, as—as some might describe it, is still temporarily alive outside the womb.”

Obama made three crucial concessions here: the legislation was about 1) a human being, who was 2) “alive” and 3) “outside the womb.”

He also used an odd redundancy: “temporarily alive.” Is there another type of human?

“And one of the concerns that came out in the testimony was the fact that they were not being properly cared for during that brief period of time that they were still living,” Obama continued.

Here he made another crucial concession: The intention of the legislation was to make sure that 1) a human being, 2) alive and 3) outside the womb was 4) “properly cared for.”

“Is that correct?” Obama asked O’Malley.

O’Malley tightened the logical knot. “(T)his bill suggests that appropriate steps be taken to treat that baby as a—a citizen of the United States and afforded all the rights and protections it deserves under the Constitution of the United States,” said O’Malley.

But to these specific temporarily-alive-outside-the-womb-human beings—to these children who had survived a botched abortion, whose hearts were beating, whose muscles were moving, whose lungs were heaving—to these specific children of God, Obama was not willing to concede any constitutional rights at all.

To explain his position, Obama came up with yet another term to describe the human being who would be protected by O’Malley’s bills. The abortion survivor became a “pre-viable fetus.”

By definition, however, a born baby cannot be a “fetus.” Merriam-Webster Online defines “fetus” as an “unborn or unhatched vertebrate” or “a developing human from usually two months after conception to birth.” Obama had already conceded these human beings were “alive outside the womb.”

“No. 1,” said Obama, “whenever we define a pre-viable fetus as a person that is protected by the equal protection clause or other elements of the Constitution, what we’re really saying is, in fact, that they are persons that are entitled to the kinds of protections that would be provided to a—a child, a nine-month-old—child that was delivered to term.”

Yes. In other words, a baby born alive at 37 weeks is just as much a human “person” as a baby born alive at 22 weeks.

Obama, however, saw a problem with calling abortion survivors “persons.” “I mean, it—it would essentially bar abortions,” said Obama, “because the equal protection clause does not allow somebody to kill a child, and if this is a child, then this would be an antiabortion statute.”

For Obama, whether or not a temporarily-alive-outside-the-womb little girl is a “person” entitled to constitutional rights is not determined by her humanity, her age or even her place in space relative to her mother’s uterus. It is determined by a whether a doctor has been trying to kill her.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Lets Learn More About The Real Obama

I came across a great article today written by Thomas Sowell on National Review Online. This article aims to point out how Obama's past "allies", are far more important that the media lets on. He also addresses several issues.

"Obama could have allied himself with all sorts of other people. But, time and again, he allied himself with people who openly expressed their hatred of America. No amount of flags on his campaign platforms this election year can change that."

How do people forget? This is the man who has his own stamp of the United States seal, the man who won't cross his hand over his heart during the pledge of allegiance, and the man who is married to a woman who is JUST RECENTLY proud of America.

One example he brings up about Obama's rise to fame is interesting, and shady.

"The story of Obama’s political career is not a pretty story. He won his first political victory by being the only candidate on the ballot — after hiring someone skilled at disqualifying the signers of opposing candidates’ petitions, on whatever technicality he could come up with. Despite his words today about “change” and “cleaning up the mess in Washington,” Obama was not on the side of reformers who were trying to change the status quo of corrupt, machine politics in Chicago and clean up the mess there. Obama came out in favor of the Daley machine and against reform candidates.Senator Obama is running on an image that is directly the opposite of what he has been doing for two decades. His escapes from his past have been as remarkable as the great escapes of Houdini."

You can read the entire article here. Worth it.
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZmM1NzBkNGI4MGRkZjFmOTg4ZjU3ODVjNmE5ZGM0OGI=

Palin, A Class Act.

The Economy, What Happened?

Monday, October 6, 2008

Obama's "Strategy"

According to wikipedia, as well as other news outlets (wiki was my main source), Saul Alinsky is considered to be “the founder of modern community organizing in America.”

Born in Chicago, IL, he is said to be an influence of Barack Obama’s.

Obama answered a help-wanted ad for the job of a community organizer for the Developing Communities Project (DCP) of the Calumet Community Religious Conference (CCRC) in Chicago. Both organizations were built on the Alinsky principle.

In his last book before Saul Alinsky died, “Rules For Radicals” he outlined his view for how to gain mass power over the community. An excerpt from this book follows;

"There's another reason for working inside the system. Dostoevski said that taking a new step is what people fear most. Any revolutionary change must be preceded by a passive, affirmative, non-challenging attitude toward change among the mass of our people. They must feel so frustrated, so defeated, so lost, so futureless in the prevailing system that they are willing to let go of the past and change the future. This acceptance is the reformation essential to any revolution. To bring on this reformation requires that the organizer work inside the system, among not only the middle class but the 40 per cent of American families - more than seventy million people - whose income range from $5,000 to $10,000 a year [in 1971]. They cannot be dismissed by labeling them blue collar or hard hat. They will not continue to be relatively passive and slightly challenging. If we fail to communicate with them, if we don't encourage them to form alliances with us, they will move to the right. Maybe they will anyway, but let's not let it happen by default."


Mike Kruglick, one of Obama’s early mentors in the Alinsky method had this to say to “The New Republic” about Obama.

"He was a natural, the undisputed master of agitation, who could engage a room full of recruiting targets in a rapid-fire Socratic dialogue, nudging them to admit that they were not living up to their own standards. As with the panhandler, he could be aggressive and confrontational. With probing, sometimes personal questions, he would pinpoint the source of pain in their lives, tearing down their egos just enough before dangling a carrot of hope that they could make things better."

Now, watch this video and see how Obama utilizes the strategy and teachings of Alinsky. He was supposedly going to address the crowd concerning the comment he made in Pennsylvania surrounding "bitter people clinging to Bibles and guns." Watch how he riles the crowd, then ends with himself as the answer.




Perhaps most terrifying is the epigraph of Alinsky’s book, seen below;

“Lest we forget at least an over-the-shoulder acknowledgment to the very first radical: from all our legends, mythology, and history (and who is to know where mythology leaves off and history begins -- or which is which), the first radical known to man who rebelled against the establishment and did it so effectively that he at least won his own kingdom – Lucifer.”

I think that speaks for itself, don’t you?

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Voter Fraud in Ohio?

You will not find many news reports on this. Thankfully, Lou Dobbs and Glenn Beck at CNN are not completely in the tank for Obama, and appear to believe in fair reporting.

Please watch this video, this is an obscene opportunity for fraud. They do not FACT CHECK these voters registrations, they can vote right away!!!