A couple pictures from the weekend

Seems like whenever I got my camera out, I heard, "Don't get me on there!" "Please don't take my picture."

But, here a few willing participants.

Violet

Ledge has been unhappy the last few days because he is teething. He seems to be in pain, cries a lot and just wants to be held. So, today Alyssa was just holding him and thinking that Violet was not getting much attention. Alyssa told Violet, "I really want to play with you." Violet said, "No, baby." Then she made a sound like a baby crying. So, the translation was: "No, you have to take care of the baby because he is crying."

So, Alyssa continues to hold Ledge. She is standing for a long time with Ledge, just swaying back and forth, trying to get him to drift off to sleep. Then, Alyssa wonders what happened to Violet. All is quiet. What is she up to? She turns around to look for Violet and sees her standing right behind her. Violet has her doll in her arms and she is swaying back and forth just like Alyssa is doing with Ledge. Isn't that the sweetest?

Well, Ledge fell asleep and Alyssa put him down in his crib. Then, I got a phone call from Violet. (She knows how to speed dial me from Alyssa's phone.) She told me, "Baby down." So, it was time for mommy to spend time with Violet now that the baby was down for a nap.

Tavia's Landlord Saga

Tavia’s landlord just took the place over from her daughter and son-in-law. Tavia had no problem with the daughter, but the mother, Lynda, is really something. Tavia says:

"It has been hell. She is over here every other day. "

For more details, click in the comments.

Halt! Can you identify what phrase is represented here?

nasmetofolopve

Ron Paul on Planned Agression Against Iran

The Iran War Resolution may be passed next week.

Watering her Garden

Tavia sent Violet the garden gloves. And also the carrot seeds. Here is the first carrot pulled. It tasted good. But, she's waiting for them to get bigger.

Bumper Sticker Contest Winner is....

...Tavia!

Tavia's entry:

"SAVE THE TROOPS. DRILL IN ANWR."

Tavia's bumper sticker phrase was original and was relevant to current events.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT ENERGY SAVER LIGHT BULBS!

About those light bulbs

Just as true today

The late Harry Browne, the Libertarian Presidential candidate in 2000, said to Tim Russert, "No. You know, I know, everybody watching this show knows that four years from today, whichever of them is elected, government will be bigger, more expensive, more obtrusive, and more oppressive. If you vote Republican or Democrat, you are giving up. You’re saying ‘I’m never going to be free. America will never be a free country again. I will never get smaller government. So I’m just going to vote for the one I think will take me to hell at the slowest-possible rate.’"

Who Owns the West?

The United States government has direct ownership of almost 650 million acres of land - nearly 30% of its total territory. These federal lands, which are mainly used as military bases or testing grounds, nature parks and reserves and indian reservations, are managed by different administrations, such as the Bureau of Land Management, the US Forest Service, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the US Department of Defense, the US Army Corps of Engineers, the US Bureau of Reclamation or the Tennessee Valley Authority.

This map details the percentage of state territory owned by the federal government. The top 10 list of states with the highest percentage of federally owned land looks like this:

Nevada 84.5%
Alaska 69.1%
Utah 57.4%
Oregon 53.1%
Idaho 50.2%
Arizona 48.1%
California 45.3%
Wyoming 42.3%
New Mexico 41.8%
Colorado 36.6%
Notable is that all these states are in the West.

A Write-In Campaign for Ron Paul? No

Here is what Ron says: "I don’t think that’s very productive. Supporters can do it, of course, but in most of the states it won’t count. And if they can change the rules in a primary and not count all the votes, imagine what they could do with write-in votes!"

Bumper Sticker Contest

Who can think of the most catchy phrase for a bumper sticker. The phrase can be on any topic and must be original. No copying from the Internet. Submit your entries by midnight, June 23. Winner will receive praise and adulation.

John deleted his blog

Opinion and Dissent is no longer operational. John deleted it.

Howdy Pardner!

 

Violet enjoying life

 

 

 

Another "Freedoms Being Lost" Alert: Spray Paint

In St. Louis, they don't want to see any more graffiti. So, a legislator, Ms. Baringer has presented a bill that would treat spray paint and markers like weapons. Restrict who can buy them, require buyers to show ID, and impose a criminal penalty for illegal possession. The proposed bill deals with "graffiti tools," which include spray paint, paint sticks, and fat-tipped markers. If you want to buy three or more of these blacklisted implements, you must present a photo ID. Stores will have the burden of recording the sales and buyers' personal information and hand that info over to police if requested.

Now, what do YOU think?

School tells Student to be Quiet, then calls the cops when he Cites the Constitution

"I was assisting an injured student. While I was talking I was booted from Class! When I cited The Constitution the police were called to come get me!"

Happy Birthday, Henry!

United States is the world's leading jailer

The United States has 2.3 million people behind bars, more than any other country in the world and more than ever before in its history. Newly released figures show a sharp racial imbalance in the US prison population, with blacks outnumbering whites by six to one. Nearly 11 percent of black men aged 30-34 are in prison.

Why do you think America locks up so many more people than do Canada, Britain and other democracies?

762 per 100,000 residents: United States
152 per 100,000 residents: Britain
108 per 100,000 residents: Canada

Does anybody want to try to explain this?

Pretty in pink

 

 

Cookie by Violet

Playing in the sprinkler

At the beach

Violet loves Seth and it looks like she wants to play with him, but he is having fun in the water, playing with his brothers. She brings out her sand toys trying to entice him. Looks like it worked.

Sleeping soundly

What would the founding fathers have thought?

The Michigan Court of Appeals last week ruled that it’s okay for police to use dogs to sniff around the exterior of a home to detect drugs without a search warrant. Thus, it’s now perfectly legal in Michigan for the police to walk up to a home, use a sniffer dog and then obtain a warrant.

A dissenting judge says the ruling erodes the protections of privacy and the sanctity of the home guaranteed by the Fourth Amendment.

In the State of Washington, where the large majority of the marijuana is grown indoors, a well-publicized $5000 reward awaits informants who will turn in marijuana farms. Remarkably, no advertised reward encourages those who turn in murderers, rapists, or robbers.

What would The Founding Fathers have thought about:

* Rewards for informing on your neighbors?
* Random stops of law-abiding citizens to “check up” on them?
* Bringing dogs onto your property to sniff around?

The American Revolution was fought over less.

Now, what do YOU think?

No talking on the cell phone while driving starting July 2008. Is this a good law? What do YOU think?

The law which goes into effect July 1, 2008, prohibits all drivers from using a handheld wireless telephone while driving. The only exception is to make emergency calls to the police, fire or medical authorities.

The fine for the FIRST offense is $20 and $50 for subsequent convictions.

Passengers are not affected.

Drivers 18 and over will be allowed to use a "hands-free" device to talk on their wireless telephone while driving. You can use an earpiece, but you cannot have BOTH ears covered. The new law does not prohibit dialing, but drivers are strongly urged not to dial while driving. Oh, by the way, you can still send text messages while driving (if you are 18 and over).

So, what is YOUR opinion on this law? Whatever you think, please let us know the reasoning behind it.

Ron Paul takes every opportunity to spread his message of liberty!

I JUST LOVE THIS PICTURE OF RON PAUL, SO THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE IT WITH ALL OF YOU, TOO!

Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul spoke to supporters outside the Mayo Civic Center prior to the opening of the Republican state convention in Rochester today.