Mickey (c) Walt Disney Co

i would rather my baby cousins read these than watch scary tv.
Half Baked Stories, Nick by Night, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, The Velveteen Rabbit

to the little gentleman, jacob, whom i may never see again.

Why are there so many songs about rainbows
And what's on the other side?
Rainbows are visions, but only illusions
And rainbows have nothing to hide
So we've been told, and some choose to believe it
I know they're wrong, wait and see
Someday we'll find it, the Rainbow Connection
The lovers, the dreamers, and me.

Who said that ev'ry wish would be heard and answered
When wished on the morning star?
Somebody thought of that, and someone believed it
Look what it's done so far.
What's so amazing that keeps us star gazing
And what do we think we might see?
Someday we'll find it, the Rainbow Connection
The lovers, the dreamers, and me.

All of us under its spell,
We know that it's probably magic.
Have you been half asleep and
have you heard voices?
I've heard them calling my name
Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailors
I know it's one and the same
I've heard it too many times to ignore it
It's something that I'm s'posed to be
Someday we'll find it, the Rainbow Connection
The lovers, the dreamers, and me.

Goofy (c) Walt Disney Co

At 2 a.m. on October 31, groggy Americans will turn their clocks back one hour, marking the end of Daylight Saving Time (DST). But for others around the world (and in Indiana) things aren't that easy.The federal law that established "daylight time" in this country does not require any area to observe daylight saving time. But if a state chooses to observe DST, it must follow the starting and ending dates set by the law which since 1986 have been the first Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October.
-- John Gettings

which means, i still have oh, about half an hr to dillydally before i coax myself to sleep. anyhoo, here are some interesting facts about countries around the world that observe DST in some form.

In Canada, every province except Saskatchewan observes DST. It remains on standard time all year long.
It wasn't until 1996 that our NAFTA neighbors in Mexico adopted DST. Now all three Mexican time zones are on the same schedule as the United States.
Also in 1996, members of the European Union agreed to observe a "summer-time period" from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October.
In the winter months, Russia, which spans over 11 time zones, is always one hour ahead of standard time. In the summer, Russians turn their clocks ahead one more hour.
Most countries near the equator don't deviate from standard time.
In the Southern Hemisphere, where summer arrives in what we in the Northern Hemisphere consider the winter months, DST is observed from late October to late March.
Three large regions in Australia do not participate in DST. Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and Queensland stay on standard time all year. The remaining south-central and southeastern sections of the continent (which is where Sydney and Melbourne are found) make the switch. This results in both vertical and horizontal time zones Down Under during the summer months.
China, which spans five time zones, is always eight hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time and it does not observe DST.
There is no DST period in Japan either.

so, before i shut up and pass out, i'm sharing a little bit of halloween history... ok, not just a little bit, but nevertheless, still very intriguing.


Bush & Kerry Halloween political masks

Hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, the Celts, inhabitants of Britain and Ireland, observed a festival on October 31.
Unlike modern-day Halloween, theirs was no children’s holiday. The Celts and their priests, the Druids, celebrated Samhain, a festival that marked the eve of the Celtic New Year, which began on November 1.
The fall harvest was complete and the winter loomed ahead. The Celts believed the power of the sun was fading. For the next several months, darkness would prevail.
The Celts believed that during Samhain the veil separating the living from the dead was at its thinnest. They believed that on the evening of October 31 evil spirits and the souls of the dead passed through the barrier and entered the world of the living. Departed family members would revisit their earthly homes.
The thought was frightening – and exciting!
The Celts believed these spirits and dead souls could torment the living. Crops might be destroyed, babies stolen, farm animals killed. But this was also an opportunity to commune with the spirits – and divine the future. The devil, the lord of darkness, was ordinarily feared, but during Samhain, his power would be called on to foretell the future.
The Druids were charged with appeasing the goblins and preventing harm to the people. Huge Samhain bonfires were lit to guide the way of the spirits. Various sacrifices – including human – were performed to assure a good year.Several ancient authors commented on the gory religious rites of the Druids.It is believed that, like many pagan cultures around the world, the Celts left food out for the spirits, hoping that a "treat" would prevent an evil "trick."Centuries later, descendants of the Celts continued to observe the Samhain festival by dressing as evil spirits. They roamed from house to house demanding food in exchange for the "spirits" leaving the home unharmed. They carved demon faces in hollowed-out turnips and lighted them with candles.That night, they also practiced many customs designed to divine the future. Young people roasted nuts in Samhain fires to see which would crack first – and tell them who they would marry. The person who retrieved the apple by his mouth from a tub of water was assured of a lucky year. Obviously, some of these customs (like "apple bobbing") have remained with us, strictly as amusement.

When Christianity began to spread through Europe in the third and fourth centuries, the pagan temples were torn down. But pagan worship never completely disappeared. The festival of Samhain remained a primary pagan festival.Belief in spirits may have waned, but many of the old Samhain traditions continued to be practiced – especially by the children. Primarily in Ireland, children dressed as spirits went from house to house demanding a treat. If they received none, they performed an unwelcome trick. They were play-acting the part of evil spirits that had to be appeased, just as in the old Samhain festival the people believed they really did have to appease spirits. In the 700s, the Church decided to combat this festival by replacing it with a celebration of the Lord of life. Instead of honoring evil spirits and the souls of the dead, the Church chose to recognize the saints – or hallowed ones – who had lived godly lives. The Church seemed to be saying, "All right, if you must have a day to celebrate the dead, then celebrate those who died and are now with the Lord."So November 1 came to be called All Saints’ Day, also called All Hallows’ Day. The evening before was called All Hallows’ Evening. From that, we get the modern name of Halloween.But pagan customs continued. And with the growth of witchcraft in the Middle Ages, additional symbols became associated with Halloween – black cats, witches, bats, and skulls.

Witches and Satanists are, of course, a small minority. Few people who celebrate Halloween these days ever think about the darkness that underlies most Halloween practices.A beaming child dressed in a black pointed hat and matching gown -- with a wart carefully drawn on her nose and trick-or-treat bag held tightly in her hand -- is hardly thinking of death or the spirits of departed relatives. Nor should she be.She’s thinking of candy and fun. She's glowing because of her delight in her special costume. And she's anticipating the adventure of her house-to-house pilgrimage.Merchants also look forward to October 31. The sale of candy, costumes, decorations and party goods make Halloween one of the major retail seasons of the year.Sure, no one can deny children or adults all the Halloween fun simply because of its unsavory history. Can there really be anything wrong with this lighthearted revelry?Does the Bible have anything to say about celebrating Halloween?In Corinth, meat that had been sacrificed to idols was sold in the market. People who bought it then ate it in honor of that particular pagan god. Speaking of his freedom to eat food that a pagan had dedicated to an idol, the apostle Paul said, "Everything is permissible" (1 Corinthians 10:23). After all, he didn't believe the pagan gods really existed.If we apply Paul's statement to the celebration of Halloween, then one could argue that Christians can dress in ghostly costumes and practice the traditions that have been passed down from the ancient Celts. After all, the supernatural powers they tried to appease don't have power over those who belong to Christ.The Bible says that Jesus destroyed the power of death when He went to the cross. By Jesus' death and resurrection, anyone who gives his or her life to Jesus doesn't need to fear evil.But Paul didn't stop with a statement of his freedom. He said, "Everything is permissible" -- but not everything is beneficial" (1 Corinthians 10:23).It is in this light that Christians need to examine how to observe Halloween.

hmm... it seems political masks are a hit among the kids... whoa scary!
goodnight, sleep tight, dont let the bed bugs bite.

Chip & Dale (c) Walt Disney Co

what a glorious day! not even the kerry campaign (visible everywhere now -- on people's hats, bags, coats and yes, even strollers) could dampen my spirit. it was déjà vu getting a glimpse of the autumnal park. the feeling was very much like the one I had the first time I walked in the Yard, revelling in the poignancy of the day... when i noticed a couple of chipmunks rolling on the ground, playing. boy, were they having the time of their lives... i thought, if i were to grab someone and wrestle them to the ground, it wouldnt be cute at all. those harvard chipmunks were certainly making the most of their cuteness. lucky chaps.
i really couldnt resist giving them nuts. which chipmunks/squirrels hoard. sounds scroogey, but that's part of nature's grand design -- their stashes help preserve the world's ecosystem.
now, if only the pigeons werent so aggressive. they flew towards us, one right in my face. i was petrified (i saw hitchcock's the birds). i shrieked, breaking the day's poetics... i must have really hit the high note because everyone stopped what s/he was doing/thinking, and stared. but that's for another posting.

did you know...
One reason squirrels come to the ground is to bury and retrieve food. In the fall you can often see them digging small holes in the ground called caches, into which they deposit food, especially nuts and acorns. They may cache thousands of nuts and acorns during a season. On warm days throughout the winter, then, when food is scarce, the squirrel descends to the ground and digs up its treasures. Many nuts and acorns are never retrieved, so they sprout in the spring, and develop into trees. Thus one important job the squirrel does in the ecosystem is to plant trees.

OH YEA,
the kerry eagle-and-ostrich ad... "The eagle soars high above the earth, the ostrich buries its head on the ground. The eagle knows when it's time to change course; the ostrich just stands in its place. Given these challenging times, shouldnt we be the eagle again?"... that's why i'm for bush, my dear democrat. the eagle knows when to change its course, it has a steady, level flight, and it stands on the offense and attacks the prey. now, who's the eagle?

Boston Red Sox Derek Lowe (c) Reuters

my best friend called 2 minutes before 8 to remind me that the hit tv show, "lost" would be on in a couple mins. i knew that the world series would be on at the same time and wanted to scare him by telling him i'd rather watch the game. but i have a heart so i didnt say anything. (as if by rooting for the red sox, i could jeopardize the whole thing!)
anyway, two reasons why i'm glad:
a) at long last, there's a tv show (that isnt a reality show) where real actors know how to restrain themselves on camera. reality show stars are the worst actors in television history. lost may be the dark version of gilligan's island, but reality shows definitely scare the hell out of me. i mean, how can you not act when the camera is focused on you?
b) at long, long last the red sox won the world series for the first time in 86 years! imagine that. actually, i wanted to tell my best friend that i had a feeling his favourite team would win but i zipped my mouth about it (didnt want him to have seizures over that).
the boston red sox, ridiculed and humiliated since their last win in 1918, defeated their mortal enemy, the new york yankees then beat the st. louis cardinals (owners of the best record in baseball) taking their first crown in 86 yrs.

I'm so happy. I'm happy for the fans in Boston, I'm happy for Johnny Pesky, for Bill Buckner, for (Bob) Stanley and (Calvin) Schiraldi and all the great Red Sox players who can now be remembered for the great players that they were.
-- Curt Schilling, pitcher

nailing the title with a 3-0 game 4 win, the 2004 world series is one unforgettable event for the red sox and their fans. cbn news interviewed a couple red sox players who were so candid about their faith in God, not only hoping but truly believing that they'd win.

We know people who are 90 years old who have just said: 'Just one championship before I die'.
-- Tom Werner, Red Sox chairman

cheers to the boston red sox and all the fans who can sleep like a babe now that it's over.

All of our fans have waited all their lives for this night, and it's finally here. These guys did it for you, New England.
-- John Henry, Red Sox owner

Wile E. Coyote (c) Warner Bros

"Thank you, Red Sox!" fans chanted their neverending gratitude as the red sox finished the game with a jaw-dropping victory last night. i was laughing my brains out over these comments (left on dean's blog):

At long last, no more complaining about a curse... Perhaps the Cubs fans can have their turn soon.
-- Final Historian

Chicagoans will officially be able to say they are the world's most frustrated baseball fans.
-- Dean Esmay

Go go go!
-- John Irving

2 outs left... c'mon Sox!
-- John Irving

YEEEHAAA!!!!!!! 4 game sweep, yeah!
-- John Irving

Finally, Bostonites can stop with the carping.
-- Final Historian

now this one's my personal favourite:

After waiting for only 50 years for this, I'm certainly pleased. But the best part is:
The Universal Law of Karma
Only one group of Boston idiots gets to win the big one in any given year. Thus, JF Kerry will have to postpone his inauguration for another, oh, 86 years! Now THAT rocks!
-- Hatcher

I was watching Dennis Miller last night and he summed up how he felt about the "curse". I
paraphrase: "Boston, you weren't cursed when you traded the Big Bambino to the Yankees. It's just that for the past 86 years you've sucked!" It was awesome.
-- Kevin D

Hatcher: I hope that law holds true :-)
-- Dean Esmay

Well my father will be pleased. I bet the ambulance services were very busy in Massachusetts last night.
-- Andrew Ian Dodge

There are baseball fans left in Chicago after all these despairing decades? (How quaint. Like turning up a 160 year old civil war veteran.)
-- Arnold Harris

As a St. Louisan and homer galore I can't say the sweep made me happy, as a matter of fact it miffed me to all get out. I can say this though if anyone was to be able have the joy of victory while I was tasting defeat I am happy that it was Boston. Long awaited and now it's over. It will be interesting to see how
they handle "winner" status now. Without the curse against them and the loveable loser tag the whole
city may implode. Besides, it also opens the possibility for me to make fun of the Cubs fans more.
-- James Doney

Sir Laurence Olivier's The Chronicle or King Henry the Fift with His battel Fought at Agincourt in France, 1944

Then we call this field of Agincourt,
Fought on the day of Crispin Crispianus.
-- Henry V Scene Vll

october 25th is st. crispin's day. i was looking forward to this date so i could talk about my man, henry. i was a day late, though. the english still celebrate st. crispin's every year for henry V's miraculous win at agincourt against france in 1415. shakespeare immortalised him in 1599 to the delight of his then audience, queen elizabeth I.

Come, go we in procession to the village.
And be it death proclaimed through our host
To boast of this or praise from God
Which is his only.
-- Henry V Scene Vlll

responses to the play are shaped by the times. by people who view war as just or unjust. the playwright, too, had been subject to criticism, to suggestions that the nationalistic interpretation of henry V was to please the queen at the time. i do not claim to be a writer. i do not claim to be a critic. i read as i am moved. by words and by the images they conjure.

Now, fie upon my false French! By mine honour, in
true English, I love thee, Kate: by which honour I
dare not swear thou lovest me; yet my blood begins to
flatter me that thou dost, notwithstanding the poor
and untempering effect of my visage. Now, beshrew
my father's ambition! he was thinking of civil wars
when he got me: therefore was I created with a
stubborn outside, with an aspect of iron, that, when
I come to woo ladies, I fright them. But, in faith,
Kate, the elder I wax, the better I shall appear:
my comfort is, that old age, that ill layer up of
beauty, can do no more, spoil upon my face: thou
hast me, if thou hast me, at the worst; and thou
shalt wear me, if thou wear me, better and better:
and therefore tell me, most fair Katharine, will you
have me? Put off your maiden blushes; avouch the
thoughts of your heart with the looks of an empress;
take me by the hand, and say 'Harry of England I am
thine:' which word thou shalt no sooner bless mine
ear withal, but I will tell thee aloud 'England is
thine, Ireland is thine, France is thine, and Harry
Plantagenet is thine;' who though I speak it before
his face, if he be not fellow with the best king,
thou shalt find the best king of good fellows.
Come, your answer in broken music; for thy voice is
music and thy English broken; therefore, queen of
all, Katharine, break thy mind to me in broken
English; wilt thou have me?
-- Henry V Scene ll

love, too, is a form of heroism. it is what gets us through a war.

Do we all holy rites; Let there be sung 'Non nobis' and 'Te Deum;
'The dead with charity enclosed in clay:
And then to Calais; and to England then:
Where ne'er from France arrived more happy men.

Exeunt.
-- Henry V Scene Vlll

Non nobis, Domine, non nobis,
sed nomini tuo da gloriam,
sed nomini tuo da gloriam.
Non nobis, Domine.

Not to us, O LORD, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.
-- Psalm 115

the miraculous military victory commemorated in 'non nobis' is the core event of salvation in the bible, the model of all of God's interventions in human history. there is honour for the king and the playwright who honoured their God.

did you know...
The scene with Henry V (Kenneth Branagh) carrying the body of his dead page has been named as #84 on the Observer's February 6, 2000 list of Cinema's 100 most Memorable Moments.

Bugs & Daffy (c) Warner Bros

the presidential campaign begins its final week. both clinton and kerry were in philly on october 25th, combining their charisma (what's left of it) appealing to elect a president "who will be true to the people" and sweating it all out. the republicans, meanwhile, said it was a sign of kerry dullness that the democrats are calling on former pres. clinton, who rallied voters for kerry on monday after being sidelined for weeks by heart surgery. if folks arent talking about the MLB world series, they're definitely talking about the presidential election. we hear and see political campaign ads everywhere now -- on commercials, tv shows, and from fellow bloggers. the two presidential candidates must be a bundle of nerves as the clock ticks, especially kerry who honestly thinks "it is time" to step in and take over the white house.
but why the disdain towards the president? the democrats have been dissatisfied with president bush's job performance, never agreed on/with his "unpopular" decisions, and spewed out their views over and over about the present state of the economy. how can anyone expect the opposing views to say anything positive, anyway?
when we ask people about who they're going to vote for, they hesitate a moment and return our question. when we say, "we're for bush, definitely", that's when they loosen up and say the same.
when everything's said and done, all we can do is wait for the election results. may the best man win. bashing the president doesnt make him any weaker, however, because...
The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men the conviction and will to carry on... The genius of a good leader is to leave behind him a situation which common sense, without the grace of genius, can deal with successfully.
-- Walter Lippmann

... but i think that it will still be four more years for bush.

By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just.
-- Proverbs 8:15

May the LORD continue to defend this country and give the spirit of a sound mind to every voter. To God the Father and Christ Jesus be glory now and forevermore.

to the pathetic little whiners who believe partial-birth abortion is a way out to be relieved of further responsibility, i have one word for you: WEEP!
i was sick in my mother's womb, but she never thought of aborting me. you murder innocent babies to exercise your freedom to choose, is it always about you, you self-centered, narcissistic witches? women's right is what you call it, what about the babies who cant even defend themselves, who dont have the freedom that you have, who are unfortunately stuck inside you and have to suffer your murderous schemes? i am sick and tired of your whimpering, you really know what partial-birth abortion is? shut up and read, hopefully, it would get through to your thick-headed underused brains.

excerpts:

In a partial-birth abortion, the abortionist pulls a living baby feet-first out of the womb and into the birth canal (vagina), except for the head, which the abortionist purposely keeps lodged just inside the cervix (the opening to the womb). The abortionist punctures the base of the baby’s skull with a surgical instrument, such as a long surgical scissors or a pointed hollow metal tube called a trochar. He then inserts a catheter (tube) into the wound, and removes the baby's brain with a powerful suction machine. This causes the skull to collapse, after which the abortionist completes the delivery of the now-dead baby.

The term "partial-birth" is perfectly accurate. Under both federal law and most state laws, a "live birth" occurs when a baby is entirely expelled from the mother and shows any signs of life, however briefly -- regardless of whether the baby is "viable," i.e., developed enough to be sustained outside the womb with neo-natal medical assistance. Even at 4½ months (20 weeks), perinatologists say that if a baby is expelled or removed completely from the uterus, she will usually gasp for breath and sometimes survive for hours, even though lung development is usually insufficient to permit successful sustained respiration until 23 weeks.
Some prominent defenders of partial-birth abortions, such as NARAL's Kate Michelman and syndicated columnist Ellen Goodman, insisted that anesthesia kills the babies before they are removed from the womb. This myth has been refuted by professional societies of anesthesiologists. In reality, the babies are alive and experience great pain when subjected to a partial-birth abortion.

Another "phony ban" substitute amendment proposed in the past by Senator Tom Daschle (D-SD) and Richard Durbin (D-Il.) would not affect the typical partial-birth abortions performed in the late second trimester. Even in the seventh month and later, the substitute would permit abortions based on any degree of "risk" of "grievous injury to her physical health." Dr. Warren Hern, a leading practitioner of very late abortions who wrote the textbook Abortion Practice, commented on the Daschle amendment, "I say every pregnancy carries a risk of death," and therefore, "I will certify that any pregnancy is a threat to a woman’s life and could cause ‘grievous injury’ to her ‘physical health.’" (in USA Today and Washington Times, both May 15, 1997) In other words, under the Daschle-Durbin amendment, any pregnant woman would qualify for an abortion even in the seventh month and later.
Although usually used in the fifth and sixth months, the partial-birth abortion method is also used to perform abortions in the third trimester -- that is, the seventh month and later. In Kansas, the only state in which the law requires separate reporting of partial-birth abortions, abortionists reported in 1999 they had performed 182 partial-birth abortions on babies who were defined by the abortionists themselves as "viable," and they also reported that all 182 of these were performed for "mental" (as opposed to "physical") health reasons.
In a written submission to the House Judiciary Committee in June, 1995, the late Dr. James McMahon – who is considered to be the developer of the method – explicitly acknowledged that he performed such abortions on babies with no "flaw" whatever, even in the third trimester, for such reasons as mere youth of the mother or for "psychiatric" difficulties. Indeed, even at 29 weeks -- well into the seventh month -- one-fourth of the babies that McMahon aborted had no "flaw," however minor. Moreover, McMahon’s submission showed that in a "series" of about 2,000 such abortions that he performed, only 9% were performed for "maternal [health] indications," and of that group, the most common reason was "depression."
The Physicians’ Ad Hoc Coalition for Truth (PHACT) -- a group of over 600 physician-specialists (mostly in obstetrics, perinatology, and related disciplines) -- has spoken out to dispute claims that some women need partial-birth abortions to avoid serious physical injury. PHACT said: "We, and many other doctors across the United States, regularly treat women whose unborn children suffer these and other serious conditions. Never is the partial-birth procedure medically indicated. Rather, such infants are regularly and safely delivered live, vaginally, with no threat to the mother's health or fertility." In September, 1996, former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop and other PHACT members said that "partial-birth abortion is never medically necessary to protect a mother's health or her future fertility. On the contrary, this procedure can pose a significant threat to both."

Spontaneous abortions are usually called miscarriages. Most occur at home with little danger to the mother. There is sometimes excessive bleeding, however, or incomplete emptying of the uterus requiring hospitalization, during which the surgeon must gently tease the rotting remnants of the placenta (afterbirth) from the inside walls of the womb with a blunt instrument. Even when this procedure (called a D&C) is needed, there is rarely damage to the mother because the cervix (womb opening) is already softened and partly opened. Infection is rare. Baby parts are seldom found.
What kind of induced abortions are there?
In the first week there are micro-abortions caused by "contraceptive" drugs and devices. After implantation there are those induced by drugs such as RU 486, Methotrexate and prostaglandins.
In the first trimester there are surgical abortions like suction and D&C.
In the second and third trimesters there are instillation types, D&E, intracardiac injections and partial birth abortions.

Are there 3rd trimester abortions?
A more recently developed method here is the partial birth abortion, also called "brain suction" or "D&X" methods.
- These are done after 4 or 5 months.
- 80% of babies are normal.
- Most babies are viable.
This is like a breech delivery. The entire infant is delivered except the head. A scissors is jammed into the base of the skull. A tube is inserted into the skull, and the brain is sucked out. The now-dead infant is pulled out. The drawings illustrate this.
Perhaps it’s her only choice.
"There are no medical circumstances in which a partial-birth abortion is the only safe alternative. We take care of pregnant women who are very sick, and babies who are very sick, and we never perform partial-birth abortions. . . . There are plenty of alternatives. . . . This is clearly a procedure no obstetrician needs to do." F. Boehm, Dr. OB, Vanderbilt U. Med. The Washington Times, May 6, 1966, p. A1

Why kill the infant?
You’ve said it! Obviously the mother wants to get unpregnant. Even if this is accepted, we must still ask, why kill? Most of these babies are viable. They are only 3 or 4 inches (10 cm) from delivery. One gentle pull and the head will come out. Then the cord could be cut, and the infant given to the nurse to take to the intensive care nursery.
There is absolutely no medical reason to kill the baby except that the mother wants him dead.
-- Dr. and Mrs. J.C. Wilke

now if you still cant get it, or are just too lazy to read the excerpts, here are some definitions of "human life" for you.

Define "Alive"
Alive means that this being is growing, developing, maturing, and replacing its own dying cells. It means not being dead.
Define "Human"
Human means one of the biological beings who be-longs to the species Homo Sapiens. Such beings are unique from all other beings in that they have 46 human chromosomes in every cell. Such beings do not belong to the rabbit family, the carrot family, etc.
Define "Person"
Person is defined in at least a dozen different ways, according to the field or discipline in which you define it. In theology it usually means when the soul is created.
In law (in the U.S.), personhood begins at birth. Other countries have ruled that it begins at different ages. In medicine and natural science, person usually means when the being is alive and complete. In philosophy it has multiple meanings and shades of meanings. We strongly suggest that no one use this term without first defining precisely what you mean by it; for, unless you do, any discussion of personhood is foolish.
Define human life?
This is the question that must first be considered, pondered, discussed, and finally, answered. It cannot be brushed aside or ignored. It must be faced and met honestly. Upon its answer hinges the entire abortion question, as all other considerations pale to insignificance when compared with it. In a sense, nothing else really matters. If what is growing within the mother is not human life, if it is just a piece of tissue — a glob of protoplasm — then it deserves little respect or consideration, and the primary concern should be the mother’s physical and mental health, her social well-being, and, at times, even her convenience.

and for the hypocritical "physicians" who issued the restatement of their Oath, remember this one particular statement?
I will follow that method of treatment which according to my ability and judgment I consider for the benefit of my patient and abstain from whatever is harmful or mischievous. I will neither prescribe nor administer a lethal dose of medicine to any patient even if asked nor counsel any such thing nor perform act or omission with direct intent deliberately to end a human life. I will maintain the utmost respect for every human life from fertilization to natural death and reject abortion that deliberately takes a unique human life.

what about the presidential candidate john kerry, who keeps changing his stand on partial-birth abortion, and his equally fickle-minded running mate, john edwards?

EDWARDS CALLED IT "GRUESOME," BUT VOTED AGAINST BANNING THE PROCEDURE IN 1999 AND SKIPPED TODAY'S VOTE
During 1998 Senate Campaign, Senator John Edwards (D-NC) Said Partial-Birth Abortion Should Be Banned. "I think partial-birth abortions should be banned,' Edwards said. 'These are terribly gruesome procedures. I think the only exception is where there is a grave, serious threat to the health of the mother.'" ("Edwards Campaigns On An Issue A Week," The Associated Press, 9/19/98)
But Edwards Has Voted Against Banning Partial-Birth Abortion. (S. 1692, Roll Call Vote #340, Passed 63-34: R 49-3; D 14-31, 10/21/99)
KERRY IS A STAUNCH SUPPORTER OF PARTIAL-BIRTH ABORTION YET SKIPPED TODAY'S VOTE
Senator John Kerry (D-MA) Supports Partial-Birth Abortion. "Kerry . . . supports existing legislation that allows for partial birth abortions. . . ." Kerry called the effort to ban partial-birth abortions "an unbecoming effort." (Emilie Astell, "Kerry Sees Edge In Abortion Issue," Telegram & Gazette [Worcester, MA], 7/29/96)
Kerry Has Now Voted Five Times Against Banning Partial-Birth Abortion. (H.R. 1833, Roll Call Vote #596, Passed 54-44: R 45-8; D 9-36; I 0-0, 12/7/95; H.R. 1833, Roll Call Vote #301: Motion Rejected 58-40: R 46-5; D 12-35; I 0-0, 9/26/96; H.R. 1122, Roll Call Vote #71: Passed 64-36: R 51-4; D 13-32, 5/20/97; H.R. 1122, Roll Call Vote #277: Veto Sustained 64-36: R 51-4; D 13-32, 9/18/98; S. 1692, Roll Call Vote #340: Passed 63-34: R 49-3; D 14-31, 10/21/99)

'nuff said.

A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.
-- Matthew 2:18

Will there really be a morning?
Is there such a thing as day?
Could I see it from the mountains
If I were as tall as they?

Has it feet like water lilies?
Has it feathers like a bird?
Is it brought from famous countries
Of which I have never heard?

Oh some scholar, oh some sailor,
Oh some wise man from the skies,
Please to tell a little pilgrim
Where the place called morning lies.
-- Emily Dickinson, Morning

Audrey (c) Yale Diva

Moon River, wider than a mile; I'm crossing you in style some day. Oh dream-maker, you heartbreaker, Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way. Two drifters off to see the world; There's such a lot of world to see. We're after the same rainbow's end... Waitin' 'round the bend... My huckleberry friend, Moon River... and me...

breakfast at tiffany's must be "fabulous", provided your date isnt another hollywood mongrel (or is it mogul?), but a paul varjak who gives you an engagement ring from a cracker jack... of course, i'm not breakfasting outside tiffany's right now and no hollywood mongrel around to treat me out. it's a normal early morning and i havent slept yet. why? besides curing my insomnia by watching movies in the wee small hours of the morning, my mind has been on other stuff, too. i was very guilty about not keeping in touch with friends especially when it was pointed out to me by an upset buddy. but there are times when we all need a breath of air -- even away from people we care about -- i mean, has anyone felt the same? i think it's a phase that everyone goes through once in a while. how can one explain it without actually being redundant or offensive to the person who means a lot? well, that's just one of the things going through my head, the other is, movies. and i'm not talking about cheap, lousy, stinky films -- movies boring and/or disgusting enough to make the jaws lock (take michael moore's fahrenheit 9/11, for instance). i'm almost positive that moore cackles everytime his movie is mentioned, poor review or not, it's free advertising, so forget that. anyhow, i think that watching a good movie at home where you can curl up and pig out is way better than going to the movie theatre where you might end up arguing with cacofonix sitting three rows behind you.
our generation is big on special effects but usually the synopsis just stinks. there are definitely modern-ish classics still but very few actors that can truly act. i'm amazed at times when i realise that the movie i am watching for the first time is actually a remake. i dont mind, though, as long as the copycat is as good or even better than the original, take for example, mel gibson's "ransom", the original was filmed in 1956 with the same title.
the audience has become more sophisticated through decades that filmmakers concentrated more on special effects rather than the story line. screenwriters, it's time to bring out the axelrod or mankiewicz (joseph, herman, or tom) in you. it doesnt matter if the movie is lowbudgeted as long as the story is excellent, it would be like a tiffany diamond pulled out of a cracker jack box.

top 5 recommended modern-ish classics to watch in random order:

Glory (1989)
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain (2001)
Dead Poets Society (1989)
Donnie Brasco (1997)

did you know...
When Indy (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade) is at Walter Donovan's, his wife enters the room begging Donovan to join the party, in the background the Star Wars (1977) theme commonly dubbed Storm Trooper march can be heard in the background being played on a piano.

(c) Linda Eddy

remember the 2nd presidential candidates' debate where the format was a bit different? they had assembled a town-hall meeting which ended impressively. "kerry didnt think so", i mused. after the debate and people were gathering around the candidates, i noticed kerry wasnt all too happy. i wondered why the long face (pun intended), didnt he go to the manicurist that day? anyway, enough of the men. the women are taking centre stage this time...

"Catfight!" yelled the frat boy lurking in all of us. And now the moment is here again. Not in the prom-dressing-room whispers of Barbara Bush but from the bored chaperone voice of Teresa Heinz Kerry.
-- Hanna Rosin

although laura bush gently brushed off teresa heinz kerry's remark questioning whether "she ever had a real job", her adviser, karen hughes, said heinz kerry's apology "made it worse because she left out the very important real job of a mother. Clearly, she knows that laura bush was a mother... who chose to stay home and rear her family. That's a noble choice that should be celebrated not denigrated". the two women show contrast not only in character but the way they handle life and ethical situations. jet-setting teresa heinz kerry prefers using a more straightforward remark like "shove it", and is used to getting her way, laura bush is traditional and always appropriate. heinz kerry may be fluent in five languages and a multi-millionairess, but laura bush carries herself with much dignity that it's no wonder her personal rating approval soars above 70% compared to heinz kerry's 40%.

Mrs Bush is perfectly groomed in a fitted, pink skirt suit, her hair neat and stylish, her smile fixed and splendid. She is delighted to be here, she says, to speak to these powerful women who do so much for various causes throughout America. She smiles some more, tells a deprecating joke about her husband that raises a decent swell of laughter, and then launches seamlessly into her carefully weighted speech. "To be here with so many smart, savvy, powerful women... You have to wonder what the guys are doing without us right now," she says.
-- The Independent

at 66, teresa heinz kerry still has that scarlett o'hara spunk which isnt working to her advantage. in an interview published wednesday, USA Today, she said that she sees her age as a benefit (laura bush is 57), "I'm older, and my validation of what I do is a little bit bigger -- because I'm older, and I've had different experiences. And it's not criticism of her. It's just, you know, what life is about." who is this woman kidding? being older (and richer) doesnt mean that one is qualified to meet the demands of the people. heinz kerry commented that laura bush only had a job when she had a paying job... sure, heinz kerry has had different experiences except being first lady, and the job of the first lady is to give as much of herself to the people as needed, something that laura bush has been doing for the last four years.

She's [Laura Bush] a good mother, a good wife, a good American citizen and a lovely, lovely lady," said Pat Brown, 63, a county elections worker from Chesterland, Ohio. "She's a big, big help to her husband."
-- USA Today

one intriguing question raised (and worth asking) was, if teresa heinz kerry is a breath of fresh air because of her candor and outspokenness, then why is the media choking on it? free republic came up with an answer, "When she [Teresa Heinz Kerry] attacks the president and vice president regularly and questions their intelligence and patriotism she is no longer a "civilian" and should not expect to be treated as such."
point taken.

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
-- Proverbs 31:10

i'm back... with a vengeance (like the red sox). i feel that i have hybernated enough, i was a little irresponsible and kinda got caught up with the events in my life that i set aside my blog and just posted what i wanted without thoroughly exercising my brain (thoughtlessly putting my readers to sleep).
so, what better way to warm up my brain than to start off with the boston red sox?... yea, you go, you sexy thing!
no amount of chanting, or cursing could stop the red sox. "it was the greatest comeback in baseball history", red sox owner john henry said.
yankee fans were stunned as the greatest night drew to a close. wearing a t-shirt with a logo "Hey Red Sox... who's your daddy?" -- and screaming it, didnt help the yankees to tie the score. and i guess, since halloween is just around the corner, yankee fans wanted to scare off the red sox "reminding" them of the curse of the bambino with babe ruth's life-sized pictures held in midair.

Nothing whacky happened. No ball through someone's legs, no errant throw, no sudden breeze from the supposed ghosts of Yankee Stadium. Just a simple throw by Pokey Reese to first and the Red Sox were the American League champions.
-- Steve Wilstein

well, it seems the curse is finally broken, and about time. people were talking and already theorizing on the eve of the game. on my way home, i said a little prayer that God must've heard, i prayed the red sox would win.

May the Lord grant all your requests.
-- Psalm 20:5

i almost felt sorry for the bewildered yankees as the boston red sox turned history on its head for the very first time after decades of losing. almost, but not quite. after all, the yankees had instilled so much heartache and pain among the boston fans and team players for such a long time that the torture has got to end... and it did end last night with the "evil empire" crumbling before their fans' very eyes.

All empires fall sooner or later.
-- Larry Luchino, Boston president

the red sox was to become the first major league team to overcome a 3-0 postseason series deficit. the feared yankees (already humbled after game 7 in a 10-3 shocker) watched the red sox hugging and leaping on each other on the mound.

They had a lot of heart. They never gave up. That team never dies. I give them a lot of credit.
-- Brian Cashman, Yankees general manager

now that the babe's team has been defeated by no less than the red sox, boston has a fairer chance to reverse the curse and turn it into luck, win the world series for the first time since 1918 and make the hub's joy complete. i can almost hear my best friend, a die hard red sox fan, agreeing with me. when he learned that i was watching the game, he asked me to watch a movie, instead. when i told him the red sox would win, he stressed out that i also said that last year about the red sox and they lost -- and almost hung up on me. i simply replied, "that was a fluke. the red sox will win."
hey joe... who's your lucky charm now, huh?

Boston blew away decades of defeat with four sweet swings. Believe it, New England, the Red Sox are in the World Series. And they got there with the most unbelievable comeback of all, shaming the New York Yankees, the Evil Empire to the south.
David Ortiz, Johnny Damon and Derek Lowe made sure of that.
-- Ronald Blum

did you know...
the 1948 film "The Babe Ruth Story", was rushed for release while Babe Ruth himself was still alive, which is why the movie ends the way it does. Ruth died shortly after the premiere, which he attended.
and
The scene at Yankee Stadium was shot hours before the real game was scheduled, and Babe came from his death bed to see it.

Still Life lV (c) P. Chaban-Raget

if it's not milkshake, it's cider for me (otherwise, there's good ol' H2O). and since cider day draws near, i'm sharing a brief history of cider and a couple of mouthwatering recipes that can be served over the holidays.

History of Cider

Hard cider became the traditional drink of New England not long after the first settlers arrived.
Then and until recently, "Cider" meant "hard cider". Legally it still does. It was on the table with meals in town houses and farm cottages. Presidents and farm hands drank it. Cider was traded between countryside and town. Orchardists looked for apple varieties suited for cider. The apples were then pressed in the neighborhood, put in casks and brought to the cellar to ferment and age. Our farm neighbors still carry on this tradition.
Cider is a world wide tradition.
In France the traditional cider is light and sparkling and is poured from a champagne bottle. The complex ciders of the Basques and Asturians in Northern Spain come in a corked wine bottle. In England the traditional ciders are kegged like a beer and served on tap at the local pub.
In this country the cider tradition is being renewed. Cider can be found on tap, in six packs, and in wine bottles. Cider is flowing from large scale producers as well as the cellars on New England farms. It is made from generic apple concentrate as well as carefully selected fruit from varieties grown especially for cider. It can provide cool fruity refreshment on a hot afternoon, or complement fine food.
Cider is not wine and it is not beer.
Like wine it is fermented from fruit and can capture the complex flavors of fruit. Like beer, cider has under six or seven percent alcohol and tastes best with some sparkle. It is different from both: a unique beverage. Because of the lower alcohol it is much less intense than wine. To expect the mouth feel of wine when tasting cider ends in disappointment. The smooth taste of grain based beer is contradicted by the aggressive tang of the apple based cider.
What are the characteristics of a good cider?
In Spain, France and England they will tell you with certainty and pour a glass of their local cider to demonstrate. The tastes are wildly different. The only clear guide is that there are different styles and traditions with new ones emerging.
There is the same variety in the making of cider. The scale ranges from an orchardist with a cellar full of barrels to large scale production facilities. The technology ranges from medieval to Victorian to state of the art. Underlying this is the same dictum that winemakers use: it takes good fruit to make good cider. The future in this country is exciting as both orchard-based artisans and large-scale producers experiment with new technique, and orchardists plant traditional and newly developed varieties.

Saturday and Sunday November 6 & 7, 2004
10th Annual Franklin County Apple & Cider Day


Cider Apple Wine

1 gallon fresh pressed cider or apple juice, no preservatives
1 quart water
1 1/2 lbs. sugar or 2 lbs. honey
1 tsp. acid blend (1/2 tsp. if apples are tart)
1/4 tsp. tannin
1 tsp. yeast nutrient
1/2 tsp. pectin enzyme
1 Campden tablet, crushed (optional)
1 packet champagne wine yeast

Put aside 1 quart of the apple juice or cider to drink later. Put the water mixed with the sugar or honey on the stove to boil.
Now pour the hot sugar water over the apple cider. You can do this in a secondary container if you use a funnel and are careful. The cool cider will bring the temperature down quickly. Add the acid, tannin, and yeast nutrient, but wait until the temperature comes down to add the Campden tablet if you choose to. Cover and fit with an air lock. Twelve hours after the Campden tablet, add the pectic enzyme. If you don't use the tablet, then merely wait until the must cools down to add the pectic enzyme.
Check the PA (Potential Alcohol) and write it down. It should be within a reasonable range (10 to 13 percent, depending on how sweet the cider was).
Twenty-four hours later, add the yeast. Stir daily for about two weeks. Check the PA. When it is down to 3 to 4 percent, rack the wine into another glass fermenter.
Rack at least twice during the secondary fermentation. It might take a while to clear. Keep for at least six months. Serve chilled.

from The Joy of Home Winemaking by Terry Garey


Apple Salad with Blue Cheese Croutons and Cider Dressing

2 slices French bread, cubed (about 1 1/2 cups of 1/2-inch cubes)
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 ounces blue cheese
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup walnut pieces
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon Essence, recipe follows
2 medium sweet apples, such as McIntosh or Fuji, cored and thinly sliced, with the peel on
5 tablespoons soft apple cider
1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 cup canola oil
1 tablespoon minced shallots
1/4 teaspoon salt
Pinch ground black pepper
6 cups mesclun
1/4 pound prosciutto or Serrano ham, thinly sliced then shredded

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
In a bowl, toss the bread with the olive oil. Add 3 tablespoons of the cheese and a pinch of salt and pepper and toss to coat the bread evenly.
Place on a baking sheet and bake until browned, stirring occasionally, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven.
In a skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter over medium-high heat. Add the walnuts and cook, stirring, until fragrant and lightly toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the sugar and Essence, and cook, stirring, until the sugar is caramelized and the nuts are evenly coated, about 2 minutes. Remove from the pan and spread on a waxedpaper lined plate. Separate with a fork and let cool.
Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to the pan and add the sliced apples. Cook, stirring, until lightly caramelized on both sides, about 5 minutes. Remove from the pan.
In a small bowl, whisk together the apple cider, vinegar, and mustard. Slowly drizzle in the oil, whisking constantly until it emulsifies. Add the shallots, salt, and pepper, and adjust the seasoning, to taste.
In a large bowl, combine the lettuces, prosciutto, and croutons and toss with enough dressing to lightly coat. Adjust the seasoning, to taste. Place the apples in a small bowl and add enough dressing to coat.
Divide the lettuces among 6 salad plates and arrange the apple slices on top. Sprinkle the walnuts and remaining cheese over the apples. Sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper and serve.

Essence (Creole Seasoning)
2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon dried leaf oregano
1 tablespoon dried thyme
Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.
Yield: about 2/3 cup

Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse

sweet 16 started off quite remarkably. that was when i seriously started collecting mementoes. memories of my childhood were packed away in the small chest that my grandmother's sister gave me. in that chest were bits and pieces of what i liked and hoped to be.

All the officials and all the people brought their contributions gladly, dropping them into the chest until it was full.
-- 2 Chronicles 24:10

long time ago, a groom pays a "dowry" or "bride price" to the bride's family in return for her hand. a daughter was an asset and an integral part of the family, so to cope with the loss of a daughter, the family would need some form of comfort. the "dowry" a groom paid would help her family to hire someone that would fill in their daughter's work.

If Isabella wept in the privacy of her chambers for the loss of her son, she represented the face of an indomitable queen to the world. At the height of her grief, she prepared to surrender another child for the glory and prestige of Spain.
Henry Vll was still eager for the betrothal of his son and heir, Arthur, to Catalina. The dowry was finally agreed upon:
200,000 crowns, half of which would be paid on the wedding day, 50,000 to be paid six months later and 50,000 within a year, the latter payment made up of 15,000 in cash and jewels and the remainder in plate valued at 35,000 which Catalina was to bring with her.

On Whitsunday, 1499, Catalina and Arthur were married by proxy with the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield representing the Prince and Dr. Rodrigo de Puebla the Princess. Catalina was nearly fourteen and Arthur thirteen.
-- Catherine the Queen by Mary Luke

centuries later, the customs and manner of dowries changed. although it's hard to say at what point this changed, after 1000 A.D., references show that the bride's family was no longer paid for the bride, but that the bride took with her a dowry (her inheritance) of either money, land, material possessions, or even all three.

It is not hard to imagine how the hope chest idea grew out of the custom of the dowry. Young girls realized the part money and possessions played in winning a husband. Thus in Rumania, for instance, girls begin at a very young age to make their bridal finery and the linen they will require for their homes. It was even customary, at one time, for the bridegroom to examine these trousseaux and determine whether or not they were complete. The choice of the bride depended in many cases upon the value of her outfit.
-- The New Etiquette, 1924

the hope chest became the symbol of the parents' love and concern for their daughter's future; in it were items wrapped and meticulously packed, set aside for the time when their daughter moves into her new home.

The old-fashioned trousseau was planned by indulgent fathers and zealous mothers to last a lifetime. It included stout linens and embroideries that would give a generation of service without showing signs of wear, laces and brocades intended for household possessions to be handed down from mother to daughter, velvets for winter draperies and sheer fabrics for summer curtains. Even people in modest circumstances felt it their duty to outfit their daughters for marriage so that they would not find it necessary to purchase a napkin or towel for years.
-- The New Etiquette, 1924

i remember being fascinated by the wonderful odd things that were lovingly kept in my grandmother's belle armoire. i would longingly gaze at the souvenirs that my grandmother must have acquired when she was younger. my own hope chest continues to preserve my potpourri of childhood treasures and trifles. it's probably not an appropriate bridal trousseau, but it embodies a tradition of hope and love that i would want to pass on to my future granddaughters and great-nieces.

If you would preserve your children from the pernicious influence of indolence and all its corrupting tendencies, you must be earnest in purpose, active, energetic, and fervent in spirit. Earnestness sharpens the faculties, indolence corrodes and dulls them. By the former we rise higher and higher, by the latter we sink lower and lower. Indolence begets discontent, envy and jealousy, while labor elevates the mind and character. Cultivate in your children habits of thought which will keep their minds occupied upon something that will be of use or advantage, and prevent them from acquiring habits of idleness, if you would secure their future well-being.
-- Our Deportment by John Young, 1881

collecting is a great hobby. it keeps us physically and cerebrally active. it is a continuation of the interests we developed at an early age. my friend's watercolour painting, my artworks and calligraphy, the clay pots and spoons, and my miniature china teaset were all part of my hope chest collection. maybe unconsciously, i was really preparing for the future.

And Jacob loved Rachel: and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man; abide with me. And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for love he had to her.
-- Genesis 29:18-20

Daffy (c) Warner Bros

Oh! I love you a bushel an' a peck (How much?) a bushel an' a peck though you make my heart a wreck! Make my heart a wreck and you make my life a mess, make my life a mess, yes a mess of happiness! About you! (About me?) Yes, about you! You're gonna grieve me, if an' you ever leave me! `Cause I love you a bushel an' a peck, you bet your purdy neck I do! (Doodle oodle ooh doo, doodle oodle ooh doo, doodle oodle ooh doo, doo!)
-- from Guys and Dolls (Frank Loesser, Composer/Lyricist)

st. louis was making me sing that.

who's bushelling, and who's pecking? (no, not the john-teresa displays of affection)
bushel [verb] repair/renovate
peck [verb] to strike or pierce especially repeatedly with the bill or a pointed tool
-- Merriam-Webster Dictionary

oh, and by the way, remember the first debate? guess which candidate spent the day with victims of the hurricane, and which one at the manicurist?

excerpts:

President Bush

We're not going to have a draft, period. The all-volunteer army works. It works particularly when we pay our troops well. It works when we make sure they've got housing, like we have done in the last military budgets.

I don't see how you can win in Iraq if you don't believe we should be there in the first place. I don't see how you can lead troops if you say it's the wrong war at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Yes, I mean, he's got a record. It's been there for 20 years. You can run, but you can't hide. He voted 98 times to raise taxes. I mean, these aren't make-up figures.

Well, had we joined the Kyoto treaty... it would have cost America a lot of jobs. It's one of these deals where, in order to be popular in the halls of Europe, you sign a treaty. But I thought it would cost a lot -- I think there's a better way to do it.

I own a timber company?

Senator Kerry

John Edwards is the author of the Patients' Bill of Rights. He wanted to give people rights. John Edwards and I support tort reform. We both believe that, as lawyers — I'm a lawyer, too. And I believe that we will be able to get a fix that has alluded everybody else because we know how to do it.

I'm pledging I will not raise taxes; I'm giving a tax cut to the people earning less than $200,000 a year... And looking around here, at this group here, I suspect there are only three people here who are going to be affected: the president, me, and, Charlie, I'm sorry, you too.

But like Nancy Reagan, and so many other people -- you know, I was at a forum with Michael J. Fox the other day in New Hampshire, who's suffering from Parkinson's, and he wants us to do stem cell, embryonic stem cell... Chris Reeve is a friend of mine. Chris Reeve exercises every single day to keep those muscles alive for the day when he believes he can walk again, and I want him to walk again.

Well, again, the president just said, categorically, my opponent is against this, my opponent is against that. You know, it's just not that simple...

opinions:

Mark R. Levin

Swimsuit and talent portions to Bush, hands down. Very solid. I think the more people hear John Kerry at some length, HE is the candidate who becomes repetitive. Furthermore, some of his statements are incredible. He's for capping tort awards? Since when?

Jonah Goldberg

For Kerry to continually invoke Ronald Reagan's foreign policy leadership takes real brass considering how much he loathed Reagan and made his job so difficult when Reagan was conducting the foreign policy he now praises.

Shinseki was not canned for saying we need more troops. He said we need more troops because he was canned. Why can't Bush say that?

John Derbyshire

"I'm going to be a president who believes in science"---Kerry. Please, PLEASE, someone ask him to give **ONE** of Newton's three laws of motion.

Jonathan H. Adler

He's misleading on "Clear Skies" (see my article in this Sunday's Phila Inquirer on this administration and air pollution). As for Kyoto, Kerry says the President didn't try to fix it -- but the problem is you can't. Kyoto can't be amended until after it is in force. But now that Kerry is supporting it again (after he opposed it when he voted for Byrd-Hagel), I wonder how that will play in West Virginia?

Robert P. George

No scientists — even those most pro-Kerry and aggressively in favor of the federal funding of embryo-destructive research — ever told Kerry any such thing... For months now, the Kerry campaign and its surrogates, such as Ron Reagan Jr., have cruelly led suffering people to believe that cures for their diseases are just around the corner. All we have to do is replace Bush with Kerry, open the federal funding spigot, and presto! The blind see and the lame walk! The Kerry campaign's hyping of embryo-destructive research for political gain is the cruelest and most shameful episode in the story of the 2004 election.

In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
-- Proverbs 16:9