People Talk

MY HOMEWORK

2007-02-27T16:26:00.000-08:00

Psychology 3510 Developmental Psychology
Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence Project
Student’s Name: Ann Bohannon-Stewart
Instructor: Dr. Helen M. Lillard
Spring 2007 Midterm Paper

Dr. Lillard asked us to rank Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence and give the order.
My order is from greatest to least:

1. Verbal/Linguisitic-Linguistic intelligence involves sensitivity to spoken and written language, the ability to learn languages, and the capacity to use language to accomplish certain goals. This intelligence includes the ability to effectively use language to express oneself rhetorically or poetically; and language as a means to remember information. Writers, poets, lawyers and speakers are among those that Howard Gardner sees as having high linguistic intelligences.

1. This to me was the most important one, because I had good communications skills when I was a child.
2. I grew up with 5 older brothers and at one time I was told that girls usually talk faster or develop language faster than boys do. So maybe that is why my family thought I talked sooner than my brothers did.
3. My father and my mother were my best teachers. I only learned one language, but I learned it well. Math was always harder for me than English was in school. It still is.
4. I did learn some improper English from my older brothers when I was developing speech as a child. I understand that now, because I have twin boys and 3 children of my own. When you learn English from young children who are still developing the language you don’t always pronounce your words correctly. I did that too when I was a child, but my twin boys learned twin talk, and had to go to speech therapy to try to learn the English language the correct way. It was very frustrating for them, and even though I picked up a few incorrect words from my older siblings when I was developing as a child I was never to the extreme of what my twins were.
5. My parents thought I excelled in learning English, but I couldn’t pronounce my name correctly, because my older brothers kept calling me “Gondgie”. Don’t ask me why, maybe it was their pet play name for me, and for the longest time I thought that really was my name.
6. But as an adult, I can say that I understand the English language well enough that I don’t have any trouble communicating with people or talking publicly. Ms Lillard you should know that, cause I probably talk more than any other student in you class. (giggle and smile)

I learned good verbal skills at a young age, and I think that is because my siblings were older than me. I was the youngest to born in my family and my next in age sibling was 4 years older than me. Even though I learned best from my parents my brothers also talked to me and helped me learn English better. If I would have had younger siblings I probably wouldn’t have learned English so easily.

2. Mathematical- Logical intelligence consists of the capacity to analyze problems logically, carry out mathematical operations, and investigate issues scientifically. In Howard Gardner's words, in entails the ability to detect patterns, reason deductively and think logically. This intelligence is most often associated with scientific and mathematical thinking.

1. Even if I consider myself better at English than math when I was a child, I still wasn’t to shabby in Math class either. I did pretty well with numbers in school and learned how to count to 10 when I was 2.
2. I still do pretty good in Math as a adult. I made the dean’s list here at TSU every semester and last semester Dr. Bignall gave me an A in physics. So I can do math pretty well too.
3. My mother taught me how to count. I remember one time when I was sick, I would count till I fell asleep or lay on the ground and count the stars was always a favorite of mine when I was a kid.
4. I was also good at puzzles. I could put them together pretty fast when I was a kid, which shows reasoning skills.
5. Now as an adult, I can use reasoning skills to research and figure out problems. I especially have to do this in Physics class cause some of the problems get so complicated.

Even though I could count to 10 when I was 2, I still think my logical Math skills didn’t show fully until I was older, like around the age of 6 or 7 because that is when I started doing pretty well in math and reasoning in school. I do think as a adult recently I have to use more logical reasoning in the college classes I take today. So far I have excelled in Math as a adult, but I have to study so hard. It really doesn’t come easy for me, but I can do it.

3. Visual/Spatial intelligence -involves the potential to recognize and use the patterns of wide space and more confined areas. Those who learn best visually and organizing things spatially.
1. I believe I am this way because I learned better how to count things when my parents would pull out coins and other objects and let me count them when I was a kid.
2. I also believe I have a sort of a “monkey see, monkey do” kind of learning ability cause I feel like a learn better by watching other people do things first.
3. I can do charts, graphs and draw maps pretty well.
4. I’m pretty good at charades too. If I can picture something I usually have a better chance of figuring it out.
5. I consider myself very organized. Much more organized than my, brothers or my husband.
I’m somebody who feels like I need a teacher. I do better when someone shows me or teaches me something visually, instead of me having to learn subjects on my own. That’s probably why I enjoy taking classes at TSU instead of taking them online. I like have a professor that I can ask questions and be shown how something works, especially in courses like Chemistry. I learned how molecules were conjoined by seeing small models of them put together. It helped me learn, because I could see it.

4. Interpersonal intelligence is concerned with the capacity to understand the intentions, motivations and desires of other people. It allows people to work effectively with others. Educators, salespeople, religious and political leaders and counselors all need a well-developed interpersonal intelligence.

1. I’m very social. I can even say I may talk to much. Ms. Lillard you should have noticed this in your class already.
2. I’m very friendly and socialable. I almost consider myself a people pleaser kind of person and sometimes wish I wasn’t that way.
3. But on the other hand I consider myself caring and aware of other people’s feelings.
4. I think this skill could help me become a good doctor, if I make it though medical school.
5. My social skills have helped me hold down long term jobs in my lifetime.

I’ve developed this skill as an adult. I didn’t have it when I was a younger child. I don’t think I developed it until I was a teenager. I was kind of selfish when I was a kid and didn’t learn to care about people other than myself until I got older, but when I got married and had children I learned to care about them more than myself.

5. Musical intelligence involves skill in the performance, composition, and appreciation of musical patterns. It encompasses the capacity to recognize and compose musical pitches, tones, and rhythms. According to Howard Gardner musical intelligence runs in an almost structural parallel to linguistic intelligence.

1. My father is a musician and minister and I feel like I get this skill from him. He taught me how to play piano when I was a child and I play in church.
2. I have written, sang and composed a few albums with the help of modern technology of course. I compose on midi keyboard devices.
3. Music has helped me with learning math skills. I’ve learn how to write Nashville number charts for different songs that I play.
4. I of course learned my ABC’s and 123’s by watching the show like Sesame Street on television.
5. I’ve learned how to play violin and using my hands more skillfully by playing different interments.

Learning from music was always helpful to me, even as a young child. I believe this should be used in all learning for all children, because it really works, as long as the child can hear of course. It’s also a fun way of learning; at least it was for me as a child and still is for me as an adult.

6. Existential intelligence, a concern with 'ultimate issues', is, thus, the next possibility that Howard Gardner considers - and he argues that it 'scores reasonably well on the criteria. However, empirical evidence is sparse - and although a ninth intelligence might be attractive, Howard Gardner is not disposed to add it to the list. 'I find the phenomenon perplexing enough and the distance from the other intelligences vast enough to dictate prudence - at least for now. In Howard’s exploration, he begins by asking whether it is possible to delineate the 'moral domain'. He suggests that it is difficult to come to any consensual definition, but argues that it is possible to come to an understanding that takes exploration forward. Central to a moral domain, Howard Gardner suggests, 'is a concern with those rules, behaviors and attitudes that govern the sanctity of life - in particular, the sanctity of human life and, in many cases, the sanctity of any other living creatures and the world they inhabit. If we accept the existence of a moral realm is it them possible to speak of moral intelligence? If it 'connotes the adoption of any specific moral code' then Howard Gardner does not find the term moral intelligence acceptable. Furthermore, he argues, researchers and writers have not as yet 'captured the essence of the moral domain as an instance of human intelligence.

1. I’m going to link this one with religion and spiritual beliefs. I’m am a child of a Pennicostal minister. This put deep religious beliefs in me
2. I have always believed everyone or everything has a purpose, and even though a world full of so many people can us feel small and insignificant we are not.
3. God is real to me and I am a believer. I believe he’s put us on this earth as part of his plan. Whatever that may be.
4. As I pray I believe I find the way God is leading me, or the things he wants me to do in my life (such as going into the medical field). I believe that this is what God wants me to do with my life.
5. What did God put me on this earth, hopefully to do good or great things. This is my meaning of life.

There’s not really much more I can add to this other than I believe in God and to me that is our creator and our reason for being what and where I am today. I don’t know the meaning of life, but God does in my opinion and I just place my faith in that.

7. Naturalist intelligence enables human beings to recognize, categorize and draw upon certain features of the environment. It 'combines a description of the core ability with a characterization of the role that many cultures value. The case for inclusion of naturalist intelligence appears pretty straightforward, the position with regard to spiritual intelligence is far more complex. According to Howard Gardner there are problems, for example, around the 'content' of spiritual intelligence, its privileged but unsubstantiated claims with regard to truth value, 'and the need for it to be partially identified through its effect on other people.
1. I grew up on a farm. I had pigs, chickens, a goat, cats, a few horses and I enjoyed living in the country.
2. I went fishing and hunting with my father and I could honestly say if I had too I could live off the land.
3. I also enjoy studying biology and learning how nature works.
4. I’m hoping I can be a doctor so I can study how the natural body works with nature.
5. I consider myself a naturalist, because I want to preserve the environment.

I consider myself a country girl and always will be at heart. I’m at home with nature and I enjoy studying biology. Biology is my favorite subject. But to me Naturalist intelligences ties in with my belief of God too, because this is the creator of all things of nature.

8. Intrapersonal intelligence entails the capacity to understand oneself, to appreciate one's feelings, fears and motivations. In Howard Gardner's view it involves having an effective working model of ourselves, and to be able to use such information to regulate our lives.

1. I have learned a lot about myself as I have grown. Such as I would like to be someone’s hero. Someone who has respect or is admired. I think a lot of people are the same way I am.
2. I guess that is why I want an education so badly. I have been without a college degree most of my adult life and I want so badly to graduate maybe so I can prove I’m not a dummy like I have felt like in the past, because I’m uneducated. Being uneducated can give you very low self-esteem and I had that for many years.
3. It took a lot of courage for me to go back to school, because I never felt like I was intelligent enough to past or do well in school, but I’m learning that if I try really hard, I can make really good grades. I just have to put the kind of effort into it that other people do not have to. What I mean is some students tell me they don’t have to study to do well in school. I have to study all the time. It’s not that I think am smarter than anyone else, it’s that I try harder than most of the other students, because it means more to me than it does to them.
4. It means more to me probably because I would like to be a doctor. My mother has Lymphoma Cancer and she’s always fighting for another day of life. That has really put a feeling of we are all in a race against time for all the life we can get.
5. My inter feelings are usually very obvious. My husband tells me he can read me like a book. So therefore I guess I must show my inter emotions a lot and sometimes wear my heart on my sleeve, at least to my husband I do.

I understand my own needs and emotions and the need to have people around me that understand my emotions, and I try to surround myself with people who I feel like have a positive opinion of me. I have a hurting need to get an education, because I have felt like I’m less of a person because I don’t have a education. It has made me feel beneath other people who are more educated than I am. I developed these conclusions as a young adult, when I could only get minimum wage jobs cause of my low education and skills.

9. Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence entails the potential of using one's whole body or parts of the body to solve problems. It is the ability to use mental abilities to coordinate bodily movements. Howard Gardner sees mental and physical activity as related.

1. Like I said before, I’m pretty good at charades.
2. I do pretty well at board games, and I am pretty good at sports too. My high school basketball team went to the state championship 2 years in a row.
3. I’m an excellent chest player.
4. I helped my brothers build tree houses and work on cars when I was a kid. I can still string a guitar or tune a violin if needed.
5. I work well with my hands.
I guess I didn’t think I was very developed at this skill until practiced something a lot. Even though I played piano and basketball, I really didn’t good at them until I did a lot of practicing. So it didn’t really come easily for me. I had to work pretty hard at it.

Summary Paragraph:
I feel like my parents claimed I was good at Verbal/Linguisitic-Linguistic intelligence when I was a young child about 1 or 2 years old. My parents believed that I learned language quickly. Maybe because I was the only daughter they had. As for Mathematical- Logical intelligence I feel like my parents made that possible for me too. My mother told me I could count to 10 when I was 2 so they just assumed I was good at Math. I just wrote down on this report what my parents told me. Visual/Spatial intelligence I feel like I learned this skill about myself when I was young teenager about 12 or so. I think I considered myself much more organized than my family and friends who were the same age as me at the time. As for Interpersonal intelligence, I don’t thing I considered myself conscious of other people’s feelings until I became an adult. When I was a child I was very selfish and probably on cared about my own personal feelings and wants. As a child I was probably more Intrapersonal and had to grow up a little bit as least to the age of 12-15 before I became more intrapersonal and even caring about other people’s feelings and emotions. Musical intelligence I feel like I got this started at a young age of about 2 as well. My mother would turn on educational shows like Sesame Street and sing my ABC’s and things like that to me at a young age and my father always was tiring to get me to play instruments with him even when I was just 3 years old, he had me strumming the ukulele in church. Existential intelligence in my case I have reverted this back to my religious beliefs, because I was raised by a Christian minister, I guess this started at a young age for me too. I don’t remember ever missing a Sunday of church. Naturalist intelligence, I grew up on a farm in the country with a father that hunted and fished and lived off the land. I went fishing and hunting with him a lot when I was a child. My mother would get mad at me because I wouldn’t stay in the house and help her with the dishes, instead I would go hunting with my father. I was born on my dad’s birthday and I was the only daughter he had. My mother says I’m more like him than my brothers are, and he’s very naturalist so I guess he rubbed off on me. Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence really don’t consider this my strongest point. I ranked it number 9, so I don’t consider it high on my intellectual list. This is the end of my paragraph. Have a great day Ms. Lillard.
Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Project a little better.
Reference: Howard Gardner, multiple intelligences and education http://www.infed.org/thinkers/gardner.htm

Sorry about all the typos and mis-spelled words folks...I'm in a bit of a hurry to get done with this, and I'm really not the world's greatest speller.

Peace in Middle East

2006-08-13T23:30:00.000-07:00

Cease Fire! Everyone was waiting for this moment...and finally its in effect today.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060814/ap_on_re_mi_ea/lebanon_israel

Pretty Boys had a great post last week, which was a very small posting by one of his fans [Vikas Khanna Has It All].

Well this Indian Man surely has it all and does deserves a huge applause for his efforts of spreading peace. Initially I was very surprised to see the posting on his event in Egypt to support disabled people and reading is website I could get a more clearer picture of his effort of supplying wheelchairs etc to children in war hit areas. This man can really cook and create history. Very Inspiring story and very inspiring person.

Diana Keith

Honor Our Troops

2006-06-02T19:09:00.000-07:00

By Irena Bell

My name is Irena Bell, founder of Peace Quilts around the world. Please take a moment to read a very special letter that could help anyone affected by the War on Iraq, as well as any other servicemen and women who serve our country here at home and overseas. Please feel free to contact me about the letter or for information about our projects.
Thank you, Irena

We look forward each day for a new creation, for We never know what God will place in our hands. His love and guidance can give us gifts we hold so dear. The gift that the Lord has showed me through my art is the gift of healing. We all need healing, whether we can admit to it or not. While searching to soothe my soul, the inspiring idea of healing quilts was born. Creating Peace Quilts was my way of giving back to those who gave me their All, as well as those who returned home, finding themselves struggling to begin a different life. Our heroes are forgotten and disgraced, accused and dishonored, as some return to a life that welcomes them without gratitude. The saddening truth is that most people today can so easily exclude themselves from the proud. They go on with their existence without any gratitude nor honor to those who have fought for our freedom before, and those who defend our freedom today. The consequences of such a struggle can go unnoticed, until it is too late.
We must learn our lessons from previous wars, avoiding what has happened to our veterans and heroes, who found themselves isolated and trying to adjust to a new life. We still cry for our men and women who never returned home, and America will never stop crying until they all come home. These POW's and MIA's from all the wars need to be honored and saluted for their bravery in serving our country. We pray that they will be welcomed home with open arms, waiting for their return. Understanding that the battle can continue inside our soldiers (PTSD) is an effort that we all must grasp before it's too late. Without persecuting the idea, without being bias, we can accept the gift of peace quilts as just one of many efforts in the road to healing.
I believe I am here to help through this mission of healing our great nation. Those who gave us their youth, knowing they will return as men. Those who cared for our loved ones, making sure they safely return to home. The doctors and nurses, and all our heroes, who never asked for anything in return. This is Peace quilts around the world, recognizing One and All, letting them know how much we love all of our heroes, past present, and future.
As our men and women serve this country from far across the land, it becomes our duty to serve our men and women from home. Honoring our heroes through show of support, our duties as Americans become the reassurance that every soldier needs to know.
They set off to war protecting us from harm in a ways we never knew. They set off into war, defending our flag and freedom. We thank them for serving our country, yet we as countrymen seldom know the true nature of war, and the horrors it presents. Sure, we can keep ourselves informed to some extend by watching the media and reading the papers, however, no one can understand war like the men and women who have experienced it and understand the true nature of it. Our men and women will never forget what they have experienced and endured for you and me. As we all stand up and rise as one nation, to love and support our pride, our loved ones, now and forever, we must give thanks and honor them around the world for giving us the sweetest gift of all, our freedom... To live the life we choose to live here in our wonderful USA. Remember this, that one day it will happen. Our loved ones will be called off to war, and we shall stand strong, with pride and honor, waving our American flag. We are all proud Americans, and we shall stand strong hand in hand.
When we open the door and see that man no more, our heart stops and we cry a river, thinking of the life that would be no more. But then a hand comes down from the heavens above, and touches our hearts with a mission. A mission to heal our souls finding a path that would shine once again, and to help those in need of that healing touch. Sometimes we ask questions, like why we are doing this?, and why would anyone care?. We care because it's our husbands, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, lovers, and best friends for a baby brother. Whoever these wonderful people are, they are our American Heroes, who gave us the right to love each other and share this world of ours in peace.
We have to remind ourselves that there are those in need of guidance, for there are so many that feel so lost as we once did. And yet when you stand back and see those smiling faces and tears that are shared between two, when you hear a thank you from a face you never knew, until we see the tears and hugs that come from far away lands, they say thank you for what we have done.
When we march on the path that was sent forth in front of us, only then will we understand how all of the hard work has helped open up so many doors for others to heal and live again.
Perhaps we as Americans can give back the gift they gave us, by being a part of Peace Quilts Around The World. We can share our healing with everyone through a connection. A connection between the distant heroes and their loved ones. That connection is Peace Quilts, bringing together families and communities across our great free land.
Peace Quilts around the world allows those who do not have any military servicemen and heroes in their family to send blessings and prayers to our men and women overseas, away from home. This gives our men and women a little bit of much needed love from home. These special quilts contain the stories and messages of love, healing, and dedications from American families, and perhaps someday, the world. By combining the different mediums God has given us, we can create miracles by doing his work through the different forms of art. God Bless Our Heroes where ever they may be....... Irena Bell Founder of Peace Quilts 702 433 8549

We have over 150 quilts that are dedicated to all of our heroes. Some of these quilts are dedicated to the 9/11 heroes, N.Y.F.D., N.Y.P.D., EMT's, K-9's, and all those who served helping America heal on that tragic day. We have quilts that honor our fallen police officers, those who serve in the military, as well those serve our homelands. We also have local businesses who have sponsored quilts to help support our military and aid in the healing. If you are interested in helping, or even sponsoring a quilt, please contact me at Ladycolbaltblue96@aol.com. Sponsored quilts will travel to our military bases around the world. The quilts allow the community to give thanks with a loving message, something that has never been done before. Our goal is to send these quilts around the world to support our men and women, no matter where they are. So far, my husband Scott Bell has 9 quilts in Camp Taji, Iraq, for the men and women to sign there. The ‘Gone But Not Forgotten’ quilt shows the names of every person that has passed away during Operation Iraqi Freedom. We also created the ‘9-11’ quilt, for the heroes who have also lost their lives. These people did not deserve to die, but we honor them as heroes through these quilts. Our dream is to send a quilt to every military base around the world, giving thanks and retribution. Soon, each one of these quilts will be going home to a fallen soldier’s family to show our thanks, as well as those that are in hospitals that have been wounded in this war. To make our dream come true, we ask everyone to join forces with Peace Quilts Around The World, to give thanks to our men and women, of the Armed Forces. Thank you all – Irena Bell and Family

The Growing Pains of Being a Twin

2006-05-25T21:11:00.000-07:00

By Ann Stewart

Yesterday my twin boys graduated from preschool. I want you to know I am a very proud mother of my beautiful twin boys. I take comfort in believing that my children will always have each other even after their father and I have pasted on, but what are the growing pains of being twins. I am not a twin myself, but I have watched my twin boys grow and I think I am allowed to take a few guesses at what I call growing pains for multiple birth children. First people do not usually call them by name. They call them “the twins.” Like they are a inseparable person with the one name of “the twins” and one child is not known without the other. In other words they sometimes seem to have no separate identity. Another growing pain of a twin is always being compared to the standards of the other twin’s skills or learning abilities. Adults and parents are often so guilty of doing this to their children without thinking they are doing it to them. An example of this growing pain comparison would be saying something like “look your brother can do it, why don’t you try.” My families personal example of this is my son Carrigan became potty trained before my son Cameron and I think all the praise that Carrigan got for using the potty made his brother a little sad and jealous. So much so that Cameron felt the pressure to use the potty too, even though he didn’t want to. Peer pressure can be a powerful thing to children, and completive natures is high among siblings, especially twins. Although in many ways it can make children act in a positive way, I’m sure it hurts when your brother seems to be doing things faster and easier than you. Such as my son Cameron has learned how to count and say his alphabets and Carrigan is still struggling at trying to learn this. No child develops the same way. All children are different and parents or people cannot expect all their kids to learn at the same speed or level. I will say this though; I think the positive side of being a twin is you’re never alone. There’s always someone there for you, and even though kids may fight over toys or compete for parental attention or praise, the twins know they always have someone to play with. I think the positive side of having a twin, highly out weighs the negative side. It makes me wish I had a twin. For now I’m just glad to have twin boys, and boy am I proud of them. They are the most charming and handsome little men on the face of the planet.

The American Medical Crisis

2006-05-01T09:13:00.000-07:00

By Ann Stewart

We have a serious problem in this country. It’s the price of healthcare. People can’t afford to get sick and if they do get sick it could cost them and their families everything they own to get healthcare. The problem is so many people are uninsured, but the people who are insured often abuse it by going to the doctor regularly for unnecessary reasons. Also the shortage of medical staff we have in this country is increasing, especially for RN’s.

Ok so let’s say you want to be a nurse, or in allied healthcare or let’s say you want to be a doctor. Do you know how much it’s going to cost you to go to school? I consider myself an expert on this because I am doing it now. You cannot go into healthcare for the money, it’s the wrong reason. Being in the healthcare field is a labor of love, cause your probably not going to get rich at it. Here in Tennessee where I live, there are some of the best medical schools on the face of the planet, but they cost almost as much as the planet to attend. So I am an average working citizen. I used to deliver food for a living, before and while I went to college. I made an average of $10.00 dollars an hour. I went to college and got an associates degree and became an X-ray tech and I paid over 15,000 dollars to get that degree and I still make about the same as I did when I delivered food for a living and had no college degree. So now I’m just 15,000 dollars more in debt and still making the same amount of money as I could make delivering pizza. I also worked at the Davison County Sheriff’s office as an officer and made more money and had better benefits than most jobs in the medical field. You see the medical field doesn’t pay that well so you spend all this money to go school and get an education and you still make about the same amount of money as you did before you went to college, the only difference now is I have medical care and some better benefits for my family. I am married and I have 3 children, (may I add 3 beautiful children and wonderful husband, who I love very much). My husband and I both have steady jobs. My husband works at Federal Express and has his B. S. from Tennessee State University and it has helped him in his job, because he got promoted to an office job, when he received his degree. So going to college can be beneficial for the average working class citizens if they are in the right career. But in the medical field it’s hard to say if you come out any better financially than you were before you got your degree. Becoming a nurse, especially an RN, is probably one of the best things anyone can do right now. There is such a major shortage of nurses now and you will always have a job anywhere you go in the world, but to go to nursing school is very expensive as well. Right now at my local colleges it cost about 25 to 50 thousand dollars to pay for PA school programs or RN programs and that’s considered fairly cheap. It cost that much or more to become a nurse and when they get though college they are going to make an average of about 24,000 to 55,000 dollars a year. Many could make that in other career fields such as a security guard or Criminal Justice Officer with only High School degree and never have to pay to go though college. I know because I did it. Now lets say you want to be a doctor and I do want to be one, so it’s going to cost at least 100 thousand to go though a med school program. That cost more than the home my family and I live in. I should be asking is it worth it? Once you get though the 4 years of medical school than you have a 4 year residency and I’ve been told by the doctors I work with that you only make about 40,000 dollars a year during residency. Now after reading all this most people would probably be crazy to want to go into the medical field. Plus it’s hard work and you have to study constantly, because any career in the medical field takes brain power. You don’t get many vacations and you probably won’t be home on Christmas, and you’ll work like a dog when you graduate. But some things are more important than money. We are all going to die someday. That is just a fact of life and what we do while we are here on this earth is all that is going to be given to our children. Going into the medical field will give you the knowledge to take care of your family when they need you. I would know this too cause I have a mother with Lymphoma cancer and when she got sick I had no idea how to take care of her. You see I want the knowledge and to me and my family it’s worth paying for, but to other people in America who are looking for a career, going in the medical field doesn’t look attractive to them right now because of the price tag that comes with it. If our American Government doesn’t do something about the price of medical school and what it cost to pay to go into the medical field or the allied health field, our shortage of nurses and medical staff is going to get thinner and thinner until there’s no one to take care of the sick and sick people just can’t afford to be sick anyway as it is. So the uninsured will just have to die on the street. Hopefully it won’t get that bad, but the future of American medical care sure isn’t looking bright.

When I lived overseas in Europe all citizens got medical care for free. The people were taxed to death of course, but all got free medical care. I don’t know if America will ever go to this way of government, but hopefully we can find something better than we have now. So does anyone have any answers?

Linda P.: Hi Ann-
1st of all, let me say that your personal story and academic endeavors are inspiring. In response to some of the issues you bring up...I can comment on a part that is near and dear to me; Yes, to get a BSN is very expensive these days...and like you said...the pay is not comparable to some things. But where there is a will, there is a way. My advice to someone wanting to enter that field who does not have independent income or large scholarships is this:
First go to your local Community college and obtain your ADN (Assoc. Degree of Nursing). The tuition in these schools is much more reasonable. Second- enroll in a RN to BSN program designed to complete the academic requirements of an ADN to a bachelors degree. Third- do the RN to BSN program while employed part time or week-end package as a RN at a hospital that pays tuition reimbursement.
Voila! that is the most cost effective way to get that BSN without going into deep debt.
I have been a nurse for over 30 years and have never regretted that choice once. I have loved every single job I have ever had in nursing.
lp

Ann Stewart: Wow Ms. Linda...Thank you for that well thought out comment from someone who knows and has been there. I highly respect nurses. Although I am shooting for the MD degree I know your job is one the hardest of all and I know it took you much hard work to get where you are...I commend you for it. Thank you once again for the comment and advice. You give me strength in your words.

Scarlet Termite: I have no answers for this one, annibelle. All I can say is that I am so proud of you. You are going to be the best doc! Better than Dr. Gupta! I loves ya!

Ann Stewart: Bug I was expecting you to rant...but thanks for the sweet words bug...You're my bestest internet bug.

Why Eat Your Vegetables?

2006-04-19T16:39:00.000-07:00

By Ann Stewart
In my opinion there is no one in the world that wants to be morbidly obese, and I have been obese. The really sad part about it is more and more of us Americans are becoming obese and it’s not just America. The World Health Organization now recognizes obesity as a major global health problem. The increased availability of fattening foods in many countries combines with more sedentary lifestyles puts excess pounds on the bodies. It tends to be a problem in more over devolved modernized countries such as the USA.

The obesity epidemic has stimulated an increase in research on the causes and possible treatments for weight control problems. Inheritance can play a major factor in obesity. Most of the weight regulating hormones are polypeptide or proteins and researcher have identified dozens of the genes that code for these hormones. This hereditary connection helps explain why certain people have to struggle so hard to control their weight, while others are seemingly able to eat and eat without gaining a pound. Leptin which is produced by the adipose fat tissue suppresses appetites. When there is a storage of Leptin in the body this can cause weight gain. Can this be inherited?

Here is one thing I have been studying lately. Vegetables or food from plants have cell walls and most people know it good to eat their vegetables, but I never knew until recently that your body has a harder time digesting these food from plants because of the cell walls. So much more of the product becomes waste than meat or protein products. Proteins, fats or meats are absorbed by the body faster than plants or vegetables are. More of the vegetable is released as waste product. This is just one more good reason for people who are overweight to eat their vegetables.

Talking To God

2006-03-25T19:05:00.000-08:00

Dear God

Please hear my prayer. Right now I am at a loss and extremely confused. Being raised a child of a Pentecostal Minister has made me somewhat confused about what I believe is real. Today I met a man who has been battling HIV for 11 years. He told me he got HIV from a man who molested him as a child. He said this man was a Catholic Priest. I was in such shock to hear him tell this story. I told him my husband was Catholic and I had been to many Catholic Churches.

When I was a child my father told me that many Priests in the Catholic Church hid their sin behind a title of Priest. Their title hid their deepest illness, and their darkest sins. You see many of the Priests that turn out to be child molesters join the church because they have this sickness; they have this desire to be pedophiles, and I believe some of them would like to get rid of this desire so they join the church to hide their sins behind the church veil. What ever the reason may be for so many pedophiles being found in the Catholic Priesthood, we should know that priests are just human. They are all sinners just like the rest of us, and though we strive to be closer to God, we should know we are far from grace of God until we past the gates of Heaven. But I ask this of you God, “What must I do to be closer to you? Please hear my prayer Lord, keep my children safe from all the evils of the world, and save my children from the kind of despair that this man had to suffer.”

Amen

Post By Ann Stewart

Naut2b: Sunshine, As a Catholic I have this to say. I've met bad priests and good priests. I've met bad protestant ministers and good ones. It's possible that it's true and it could easily be said of some boy scout leader or teacher. If it's true, the priest should/will be dealt with by the judicial system.

As far as priests hiding behind the collar, I think that is a blatant and unwarranted attack on catholic priests from someone who doesn't understand Catholicism. I know several priests personally, including a young man who is a friend of mine who was just ordained. He truly loves God and it is his calling - and it always has been.

I need some time to think about how to respond because although I understand that there are some priests who are bad, I'm really tired of hearing how "terrible" the Catholics and their church are.

Ann Sunshine Stewart: Naut2b...Thanks for the comment...I'll probably post it under the prayer I wrote...I'm not anti-Catholic by the way...I go to a Catholic church with my husband every chance I get...(if I get the day off of work that is)...but even my husband who is a extreme Catholic believes that the church should change the rules of celibacy in the Catholic church. He believes it could be part of what cause a sexual sickness.

Bien: Ann..... I would like also to hear any feedback on this too I do think it is sad....you hear more about this kinda thing in catholic, but it is prevaliant in other religions also....I think it is those fine lines again, some people do not stop to think when they get to these, some people get lost or caught up in these fine lines....and it can be a blessing, or it can go the other direction,I am so slow..I have really had to rack my brain on this one...I feel like you needed someone to say something...I wish I could say more,......maybe to lighten or to balance things....I also hate to see Christians take such a bad rep too.....maybe more later when I can think clearer.......

Ann Sunshine Stewart: Thanks Bien for the comment...I agree with it.

Naut2b: Having said that, I don't mean to say it didn't happen and I would want justice for the young man.

....What I'm trying to say is that I don't believe that many or even a lot of priests 'hide' their sin behind a collar, the church or their congregations...nor will any Catholic tell you they are anymore than human. In fact, I can tell you that they struggle with the same desires and sins that anyone would. There are alcoholics, drug addicts, and yes sexual deviants. In every human heart is a shadow that grows bigger the closer they come into the light. We all sin. Every mass the entire congregation says

"Priest: My brothers and sisters, to prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries, let us call to mind our sins. (Pause for congregation)

Priest and People: I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned through my own fault, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do; and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin, all the angels and saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord, our God.

Priest: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
People: Amen."

The Catholic Church in the United States has struggled with the realizations of the sex abuse scandals. In our own arch-diocese, when an accusation comes to light now, the priest is removed instantly. A nun in a religion class told me once that the lowest place in hell is reserved for the fallen priests and nuns - because God expected more of them and they had fallen. I don't know about that, but I know that I continue to pray for everyone, because none of us could live in a glass house.

Bien: one more thought...no matter who or what you are..you have to deal with it,before other's will...alot can not deal with being gay...so to speak...because it has never been dealt with in this capacity....and some still feel the need to hide,behined whatever and that make things worse....and think all the years of people running and hiding from this and themselves...now that is sad!!!!...I always heard ther truth will set you free.......some can not deal with the truth because they think they are the only ones...when they are not the only ones..there are others with the same feelings.......such a long topic Ann....whooooo!

Plaid: Ann....Hopefully I can shed a little light on things.....Hey I didn't think anyone was still up...
My brother was a minister ......My brother committed suicide....Ministers aren’t suppose to do that..... Right? God does not immune anyone from problems..... Even men and women of the cloth..... They're not immune from mental or physical or spiritual problems....Just as the rest of us aren’t either.... We would hope that they are stronger and have a tighter relationship with God than the rest of us....Or maybe we believe they do as our spiritual leaders..... God made them human and humans have problems..... My brother suffered from depression for years..... That wasn't something that he could easily talk about....In fact all his friends either were fellow ministers or people that lived great distances from the area that he lived in......People in ministry, because of the mature of the job, are very isolated.... You can't complain about the chairman of the deacons ...it'll get around town and the next thing you know your looking for a new church to work at.... It is very much a fishbowl existence...
I can understand how hard it must have been for the wife of the pastor in Tennessee... You are held up on a pedal stool and you are to be involved in sooo much of the church stuff....
Even when you don't feel like it's your thing.... It’s very much an isolating line of work....
At our present church our former head pastor resigned after it was found out that he was addicted to pornography.....The computer systems were updated in the church office and the tec doing the job found over 30.000 hits to pornography sites.... God's servants aren’t immune from anything in this world.... We as followers just hope that they wouldn't fall so hard from grace......

lindy: The Catholic church and it's priests have certainly had their problems recently...but to paint them all with one brush would be wrong. I don't believe that anyone would ever go into the priesthood as a means to prey on children. I think these priests were good men who had problems and made some horribly awful choices that hurt others. Separate from the lifelong effect this had on their victims, these priests have had to live with their own consciences. Can you imagine the shame they brought to their families also? These problems were not isolated in the catholic church. It has been a dark page, but hopefully resolving. Interestingly enough, lots of the accusations took place in the 60's and 70's...a decade where there was alot of "stuff" going on. (of course you are too young to know that first hand) As Bill Hemmer would say...a convergence of the worst set of circumstances.

I want to make one more point. Being gay and being a pedophile are two completely different things. I think everyone knows my favorite person in the whole world is gay :-) Wouldn't life be boring if everyone was the same? Nuff said. (big smile)

Wheels: Sunshine, I also have wondered if its a good idea for the Catholic Church to stop requiring celibacy of Priests but I can see good and bad points for both sides. A married Priest would have family priorities that would take some of his attenton and time but he would also be able to relate to his parish's family problems more.

Still I don't see how letting Priests marry would help with the problems with Priests who abuse children. Those Priests aren't molesting children because they don't have wives. They are molesting kids because they are pedophiles and Pedophiles are found in all walks of life, married and single. They aren't people who have no other sexual outlet, they are people who desire children. It's not a gay thing either. Some desire those of the same sex and some of the opposite sex. We've all heard of "creepy uncles" and such. Now we are hearing more about female pedophiles.

As far as the Catholic Church goes I doubt they have any more pedophiles than any other organization that size. Their problem as I see it, is that instead of calling the police and turning them in when they got complaints they covered it up. I assume they wanted to avoid the scandal and look where that got them.

Timothy: Reformation.com lists all the non-Catholic incidents of child abuse by clergy. The list is up to 838, more than the more publicized Catholic stories.

Baptist and evangelical/bible church ministers appear to be the worst among the non-Catholic Christian denominations.

http://www.reformation.com/

Justin: "If 500,000 child molesters who have not been punished for their crime rallied in the streets demanding their rights, would our congress grant them a free pass and acquiesce to their request?"

Talk On Killer Dennis Rader

2005-08-20T09:02:00.000-07:00

xox: Anderson's coverage of BTK was sensitive to the victims and their families and yet we were still able to get a sense of what made him commit such unthinkable acts. It's such a scary story because this guy didn't raise any red flags with the people he was around on a daily basis. I'd prefer to not hear from him anymore, but it's important that we have some idea about these monsters so that they won't go undetected until it's too late. Park Dietz, the criminal psychologist has been one of 360's most fascinating guests.

Anderson continues to amaze me with his ability to report on difficult subjects such as BTK and the London bombing suspect error and yet still be able to make his viewers laugh with his silly antics (the computer freak-out).

Anderson recommended that book 'Blink' by Malcolm Gladwell and I'm going to buy it. When 360 did that series based on on Gladwell's book, I meant to buy it, but never got around to it. If Anderson recommends something, I tend to listen to him because I admire him and generally the things he's interested in and what he's featured on his show are usually things that interest me also.

Big O: xox, i thought "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell was an interesting read. in that it's a NYTimes best-seller, the major bookstores sell the hardcover @ 40% off. i agree, Anderson is a great book reviewer! that might be another career choice he has yet to discover for himself.

Phoenix: Couldn't bear to watch the BTK coverage, I know what he did, that's enough for me. Doesn't the fact that they don't raise any red flags mean that they WILL go undetected until it's too late? One of the lessons from these serial killers who operate over a span of years is that they can appear, to those who know them, to be ordinary people. Natalee Holloway made a mistake w/people she DIDN'T know; Rader's family and friends were mistaken w/someone they DID know. It's scary allright!

Ann Stewart: One thing I’m not happy about is that Dennis Rader the killer is said to claim he’s a Christian…Talk about giving Christianity a bad name...I beg of you folks…Please don’t judge Christians by people like that. I pray for his soul, and hope he really is a Christian…but after the sins he commented…I’m not even sure he deserves purgatory…But than I’m not God…I can’t judge....Rader cried and showed tears, sorrow and remorse...but that's not enough for the family or the general public...I don't think 10 life sentences is even enough punishment for the grieving families. I bet they want him to fry. I used to be a correctional officer and I've had to take care and book inmates that were pretty bad killers and other criminals that commented some pretty bad crimes…and general public sometimes thinks as long as they are in jail they are no danger to people…but they are still a danger…I have seen killers make weapons out of fish bones while incarcerated and use them on each other…I have seen officers get hurt a lot on the inside of a jail too…So don’t think that killers aren’t a danger just because they are locked up…They still can kill on the inside too…I hope Rader doesn’t get put in General Population…That would just be stupidity in my opinion.

Susan: Ann, I wouldn't give Dennis Rader and his "Christian" comments a second thought. How many people have used the Church as a reason to do awful things? How many others have claimed to be a child of God, and continued to go to a house of worship, all the while they're committing crimes to humanity? Alot of people seem to use the word "Christian" loosley, to say the least. People like Rader only do things to thrill their narcissictic ego's.

I like what one of the family members had to say: Her sister and the other victims will be waiting in heaven with God and watching was Rader burns in hell.......I think she hit it on the head :-)

BTK Christian: I am glad the guy thinks he's a Christian, it means his sorry ass is going to hell. I believe in Karma and that whatever you do in this life affects this one and into the next. In that case, may God REALLY give him what he deserves! Let him be tortured to death by some madman.

funkymunky: Wow. That friend of the BTK killer is unbelievable. The guy seems to be completely in denial that his buddy is a sick, twisted, serial killer. That interview gave me goosebumps, especially the joke he made about Rader's "unsuccessful knot."

Lana: The btk's so called friend seemed oblivious to the fact that his supposed buddy was a serial killer.You could tell Anderson was trying to hold his tongue in this interview.
In keeping with program's motto cover all sides.

Paige: I was appalled at the friend of the BTK killer. He was either in some serious denial, or just one sick man. And that joke about the unsuccessful knot was just beyond comprehension.

Angelfox20032000: Hey, I was ready to throw something at the tv at that nutter Anderson was interviewing. I was shocked by his demeanor, and he must be in some kind of denial, to say that Rader is still his friend and will be until the day he dies.
Personally, I want Rader to rot in hell for what he did, and Martin had no right to make that joke about the 'missed knot' or whatever it was...I'm glad to see Anderson show some revulsion at this man's story.
The man's a pig and so is BTK.
I apologize for my angry diatribe, but I had to vent after seeing that.

Ann Stewart: And I think I’ve said this before…Christianity is not a bad faith…It’s just got a bad reputation….I think it’s partly because it’s caused many wars…and people who claim to Christians do cruel and evil things…but I know Christians of high morals and honorable, but humble lifestyles. So my stomach gets upset when anything makes Christian faith as a whole look bad…I guess that’s why I talk about it so much and think people like the BTK killer Dennis Radar professing to be a Christian makes me sick, cause it makes our faith look bad…Why couldn’t he profess to be a devil worshiper or something…Than it wouldn’t give Christianity a black eye.

Susan: Stop trying to apologize for those that use religion as a back drop for what they did, or for the reason they did what they did. Those that know about who God is and have a great relationship with him, know that these people are not true to any faith or religion.

Trying to convince someone of the fault in these people (with their referenced to God, religion, etc.)is a futile effort on your part. Your time could best be used by concentrating on those that truly live by trying to be good people - to other human beings, to kids and animals, to the environment and especially to God (whomever God may be for these people).

Too much time is already being spent on the people of zero standards, that do the unthinkable to anyone & anything on this earth. These people will not change, nor are they worth your time. They're not worth anyone's time - except to try to stop before they start committing these crimes, or to catch after they've started.

Continue to concentrate on those closest to you and to those things that you wish to invest your time and effort in - knowing that you'll make a difference there.

Those that know aout faith, know.

There's always going to be someone that has an opposite opinion or is skeptical about Christianity or any faith because of the Radar's (and OBL) of the world - their argument has no merit.

You, I and God know that - God will handle that issue - He's better suited for that than you or I.

Oh, and no more reference to Radar as the BTK.....that's a monicur that he came up with for himself. He doesn't deserve the credit nor the continued appearance that he's still getting "talked about"

Ann Stewart: You're right Susan...I just wish he'd say he was a devil worshiper instead of a Christian...than I wouldn’t be so confused about his evil behavior.

NEW TALK SITES

2005-08-09T07:29:00.000-07:00

Ann: I’ve recently linked two other message talk sites to this site…One of the talk sites is the “Jewels of Arabia Royals of Arab World.” It seems to be a pretty busy discussion site that you can participate in….Also I am linking to a talk site called “What is a Libertarian” and it’s a discussion board. It could be very educational if you ever have any questions about what a Libertarian is and it’s my belief that the ideas of the Libertarian’s way of government here is America is getting more and more popular. I have met many Libertarians who think their way of government is the way of the future…So if you are interested in talking or learning about either of these subjects I’m linking them so you can find them easily, and don’t forget about our new talk site on the "USA 2008 Presidential Election." That discussion site is not busy now…but I’m sure it will be by the time the US Presidential Election draws close. This comment below is what a nice person wrote in and said about the Arabian Royals Talk site:
Alive: New Royals Message board. It has many pictures of the Qatari Royals and UAE Royals. It is called Jewels of Arabia Royals of the Arab World. I like it a lot better than all the other message boards.
http://s2.forumforfree.com/index.php?mforu...elsofarabia&act=idx

Love Talk On Peter Jennings & RIP

2005-08-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

Lana: My thoughts and prayers are with the family of Peter Jennings . I sincerely hope that they find comfort
with God during this dark time.

Paige: What a sad day. Peter Jennings will be truly missed- he was a great journalist and a real class act. God bless his family, and may he rest in peace.

Appletown: So sad about Mr. Jennings. His loss will be great. I lost my mom to lung cancer 11 1/2 years ago. Last week I found out one of my favorite people was diagnosed with lung cancer. This morning I got the call she passed over the weekend. I hate this disease and wish and pray they would find a cure. We can spend billions on a war, trillions on space discovery but our government can't spend that kind of money to erase such a horrible killer. Strange isn't it, the governments are spending billions on wars that kill people but not billions to save lives. I just don't get it.

Angelfox20032000: I was so sad to learn of Peter Jenning's passing. I turrned on 'ABC World News Now' to see the shuttle landing and saw Charlie Gibson talking about Peter's life and career and he had Barbra Walters and Ted Koppel on making comments.
My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and to all of Peter Jennings' ABC News colleagues, past and present, including Anderson.
Peter was a wonderful journalist and a fine person. When I was much younger, I had a crush on him, lol. I thought he was so handsome.
He will indeed be sorely missed. But, hopefully, he did not suffer in his final hours and dies peacefully, with his family at his bedside.

WiseEye: Deepest thoughts and prayers to the Jennings family and the family at ABCNews

Anon: RIP Mr Jennings.

the delightful big O: It was said that Peter Jennings passed in the presence of his family. it appears that he lived a great life, with a wonderful, fulfilling career. his offscreen time full of laughter with his family and friends.

Canadians are the Best: I am in shock and so disheartened that one of the most talented individuals on the planet (and a fellow Canadian), PETER JENNINGS, has died!

here is a letter he wrote while he underwent chemo. what a great man. He will surely be missed:

"Yesterday I decided to go to the office; I live only a few blocks away. I got as far as the bedroom door. Chemo strikes.

Do I detect a knowing but sympathetic smile on many of your faces? You knew this was coming.

Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania wrote me a note to say that the only way to get through chemo is to "work your way through it." He's a tougher man than I am.

I assume there are a few others out there who, like me, are going with the flow until the day gets better.

Incidentally, Hamilton Jordan, former Chief of Staff in the Carter Administration, sent me his book "No Such Thing as a Bad Day." He's had cancer four times. He tells me, as have many others, that when it gets really bad, it will get better. Phew!

Thousands of you have spoiled me rotten with your attention in the last couple of weeks. Whether you have a cancer connection or not, your anecdotes, mementos, home recipes, and general all-purpose guidance and concern have all been so deeply appreciated. I hope you know.

So many experiences have meant something special. A woman in my building, who is a cancer survivor, showed up at our front door so that we could see that bald really is beautiful. She's right.

I won't soon forget an encounter as I was leaving the hospital. A middle-aged couple was going into the building and as they passed me, I heard my name and turned. The woman stepped right into my face and said, "Me too. Lung cancer." Instinctively, immediately, we gave each other a hug & a real hug & and went on our respective ways knowing that we had been strengthened by the connection.

So thank you for all of the connections. And finally, if you would, add a friend of mine to your prayers. The jazz legend Percy Heath, whose bass anchored the Modern Jazz Quartet for four decades, died of bone cancer on Sunday. He was 81 and we will sure miss him.

As always,

Peter"
http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/J/htmlJ/jenningspet/jenningspet.htm

Talk On Bill Clinton, Time Warner, and Obesity In America

2005-08-06T09:35:00.000-07:00

Ann Stewart: While watching CNN’s Housecalls this morning with Dr. Sanjay Gupta and special guest President Bill Clinton, I heard Bill Clinton say some thing that really hit home for me. Bill Clinton mentioned that poverty can be a helpful contributor to obesity. That is so right in my opinion. It’s my belief that bad unhealthy food is cheap, and most diet foods and programs that can help you lose weight, such as Atkins, South Beach, Jenny Criag, Weight Watcher and other programs cost a lot of money, and poor people can’t afford it. That’s right…it’s my belief that many poor people just can’t afford to be healthy in this county, cause not only do many of them have to work a lot and don’t have time to cook or buy the more healthily food and keep the more health exercise habits, but it’s just cheaper in America to be fat. You see I grew up in poverty…My father would go squirrel hunting and frog gigging every weekend to put any kind of meat on the table that we could get…cause we couldn’t afford meat from the store, and I don’t know if any of you have ever eat’in a squirrel, but it’s red greasy meat and its not good for you, I can remember my mother used to lye to me and tell me it was chicken to try to get me to eat it. We never could afford good healthy food like chicken and momma fried everything in cheap lard and I grew up fat as a cow. I love my momma though…she’s the best…it’s just back then my parents did the best they could do to raise and feed 6 kids…But you can eat frog legs though…those are really good for you if you cook them the right way…try to bake them not fry them…THAT MAKES GOOD FROG LEGS…Taste like fish…Yum Yum…good eat’in…I dig frogs. I'm a country bumpkin...Anyways back to Bill Clinton…Bill Clinton grew up extremely poor too and look how far he has gone in his life…I do so idolize him for that…Bill Clinton is a shining example of the American Dream…You don’t have to stay in poverty just because you come from poverty…Just look at everything Bill Clinton has accomplished in his life and he wasn’t born into a rich family like most of the Presidents we have had…and now I read on the internet from Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s article in a Time Magazine article that President Bill Clinton is trying a modified South Beach diet. Well so am I and I think that maybe President Clinton might know the cost of fresh fruits and meats compared to cheap unhealthy foods you can get at McDonalds, Toco Bell, and Burger King. An example of this is at many McDonald’s it cost about a $1.00 plus tax to get a burger and at my local grocery store it cost about $3.50 to $5.00 plus tax to get a small bushel of grapes or about $2.00 plus tax to get a small bag of apples or oranges and to buy fresh meat is even more ridiculously expensive and it cost about 4 to 5 dollars to get a can of mixed nuts…which these foods are on the South Beach diet. A pound of Hamburger cost about 2 to 3 dollars and a small stake cost can cost anywhere from 3 to 6 dollars and these are foods you can eat on the Dr. Atkins diet…but it’s just cheaper and easier to go to McDonalds and buy 2 or 3 hamburgers that’s loaded full of carbs and you don’t even have to cook it. But I want to inform anyone who might read this, that most fast food places like McDonalds, Burger King and other restaurants have a calorie, carb, and fat content chart now. All you have to do is request the food content chart from most of your fast food restaurants and the staff at the restaurant will probably give it to you. You see when I was on the Weight Watchers diet, I really liked that diet cause I could eat out more than what I could do when I was on Dr. Atkins. Weight Watchers has a point book that will tell you some things that you can eat at many restaurants if you are a really busy person and you can’t cook all the time. That’s another reason I consider Weight Watchers to be one of the best diet programs there is… because you can eat out at more places, and I consider Weight Watchers a little cheaper than the other diets (especial Jenny Criag where you have to buy most your food from them and food is so overly expensive it will brake you, and the food doesn’t taste that great either in my opinion) and the results have been reported to be longer lasting for people on the Weight Watchers program than people on the Dr. Atkins diet. When I did Dr. Atkins diet I couldn’t eat many carbs…only less than 20 carbs a day was all I could eat…that leaves it to where you can mostly just eat meat or nuts and once I had to start taking in carbs again than I started gaining weight really fast…You see I went on Dr. Atkins after I had my first child, and I lost weight after giving birth to my first baby on the Dr. Atkins program, but when I became pregnant a second time with my twin boys I was still on the Dr. Atkins diet at the time and my doctor told me I couldn’t be on Dr. Atkins during my pregnancy and that it could be unhealthy to not eat carbs while you are pregnant. This is a story I wrote on Surgery and Diets because I have done both. I was once told that carbs are brain food…but I don’t know how true that really is…but my doctor said carbs are needed to help the babies develop properly…So I had to start taking in carbs again because of the pregnancy and I gained over 115 pounds during my pregnancy with my twin boys…I was over 300 pounds by the end of my 2nd pregnancy with my twins and my weight gain helped my blood pressure to sky rocket and I developed toxemia/Pre-eclampsia, and Edema…than at about 34 weeks of gestation of my twin pregnancy all the fluid in my body back up in my lungs and gave me pneumonia and plural effusion(which is medical terminology for fluid in the lungs)…I was put on bed rest in Baptist hospital and was spitting up blood. Now I’m not a doctor, but I don’t recommend that women in child baring years that might want to get pregnant be on the Dr. Atkins diet…I personally don’t think it’s the safest diet to be on if you want to have a healthy child and I know as soon I started talking in carbs again the weight came right back on with a lot more to boot, but I do know that Dr. Atkins can help you lose weight fast…It’s just long term keeping the weight off that is hard and questionable on the Dr. Atkins diet in my opinion. That’s another reason why I consider Weight Watchers to be a more healthy program…Most doctors I know consider it a little more healthy to be on a diet program like Weight Watchers where you can eat more vegetables, carbs, and lean meats….you just cut out the fat. Weight Watchers works on a point system and it cost about 10 to 20 dollars a month to join the program, and you go to monthly meetings for the information and support and even though I know Weight Watchers might not want me to tell you this, you can really follow the program on your own with the information that is printed on the internet.

Bill Clinton looks to have lost a lot of weight…He’s had heart surgery and problems that he said was due to his weight problems and fast food eating…You can read about it in this CNN report by Dr. Gupta if you missed his show Housecalls show this morning. I’m posting this picture I took of my Television during the CNN coverage cause I don’t think I’ve ever remembered seeing Bill Clinton this skinny before…He looks good but a little pale…and I hope his health is good now…and I want him to know I’m praying for him…You see I want Bill Clinton to go down in history as the one President we have in America that came from a poor childhood, but was intelligent enough and worked hard enough to become President of the United States….He is a shining example of what you can accomplish and what can happen to all of us people who come from poverty. That is why I want a education so badly and I’ve never been able to afford one…now I’m determined to get one…And I want to do this talk website for educational reasons…so hopefully I can die knowing I contributed something positive to the world like Bill Clinton has done. I have a talk site on Bill Clinton...It's not very busy and it doesn't get many comments but I hope one day it will, cause I like talking about this man. You see some people may consider this website a just a joke because we do kid around a lot here…but you must understand that there are many people in the world who haven’t learned how to make a website yet…They are just like I was 5 years ago and they may have never have learned how to make a website about things that are important to them. These quick topic talk sites are so easy to use most people can do it…It gives those people a voice. A place to go and ask questions and maybe get an answer or just voice their ideas and opinions about anything or everything they might care about. I also know that the internet can be a dangerous place and I hope that nothing bad ever happens here at this website an example of what I worry about would be like a young girl might meet up with a kidnapper or something on one of these talk sites we have started and get hurt or in trouble. I warn you all to be careful when using the internet...I’ve heard of things like that on the news and worst stories that have happened and I would be heartbroken if that was to ever happen on these talk sites at Talk Webzine, so talk webzine internet chatters please be careful on these sites…Don't meet up with anybody if you feel it's unsafe...You never know who your talking too...but I still feel like this website can be great for educational purposes and it gives people a voice. If any of you people who participate in these discussion sites are like me…than you have probably sent written correspondence to news, and television networks and magazines and never had a chance to get your written words heard by the open general public…If so than just consider this talk site your voice. A place where you can go and be heard.

I want to write a message for the Time Warner staff and company…You see the day before yesterday I called Time Warner because I needed to ask some questions about picture Copyrights…you see I am fairly new at making websites…and I have only been doing websites for a few years…I was told by the lady at Time Warner that I could not get permission to use pictures that come off of my television set for any websites…and I did not know that because I have seen so many people on the internet do that…Like Don Thompson over at the famous talking head website and there are many others on the internet who do this as well. You see I want permission from Time Warner to use their images, but I realize I’m not going to get it, because Time Warner can’t give permission to anyone to use images. So I’m just going to say this to the Time Warner staff and I know the staff at Time Warner visits our sites sometimes cause our site meters picks your company computers up and lets me know when you visit our sites. I’m going to make policing this talk website easy for you…I will always write where I get my pictures from or post a link back to the place I got it from if I am the one doing the posts on the blogs, but please understand that I am not the only one who post on those talk blogs…they are open to the public and anyone can post on them…. If you see what I am doing as a problem to your company than email me and let me know…My email address is
annx-ray@hotmail.com Feel free to write me anytime and let me know if something on my site is a problem to your staff…This site is just like a little person on the speck of News Talk and Time Warner is like the powerful big brother that most of us admire and fear, and we just want the right to exists, cause you know we are talking about you and your staff on a regular basis…Time Warner is like our big powerful brother. So please lets keep our website and if you want something removed just email me and let me know. I have always been open and honest about who I am and how to reach me…and that goes for anyone else who might want something removed from these talk sites too. Just write me and let me know what to remove…If you are a photographer who wants credit for your photos or wants them removed than just let me know and I will do so. I make no money at doing these websites…This is a public free service and every bit of the information, time and comments I or other people have given are free and open to the public…and Time Warner and any other news network, or independent person can use any comments that are posted on these sites cause these are all open to the public forums and any written statement can be used by anyone. I really do want this site to be legal and useful to the general public, and I hope Time Warner and other media companies see this site as a good thing and let us use their stated words, photos, and information to make this site possible to spread the news on the web.

Talk On Africa

2005-08-02T08:46:00.000-07:00

Ann Stewart: I recently got to see Anderson Cooper’s “Starving in Plain Sight” special on CNN that he and other fine reports did on Africa…I want to tell you that CNN has a website that has links to many sites where you can help the poverty stricken people of Africa…Please go to this site if you can and find out a way you can help…I have collected some of the comments off the internet discussion talk sites on this issue of Starving Africa in Niger and they sound like very sincerely concerned individuals and here are their comments:

Angelfox20032000: It was heartbreaking to watch Anderson reporting on those poor children and their mothers...especially the the three kids he profiled in his reports. So sad that two of them died. I felt bad for the one mother who left her son behind, who had died. It is too much of a burden to bear to carry your dead child so far away to his home, but I understand her grief.
And God bless the Doctors from Doctors without Borders, At least the people have someone who can help ease their suffering and pain.
Anderson was wonderful tonight. I really love seeing him reporting from the field and I am very happy to see him in Africa.
I had also wrote to AC and e-mailed 360 about the Africa situation. I hope the public will be moved by these reports and reach out to help. Lord knows these kids need our help and our prayers. And they need rain too, so we should pray for rain to fall there.... I guess with the drought there in NIger, they don't have any chickens to lay eggs, which would be a good source of protein. The chickens would probably starve too. Even the cattle are too thin to be used for meat.

Lisa71: Anderson had Bono on a few times this year talking about the situation in Africa. Bono and his wife Ali have been involved in bringing the tragedy to the attention of the world for a while. It's good to know that the ACQTers wrote to 360 to express their concern about what's taking place there. A few weeks ago I wrote 360 and email and letter about Africa. I was hoping they'd cover the AIDS crisis. I've been a big fan of Bono and his work with his group DATA. So,I thought it would be great for them to cover that. Even though this isn't about AIDS it's still great to see the news in Africa make headlines here.

Anderlove: The situation in Africa is so awful and unecessary and not covered to any great extent by the media. It's good that Anderson saw the need to explore what's happening there. Seeing children and adults dying when so much could be done is extremely depressing, hopefully the aid will reach those who despertately need it. Anderson is very compassionate and I know he must be having a hard time reporting this story.

Saturn: It was heartwrenching. Watching those poor mothers sitting w/their children and the one having to leave her child behind was awful. It makes me hug my own children a little tighter. I was in tears also. I don't see how he and Jeff do it.

Paige: I watched it and God was it heartbreaking. I literally was in tears several times. It's so important that people see what is going on even though it's got to be extrordinarily difficult to cover. You could see how affected he is... how can you not be, though.

Xox: More excellent reporting from Anderson. It was terrible to find out about the children who died so soon after Anderson had visited them. Hearing the children struggle to even cry from their pain and hunger was unbelievably sad, I was in tears almost immediately. Anderson was right when he warned about how difficult it would be to look at the scenes of the sick children, but all I have to do is look, the people there have to deal with this horrific situation on a day to day basis. I applaud Anderson and Jeff Koinage's reports and Doctors Without Borders and everyone who is trying to bring this crisis to light.

Ann Stewart: This weekend while I was watching Tammy Faye on CNN’s Larry King Live and seeing commercials of Anderson Cooper reporting from Africa, it made me think of some things. You see I’m a Christian…I was raised by a Christian Pastor, who was also raised by a Christian Pastor…So I come from a long line of Christian Pastors and I feel so much empathy for Tammy Faye in her struggle of trying to beating cancer, but I remember back in the past when all the bad reports of Pastor Jim Baker’s behavior was coming out in the press and it seemed to me it made all Christian Pastors look bad. That broke my heart, cause some people sometimes seem to feel as though Pastor’s only want people’s money and they hide behind their faith and religion to pick people’s pockets. Well that may be true of some people or some pastors or even priests. If you watch the Christian Network News stations, they often are asking for money. I wish they wouldn’t do that. It only makes them look like greedy pickpockets to the world and it can give the general public a negatives opinion of our Christian faith. Many Christians and Pastors are just average hard working common American citizens, like my father, who does not ask people for money. He works hard as a machinist to make a living, and does his work as a Pastor without pay. He usually gives to much money, supplies and food to the needy at his church. That’s the kind of Pastors that don’t seem to get recognized by the press and general public enough in my opinion. People seem to only remember the bad that men do, and I wish they would focus on the good. I know I’m guilty of that too, cause when I saw Tammy Faye’s home video on Larry King live…Her home looked alike a mansion compared to the way other people have to live especially in Africa. She had these little cute fluffy dogs that ran around her house and a big ol’e bed with fine sheets and so many fine luxuries. I just couldn’t believe she lived that well and had such a nice home. Than I saw Anderson Cooper reporting from Africa and I have read the reports that Dr. Sanjay Gupta had written on President Bill Clinton’s travels though Africa in Time Magazine and how the African’s are suffering from disease and starving while we Americans are often suffering from being over weight…I have heard we live in the fattest country, with the most overweight people in the world, and yet we sometimes sit around and cry, wine and complain…We should be thanking God for the luxuries we have and Tammy should too, cause some of those people over in Africa probably don’t eat as good as her little cute fluffy dogs do. They’d probably like to eat her little fluffy dogs. And that is just my opinion. I’ll still be praying for Tammy.

I hope you all have a good day and say a prayer for the people of Africa and America too.

Talk on Kevin Trudeau

2005-07-30T19:59:00.000-07:00

Ann Stewart: Is this man Kevin Trudeau who claims to have natural cures for cancer, diabetes and 100’s of other illnesses for real?…You see I’m asking cause my father who had a enlarged prostate said the doctors didn’t help him much, and he bought this book written by Kevin Trudeau and my dad said it did help him…but I watched this man Kevin Trudeau on television this morning and he was degraded doctors in general and talking very badly about the FDA and our American Medical care providers in general…He said, ‘doctors and the FDA don’t want you to get well and they only want your money…so they keep you sick so they can get your money and make you buy more of their drugs’… I thought that was very negative stereotyping and way to overly general of a thing to say about all doctors….I kind of took offense to what this man said cause I am into the medical field and I have always thought that most people who want to go into the medical field have real genuine desire to help people. Where does this man get the idea to say that doctors don’t want their patients to get well?…How can he be that general with his statement. He must have gone to the all wrong doctors in his life and another thing is he’s not even a doctor himself…but yet he’s selling a book that supposedly gives out cures for many different diseases and tells people where they can get drugs over the internet?…GET THAT…He’s selling a book!!! Well doesn’t that mean he wants money for his book? I’m not saying that book he has written isn’t something that could help people…My father obviously believes in it, but I’m saying Mr. Trudeau’s negativity and over stereotyping people in the medical field can be a really bad thing to do in my opinion, cause to degrade the majority of health care providers (Trudeau especially degraded the doctors that we have in this country) and to make them all out to be evil people who want to keep patients sick to get their money kind of makes him sound like a angry nut. Not all doctors could be that evil…to keep their patients sick so they can pick their pockets….I just want to know if this guy Kevin Trudeau’s book Natural Cures is really a good book to follow for things like enlarged prostates, cancer and diabetes cause I don’t want people in my family following the wrong medical advice. So if anyone knows anything about this guys book and medical information than please let me know…I find it hard to take medical advice from a man who isn’t even a doctor or in the medical field.

Election Debate 2008…Who do you think should run for President of the United States?

2005-07-18T13:53:00.000-07:00

Ann Stewart: New Topic is Election Debate 2008…Who do you think should run for President of the USA?…I know this talk site is being put out really early…but I’m putting it out anyways because it takes a long time for these discussion sites to get regular subscribers and for people on the internet to get talking about a subject…The Question is, “Who do you think should run for President of United States in 2008?” Do you think Hiliary Clinton will run?…That is a big rumor I’ve been hearing about Hiliary. Do you think John Kerry, John Edwards, or Howard Dean, should try again? Or on the republican side, do you think Dick Chaney should run? I think the one thing that could hurt Dick’s chances of becoming President is he is publicized to have a bad heart condition. I don’t know if the American people would vote for someone who they think could pass from cardiac arrest. Just my opinion. Or what about Jeb Bush?…How many think he might run for President 2008? I always thought he would make a better President than his big brother anyways cause Jeb has been publicized to be more level headed or calmer, but I really don’t know him so how could I say. But what about maybe Gov. Rick Perry of Texas…He’s kind of a Bush buddy. He served under George W. Bush as Lt. Governor of Texas, before he became governor. And I know this sound kind of silly…but how many of you think Arnold Schwarzenegger might make it to the Presidency? I know they would have to change the law about being born an American citizen, but hey people seem to like Arnold so much they just might do that. What do ya think? I say this cause I didn’t think anyone would take him seriously when he was running for governor of California. Boy was I wrong. Arnold won by a landside!!!

Also since the democrats seem to be losing elections a lot lately…How many of you think that if they ran a more conservative democrat against the republicans they would have a better chance of winning? I think the Democrats are really hurting right now. They have lost a lot of elections to the Republicans as Governors, in the Senate and in Congress. How many of you think the Democratic way of Government should be done away with? I have met a few Libertarians that think that and they also think their way of government is the best way and the way of the future. These Libertarians that I’ve met believe it’s only a matter of time before their way of government will replace the popular mostly Democrats Vs. Republican Elections we are having now. About the libertarians…They kinda scare me…Cause I’ve met some of them that think their way of government will be the United States future government, and I see that kind of Libertarian Governing that they have in mind as being like “You should take care of yourself cause the Government shouldn’t have to take care of you.” That kind of attitude is what scares me about Libertarians. Would that end Social Security and other government aid programs if Libertarians did take control of the government? Here’s one persons opinion of Libertarians from the Rant discussion board:

LIQUIDSMOKE: A libertarian is someone who wants to privatize almost everything, including schools. They are preservers of the constitution and would get rid any type of government regulation, like seatbelt laws and would legalize all drugs, prostitution and abolish all taxes, IRS, CIA, FBI etc. They see social security as a "fraudulent scheme" and would end welfare. They would preserve police and the courts and prosecute only violent criminals and violent sex offenders, because they only see government as a preserver of rights and liberties and anybody who intrudes on somebody else's rights. It sounds good on paper and I think a libertarian would only last for about 6 mos in the White House. I believe though that moderate libertarianism is the way to go in this country. Jesse Ventura and Bill O'Reilly are good examples of moderate libertarianism. They believe in less government involvement, public schools, and judgments in society. That’s where the true libertarians screw up. They forget the fact that we as a society must make judgments and follow a code of ethics, and basic civilized laws. If Ventura would ever run or somebody like his platform, I'd definitely vote for them.
http://www.rant.com/bbs/ubb/Forum6/HTML/000387.html

Ann Stewart: And how many of you think an Independent should become President this time or do you have anyone in mind that you believe would have the best chance at the Presidency? If you do have someone in mind, the new 2008 Online Election Debate site is up…So please feel free to give any of your thoughts and opinions.

Comments On Article "Talk On Politics and Religion (Is this a scary subject?)"

2005-07-12T11:42:00.000-07:00

Kevin Airrington: Hi Ann..

I wish I had more time to go into this. But I will just let you know that I DO support the war. London was a stark reminder of the kind of cowardly enemy we face.

My nephew was also in Iraq, and like yours he did not want to go. But after he was there we spoke via Yahoo on the computer...and he told me he knew why he was there.

My nephew has since returned home...and then volunteered to return...I didn't want him to go...but then he said, "Uncle Kevin, we're not finished!" Ann, this ripped me through the heart as I fought back tears all I could say is I was proud of him.

Ann, NOBODY likes war...except mabey the animals we are fighting right now. Someone forgot to tell these people the war is over and all we want to do is help them rebuild thyeir country and we get out of their country. 99% of Iraqi's understand and see this. It's the Syrians, the Iranians and other who fear they are next...and I do beleive either Iran or N. Korea is next if they continue to develope WMD's and sponsor terrorism.

I pray for the day when we can all come home and put this behind us...

President Bush is a Christian...and I beleive makes his decisions prayerfully. I beleive he will be remembered in history as one of the greatest Presidents ever.

Is it Christians against Islam? Yes it is...it always has been. It should never be people against people...but it is. The bible says that those that live by the sword also die by the sword (Islam). The Bible also teaches us that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against principalities in dark places.

For me and my house, I will not hide my Christianity nor fold my American flag and put in a drawer just so that I can keep from offending someone. Because I do not care if I offend them...this is my country and people like your nephew and my nephew fought to make sure it stays that way.

This does not mean that I will not be polite and friendly to a Muslim...but I will not hide the fact that I am a christian and I will fly my flag and celebrate the freedom's that were paid for by a very high price. The blood of those who fought for their country stain the flag that flies high above my house...Christ's blood was shred that I may have everlasting life...many deciples died terrible deaths in order to spread the gospel.

Yes, I am a Christian who lives in America. I am proud of my country and those who so bravely defend her in the night in some far away country. I solute the young men and women who wear the the uniform of these United States. May God Bless them and keep them safe as they battle this evil that is upon us...pure evil. I thank God each day we have a President who is a Christain and man enough and has the guts enough to face this evil head on!

Everyone should run over to http://www.rushlimbaugh.com and purchase a Club Gitmo shirt. We need to taunt the enemy...screw them...come out and fight you coward...come face the might of the US MIlitary and her allies...

I think Christianity is NOT in our Government as much as our founders wanted it to be. The separation of church and state is not even in the constitution! What is in there is that no state shall make law concerning the church. So if there is a wall it is one way! Our founders understood this...opening their sessions with prayer...THIS IS A CHRISTIAN NATION!!!!! Fly your flag...the Red, The White and The Blue...be proud...do not compromise...carry your King James Bible...

Those are my feelings and the facts as I see them...

Delenn: I don't get online much anymore, but saw Ann's post at the Gupta site and felt like commenting. Ann is right that a person would have to be blind to not realize the domination of Christianity in this country, including politics and the government, although right now at least, that doesn't seem to include caring for the poor and the least among you and all that. The disagreement is over whether this is appropriate or not. I am on the definitely not side. It might be revealing for people to imagine how everything they see, experience, and encounter might feel a bit different if they were an atheist, as I have been since I was 12 or 13 (I'm 21 now).

Recently I've experienced the pervasiveness of Christianity more in non-governmental contexts, though this can be different depending upon where you are and the amount of diversity there. The store where I work closes on only one day, Christmas Day. I did get a shorter workday on July 4th because my department manager wanted us to have some time with our families. Then the other day at work a man asked if I were a Christian and when I said no told me that I dressed like one (I had on a T-shirt and ankle-length khaki skirt, with my smock on top). Because, you know, all non-Christians dress like whores (not his words). I guess this man didn't consider that the store dress code is rather against dressing like a whore, though it doesn't state it exactly that way. It's just been getting on my nerves.

As an aside, for people who live in places like I do, rural Bible belt places with little diversity, try imagining what it's like to be an atheist and a vegetarian! You really feel different walking around, though it's not difference that's so obvious to everyone else, like skin color or something. Argh.

Talk On Politics and Religion (Is this a scary subject?)

2005-07-12T11:36:00.000-07:00

Ann Stewart: I was sitting in church today when the topic of discussion became about the religion Islam. It was amazing to me to hear how evil some Christians think the Islamic faith is. Someone in my church said, “Muslim people are raised from birth to hate and kill Christians. In the Koran it teaches Muslims to kill Christians.” That statement broke my heart and I thought to myself “Oh dear God…I wonder if people of the Islamic faith think Christians are raised from birth to kill Muslims too?” I hope and pray most Muslim people don’t believe that about Christians. You see I have neighbors that live next door to me who are Muslim Kurds. Their children often come over and play with my children. These Kurdish children are the most well mannered and most polite kids in my neighborhood. They are even better mannered than my kids. You see I didn’t agree with the war on Iraq. I protested it all over the Internet. I guess I felt like it was an unjustified war that the Bush Administration started and the government wasn’t willing to try to work it out any other way. It also made me sad because I felt like a president that I voted for put us in this unnecessary war. I guess I wish I could be more like the Pope; cause I sometimes feel like if anything causes death it shouldn’t be done, but we all know from history that sometimes there are reasons that are important enough to go to war for, so maybe I shouldn’t be so disappointed in President Bush. He did get re-elected even though I didn’t vote for him the second time around, there’s got to be many people out there who did believe in the war with Iraq and also feel like Bush is doing a great job or he wouldn't have been re-elected. I also have another theory about how Bush got re-elected. I believe it’s because he is a Christian. I also think people are fooling themselves if they think they can separate religion and politics or church and state, and if you don’t see by the re-election of President Bush what the dominating religion is here in America than I think you are blind. Christianity rules this country over all other religions. Maybe I feel this way because my father is a Christian minister who wanted Bush re-elected and he would stand on the alter on Sundays and tell people why they should vote for Bush. I used to tell my father not to do that. I would tell him you are going to offend the democrats or people who don’t have the same political opinions as you. I told my father your congregation may decline if you keep telling people to vote for Bush…but it didn’t. Christians wanted to see a Christian in the Whitehouse. I still feel like this country is dominated by Christianity because just look at the major holidays we celebrate in this country, such as Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter. All of those holidays were brought about by Christian religious beliefs. When we did the 2004 online election debate, to me it seemed like people felt as though Kerry had no religious morals. He was for gay marriage, pro-choice, and he was divorced and remarried. John Kerry could have been the best Christian on the face of the planet and could have had the highest morals any human could have thought possible, but the Christians in this country didn’t think so and that’s why I believe John Kerry lost the election.

Here’s one other reason I protested the war with Iraq. Here is a link to a picture of one of my nephews Todd Bohannon. Like a lot of young men in my family, Todd was 18 when he joined the Calvary. That was when I first started hearing we may go to war with Iraq. I told Todd to get out of the military as soon as possible and I thought to myself if anybody is going to get shot and killed in Iraq it could be one of my family. So I protested the war. Todd is now safe back in Texas, and out of the military and I am so glad…I partially raised him cause I was the youngest of 6 kids and I have 5 older brothers…so my older brothers used me as the family baby sitter. I always felt like Todd was my kid and I helped raise that boy. To see him die in Iraq or any other member of my family would have killed me. Luckily none of my family died. They all came back safe, but I was reading an article in People Magazine that said President Bush’s twin daughters where saying they wanted to rally the troops and I thought to myself if they really want to rally the troops why don’t they go join the Calvary and be on the front lines. Than maybe President Bush wouldn’t be so gung ho to put his precious daughters in the line of fire. Than maybe he’d understand how I feel. I didn’t want to see any Iraqi people die either…I just didn’t want anyone to die.

Do you feel like Christianity partially rules our government? If so go ahead and post it at the talk of religion site. I have always wanted to find out other people’s views on other religions. I was raised a Christian…..and I mean by a very Christian minister father, but I am open minded enough to listen to other view points about religion…It helps me understand our world and other cultural beliefs better.

TALK ON MICHAEL MOORE’S MOVIE FAHENHEIT 9/11

2004-07-31T00:30:00.000-07:00

Kaye: I mentioned Michael Moore in an earlier post. I've finally seen Fahrenheit 9/11 and it has only reinforced my bad feelings with regards to this War. The footage of the civilians in Iraq is something I'm having a hard time shaking. You really have to put yourself in someone else's shoes. I also now understand why the Congressional Black Caucus is honoring him. The footage of certain CBC members submitting challenges to the election (with no Senator willing to sign off on it) was something I hadn't seen before. I also liked how he illustrated that many who enlist in the military do so b/c of limited options. And - all they ask is that they only be sent into harms way when absolutely necessary.

Kevin Airrington: Michael Moore is an idiot! I wouldn't waste 2¢ on his piece of crap propaganda...

Ann Stewart: I just saw Mike Moore’s 9/11….If you love Bush you will hate that movie….I believed most of what Mr. Moore put in that movie….But now I hear Mike Moore is getting death threats….Kevin your not the one who’s doing that are you?….He He…. Kevin Just kidding.

Kevin Airrington: Michael Moore reluctantly agrees to be a guest for an 8 minute segment on The O'Reilly Factor.

When: 8:00PM EST, Tuesday, July 27th, 2004!!! For you cross-eyed libs from LA that is tomorrow!

This promises to be one of the best interviews of the year. Michael Moron while he does have a freedom of speech…goof fricken grief some thing should just be kept to themselves!

What I find outrages is the fact that that film is compromising lives in Iraq/Afghanistan. I hope Bill rips that SOB apart! There is a time and a place for that propaganda and the time is NOT when we have boots on the ground under fire!!!

Right now, we need to concentrate on keeping them alive and bringing them home…you ignorant piece of shit liberals! Who gives a rats ass what you think of the war or the President…NOW is not the time…you insensitive self-serving whores!

Protest BEFORE a war or AFTER a war…only a self-serving whore would do it DURING a war. Even the strongest of supporters of the Iraq war do not care and to some extent respect the opinions of the left…but for God’s sake…whether you want us there or not we are there, whether you agree with or hate the very ground Bush walks on…that is no longer the issue…the issue is bringing them home alive and what you are doing is costing lives! When will you wake up to this fact? Support the troops…they are only doing what they are being asked to do…like or not your opinion does not matter.

Michael Moore does not matter…but if he is costing lives…THAT MATTERS. YOU FRICKEN WHORES!!!!!

Black balling Nader from the convention…that was their most brilliant move yet. They are so afraid he is going to pull votes…and it may be so…I have one question…I doubt whether we will get an answer but WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY? My grandfather was a democrat…I was raised a democrat…today I am a republican and I am sure my grandfather if he were alive today he would change parties.

We will see if Kerry gets the same bump he got when he selected Edwards (- 4 to +4 point bump depending on the poll, compared to Clinton’s 19 and Bush 17) Then the RNc…BIG BUSH Bump…and I am so looking forward to the two or three debates…99 days until Bush is re-elected!

Laura in LA: Wow, a solider wrote an email and the clearly partisan conservative think tank says Fahrenheit 911 is having a "Devastating" Impact on Military Morale, Says Soldier Deployed Overseas.” I am shocked, shocked!! That one dude knows everything – he’s a scientific poll. I am sure Hannity, Rush, O’Reilly are blabbing on about it today too. One can also go to Moore’s site and read all the emails he’s received from soldiers to the contrary. So, it’s back to the point I keep making about “perspective.”

The entire war sucks!! I am sure there are millions of reasons to be a bummed out solider in Baghdad. The suggestion by the Right that the First Amendment should be suspended when opinions don’t comport with their own is the real issue. Frankly, all I care about is that both perspectives can be heard – the rest is meaningless partisan ramblings. What I want to know is who bootlegged Moore’s movie if it’s floating around Iraq. That’s not right - he’s losing royalties.

Fahrenheit 9/11 is Having "Devastating" Impact on Military Morale, Says Soldier Deployed Overseas

Paul Teutal: Soldier Says "Young and Impressionable" Soldiers Just Returned from Iraq Deployments Are "Being Made to Feel Ashamed" of Their Service
The National Center for Public Policy Research has posted online an e-mail received from a soldier, Spc. Joe Roche of the 1st Armored Division, who says Michael Moore's film Fahrenheit 9/11 is "making the rounds" among soldiers at U.S. military bases overseas and is "shocking and crushing soldiers, making them feel ashamed" of their service in Iraq. The letter has been published online by The National Center without abridgment. The full text can be found here. Some excerpts:
"Michael Moore's film, Fahrenheit 9/11, is making the rounds here at U.S. bases in Kuwait. Some soldiers have received it already and are passing is around. The impact is devastating. Here we are, soldiers of the 1st Armored Division, just days from finally returning home after over a year serving in Iraq, and Moore's film is shocking and crushing soldiers, making them feel ashamed. Moore has abused the First Amendment and is hurting us worse than the enemy has. There are the young and impressionable soldiers, like those who joined the Army right out of high school. They aren't familiar w/ the college-type political debate environment, and they haven't been schooled in the full range of issues involved. They are vulnerable to being hurt by a vicious film like Moore's."

"Specialist Janecek, who is feeling depressed because a close family member is nearing the end of her life, just saw the film today. I saw him in the DFAC. He is devastated. 'I feel shitty, ashamed, like this was all a lie.' Not only is he looking at going straight to a funeral when he returns home, but now whatever pride he felt for serving here has been crushed by Moore's film. Specialist Everett earlier after seeing the film: 'You'll be mad at shit for ever having come here.' And there are others. Mostly the comments are absolute shock at the close connections Moore makes between the Bush family and the Bin Laden family in Saudi Arabia. 'Bush looks really really REALLY corrupt in this film. I just don't know what to think anymore,' is a common comment to hear. Some of these soldiers are darn right ashamed tonight to be American soldiers, to have been apart of this whole mission in Iraq, and are angry over all that Moore has presented in his film."

"Right now, just days away from what should be a proud and happy return from 15 months of duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom, your U.S. soldiers are coming back ashamed and hurt because of Moore's work."

"I sometimes want to be mad at my fellow soldiers for being susceptible to Moore's distortions, but I can't really blame them. These are good Americans, who have volunteered to serve our country. Nothing says they all have to be experts in Middle Eastern issues and history and politics to serve. That would be silly. ...But this is, of course, the vulnerability that Moore has exploited."

"I wonder how damaging and shocking a Moore project would have been in the 1940s making such a video of Franklin Roosevelt."

Spc. Joe Roche serves with the 16th Engineering Battalion of the 1st Armored Division. He and his unit were deployed in Iraq for 15 months. An archive of his e-mails can be accessed at www.nationalcenter.org/RochePage.html online.

The National Center for Public Policy Research is a non-partisan, conservative/free-market think-tank established in 1982 and located on Capitol Hill. It can be visited at http://www.nationalcenter.org online.

TALK ON BILL CLINTON’S BOOK “MY LIFE”

2004-06-01T21:31:00.000-07:00

Ann Stewart: While surf’in the Internet I found a few websites that have Bill Clinton’s new book called “My Life” that is out for sale this month…Now I bet I this man’s life story has got to be interesting…I voted for Bill Clinton in his last election. I was much younger than, and that was the first time I had ever voted in my life, and for some reason back then I didn’t think Clinton was going to win a second term, but he did, and he some made serious political history…

I highly admired Clinton because unlike most Presidents he wasn’t born a millionaire. He was just highly intelligent and he worked his way up from being a poor boy to being a Presidential Sexy God…Well…at least I thought he was handsome…He made big news…He was like the Elvis of the Presidency…He seemed more like a Rock Star than a President…More news was on the scandals he had, instead of his work as President…I remember reading once that Bill Clinton admitted to over taxing Americans during his Presidency…but if you think about it, the surplus was almost at it’s highest when Clinton was in office and now in the Bush era the surplus is gone…I have always heard that if people would have just judged Clinton on his work in office as President instead of his personal relationships, he would have been considered the greatest President of all time. Maybe in the future he will be considered the greatest President that ever was…because as time rolls on the public’s opinion seems to be becoming a little more kind hearted to Bill Clinton…I think that happened to Reagan as well when he got out of office…It sometimes seems like the scandals that Bill Clinton was publicized for made people love him that much more. Maybe because some people felt like he was being tortured for being what George Stephanopoulos would say is “All To Human”…I can’t wait to get a copy of this book. I’m hoping Clinton releases some new interesting pieces of history in this book…“My Life” by Bill Clinton…Anybody got any comments on this book?…We have a new talk site for Bill Clinton now at Talk of Men. Let’s hear your comments on it.

WHO IS THE ONE ?

2004-06-01T00:22:00.000-07:00

Ann: There is some interesting talk going on at the Harold Ford talk site…It’s seems as though a mysteries person that goes by the user name of “One” has a book coming out and the book is due to be released this next month…We have been trying to guess who “One” really is…Another person who goes by the user name of Mtb2 made these interesting guesses.

Mtb2: Do you know what, Harold Honeys? I have been thinking over some mysteries that are happening on this board and placing many pieces together.

I am a very avid reader of books and am constantly trying to figure out what the title of one’s book is.
I searched high and low for “New Releases” coming out in June. Since one is politically savvy and writes biographies/children’s books…there are three theories that are currently swirling in my mind.

1. Former President Clinton is coming out with a new book in June entitled “My Life”. It would be funny and shocking if “one” were Bill Clinton. Ironically, the book will come out on June 22, 2004. Also, Clinton has widely endorsed Harold Ford, Jr. when he gave a speech at Ford’s victory back in 95’.

2. Donna Brazile (former DNC chairwoman?) is also coming out with a new book entitled “Cooking with Grease : Stirring the Pots in American Politics”. Since “one” denied that the book had to do anything with “grease”, I am ruling theory #2 out.

3. This may be far off, but could “one” be Madonna because Madonna also has a book coming out in late June entitled “Yakov and the Seven Thieves.” Since “one” has said that his/her book was biographical, theory #3 is ruled out because “Yakov and the Seven Thieves” is a childrens’ book.

I am leaning towards theory #1. If anyone has any more “theories” or comments about my theories on one’s book, please feel free to post.

Goodnight all.

mtb2 – an insomniac

Ann: Wow...I would love for theory number 1 to be correct too Mtb2...I have always wanted to talk to or meet Bill Clinton...He is one of the few Presidents that is still alive that I haven't got to meet...I did see him speak at the Oklahoma City bombing though...but I never got to meet him... I'd be happy to meet Hillary too…I idolize her a lot. I would say out of all your guesses Donna Brazile is the most believable choice. That would be awesome if you geussed right.

Toya: I was thinking that same thought too Ann. lol

TALK ON DAVID DUKE

2004-05-31T20:39:00.000-07:00

David Duke is a malignant: David Duke is a malignant narcissist. He invents and then projects a false, fictitious, self for the world to fear, or to admire. He maintains a tenuous grasp on reality to start with and the trappings of power further exacerbate this. Real life authority and David Duke’s predilection to surround him with obsequious sycophants support David Duke’s grandiose self-delusions and fantasies of omnipotence and omniscience.

David Duke's personality is so precariously balanced that he cannot tolerate even a hint of criticism and disagreement. Most narcissists are paranoid and suffer from ideas of reference (the delusion that they are being mocked or discussed when they are not). Thus, narcissists often regard themselves as "victims of persecution".

Duke fosters and encourages a personality cult with all the hallmarks of an institutional religion: priesthood, rites, rituals, temples, worship, catechism, and mythology. The leader is this religion's ascetic saint. He monastically denies himself earthly pleasures (or so he claims) in order to be able to dedicate himself fully to his calling.
Duke is a monstrously inverted Jesus, sacrificing his life and denying himself so that his people - or humanity at large - should benefit. By surpassing and suppressing his humanity, Duke became a distorted version of Nietzsche's "superman".

But being a-human or super-human also means being a-sexual and a-moral.

In this restricted sense, narcissistic leaders are post-modernist and moral relativists. They project to the masses an androgynous figure and enhance it by engendering the adoration of nudity and all things "natural" - or by strongly repressing these feelings. But what they refer to, as "nature" is not natural at all.

Duke invariably proffers an aesthetic of decadence and evil carefully orchestrated and artificial - though it is not perceived this way by him or by his followers. Narcissistic leadership is about reproduced copies, not about originals. It is about the manipulation of symbols - not about veritable atavism or true conservatism.

In short: narcissistic leadership is about theatre, not about life. To enjoy the spectacle (and be subsumed by it), the leader demands the suspension of judgment, depersonalization, and de-realization. Catharsis is tantamount, in this narcissistic dramaturgy, to self-annulment.

Narcissism is nihilistic not only operationally, or ideologically. Its very language and narratives are nihilistic. Narcissism is conspicuous nihilism - and the cult's leader serves as a role model, annihilating the Man, only to re-appear as a pre-ordained and irresistible force of nature.

Narcissistic leadership often poses as a rebellion against the "old ways" - against the hegemonic culture, the upper classes, the established religions, the superpowers, the corrupt order. Narcissistic movements are puerile, a reaction to narcissistic injuries inflicted upon David Duke like (and rather psychopathic) toddler nation-state, or group, or upon the leader.

Minorities or "others" - often arbitrarily selected - constitute a perfect, easily identifiable, embodiment of all that is "wrong". They are accused of being old, they are eerily disembodied, they are cosmopolitan, they are part of the establishment, they are "decadent", they are hated on religious and socio-economic grounds, or because of their race, sexual orientation, origin ... They are different, they are narcissistic (feel and act as morally superior), they are everywhere, they are defenseless, they are credulous, they are adaptable (and thus can be co-opted to collaborate in their own destruction). They are the perfect hate figure. Narcissists thrive on hatred and pathological envy.

This is precisely the source of the fascination with Hitler, diagnosed by Erich Fromm - together with Stalin - as a malignant narcissist. He was an inverted human. His unconscious was his conscious. He acted out our most repressed drives, fantasies, and wishes. He provides us with a glimpse of the horrors that lie beneath the veneer, the barbarians at our personal gates, and what it was like before we invented civilization. Hitler forced us all through a time warp and many did not emerge. He was not the devil. He was one of us. He was what Arendt aptly called the banality of evil. Just an ordinary, mentally disturbed, failure, a member of a mentally disturbed and failing nation, who lived through disturbed and failing times. He was the perfect mirror, a channel, a voice, and the very depth of our souls.

Duke prefers the sparkle and glamour of well-orchestrated illusions to the tedium and method of real accomplishments. His reign is all smoke and mirrors, devoid of substances, consisting of mere appearances and mass delusions. In the aftermath of his regime - Duke having died, been deposed, or voted out of office - it all unravels. The tireless and constant prestidigitation ceases and the entire edifice crumbles. What looked like an economic miracle turns out to have been a fraud-laced bubble. Loosely held empires disintegrate. Laboriously assembled business conglomerates go to pieces. "Earth shattering" and "revolutionary" scientific discoveries and theories are discredited. Social experiments end in mayhem.

It is important to understand that the use of violence must be ego-syntonic. It must accord with the self-image of David Duke. It must abet and sustain his grandiose fantasies and feed his sense of entitlement. It must conform David Duke like narrative. Thus, David Duke who regards himself as the benefactor of the poor, a member of the common folk, the representative of the disenfranchised, the champion of the dispossessed against the corrupt elite - is highly unlikely to use violence at first. The pacific mask crumbles when David Duke has become convinced that the very people he purported to speak for, his constituency, his grassroots fans, and the prime sources of his narcissistic supply - have turned against him. At first, in a desperate effort to maintain the fiction underlying his chaotic personality, David Duke strives to explain away the sudden reversal of sentiment. "The people are being duped by (the media, big industry, the military, the elite, etc.)", "they don't really know what they are doing", "following a rude awakening, they will revert to form", etc. When these flimsy attempts to patch a tattered personal mythology fail, David Duke becomes injured. Narcissistic injury inevitably leads to narcissistic rage and to a terrifying display of unbridled aggression. The pent-up frustration and hurt translate into devaluation. That which was previously idealized - is now discarded with contempt and hatred. This primitive defense mechanism is called "splitting".

To David Duke, things and people are either entirely bad (evil) or entirely good. He projects onto others his own shortcomings and negative emotions, thus becoming a totally good object. Duke is likely to justify the butchering of his own people by claiming that they intended to kill him, undo the revolution, devastate the economy, or the country, etc. The "small people", the "rank and file", and the "loyal soldiers" of David Duke - his flock, his nation, and his employees - they pay the price. The disillusionment and disenchantment are agonizing. The process of reconstruction, of rising from the ashes, of overcoming the trauma of having been deceived, exploited and manipulated - is drawn-out. It is difficult to trust again, to have faith, to love, to be led, to collaborate.

Feelings of shame and guilt engulf the erstwhile followers of David Duke. This is his sole legacy: a massive post-traumatic stress disorder.

TALK ON THE CANNIBAL CASE

2004-05-31T19:48:00.000-07:00

Ann: Did anybody see Anderson Cooper’s 360? There was a story of Cannibalism, where a guy ran an add on the internet for 3 years trying to find someone who wanted to be eaten, and some guy responded to it. He wanted to be eaten. I don’t know if I believe that or not. But that just shows you how dangerous the Internet can be. He filmed the whole thing. He cut out part of his organs cooked them and fed it to the man and ate it himself and than he killed the guy. I guess after they got done eating. Talk about a bad last meal. He ate his own organs before he died. Oh gross. Anderson Cooper called it the most bizarre story of the day. I think this happened in Germany. Man what a freak. I hope they legally throw the book at him for that. I call it murder. I don’t care if the guy volunteered to die; it’s still murder in my book.

Doraemon: Hi Ann - I did see that story...what a freak!! Anderson didn't even know where to start with that...he seemed so shocked or confused didn't know what to do with the story!!

Ann: That should go down in history to be one of the freakiest stories of they year.

Mouse: I agree with you. He is from my area where I grow up. This story was going on for a while. Everybody is chocked how easygoing (Armin M. the guy who ate the/a people/person.) is taking his trail. He seems to be very relaxed. That thing is we don't have a death sentence in Germany. In these particular case I would like to hear these sentences, but he get live time jail and if he behaves he gets free earlier He is only 42. So buy the time he is 60 or so he will be a free man again. Also ready for his retirement. Probably paid by the German government. Many of these crazy people commit the crime then again. That what a statistic says. The bad or angry part is our pedestrians are very comfortable they look like hotels they have a gym, pool/inside outside whirlpool. I look forward to the outcome of the trail maybe laws will be changed. I hope

Panda:Eeeew! That stuff with the cannibal in Germany? Freaked me out beyond repair. But the "Nth Degree" with Santa was kind of humorous, so I didn't feel so bad at the end of the night. That's still weird. I mean, granted there's nothing on the books about cannibalism in Germany, but c'mon. Is there really a need for a law for or against cannibalism?

Laura in LA: Ann, did not see that story - that's the sickest thing I have ever heard. My stomach rolled reading your post. You can bet now everybody's on the net looking for the "film." The fascination with the macabre seems to be wired into the human brain. Everyone was into those "faces of death" videos years ago - ya know, footage of people dying horrific deaths. I could not watch it and I don't think I have that "wiring." I cannot find anything "cool" about someone being ripped to shreds by a bear. Nor can I separate the "gore" from the fact that it's a human being that died. I think about the fact that the person who died was loved and needed. I think about the pain and fear and how terrible it is that his/her children will not have a parent, etc.

THIS IS NOT PARODY...THIS IS REAL TALK

FUN TALK ON THE BLAME OF BUSH

2004-05-31T19:40:00.000-07:00

Jennifer (Bush Supporter): I saw George Bush on the television talking about how Mad Cow won't affect us and that he is eating beef today. I just thought that was a interesting thing to say by the President. Now if there is a major Mad Cow brake out the Dem's can say it's his fault, like they always do. It's like point the finger at the man you choose. When the blackouts happened they blamed him for that too, the dem's will probably blame him for this too.

DC: My son is blaming GWB for the University of Michigan losing to USC in yesterday's Rose Bowl.......Go figure! (just kidding)

Ann Stewart: Good morning DC....Your up bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning. Well I'm guessing that you are, with a cute statement like that.

DC: Getting ready to go play golf! In Chicago, that is a rare treat this time of year! I blame(credit) BUSH!! Thanks GWB!

Wayne in Missouri: DC,--I do blame Bush for the Texas Rangers consistently finishing last in their division though :-). As GM of the Rangers he traded Sammy Sosa to the Cubs among his list of many bad decisions. Just goes to show that people should be hired based on their ability to do the job and not on their family connections. Since we're talking sports I figured I'd sneak that one in there ;-). Happy New Year to all!

DC: Wayne........GWB did NOT trade Sammy to the Cubs, he traded him to the White Sox! The White Sox traded him to the Cubs for filling station magnate George Bell!
George Bell proceeded to hit 63 homeruns for the sox, while Sammy has hit 510 for the Cubs! Some trade eh?

Wayne in Missouri:Ann,--I was surfing the web tonight and actually found an animated cartoon that makes a humorous reference to Bush's Sammy Sosa trade. The cartoon as a whole is too long but the Sosa reference is funny.

Ann Stewart: OMG That was harlious Wayne I'm going to post that on both blogs. I love the part where Laura Bush sprayed him with Mase and Jeb Bush is better off cause no one talks about his infidelity or how criminal his children are. That was so funny. That is a defiantly good posting material.
Thanks Wayne

TALK ON KING ABDULLAH OF JORDAN

2004-05-31T19:27:00.000-07:00

http://www.kingabdullah.jo/homepage.php

Keziah: Hey ya'll. King Abdullah's birthday is in January, the 30th I think. He's got an official site too. Hey have you ever seen pics of King Abdullah in a bathing suit? I saw a couple of him in a bathing suit but um sexy isn't the word I'd use.

Mono: I think King Abdullah is handsome. He's short, but he's cute in my opinion.

Keziah: He's kind of cute. But those pics were bizarre

Mono: King Abdullah reminds of the middle aged cute round happy guy you see and I like the way he talks. It sound very English and refined. You'll have to send me some of those pix so I can judge for myself. I saw King Abdullah on CNN not to long ago. He looked really handsome. He was in a nice suit and he was just adorable, for a cute little short guy.

Keziah: I like his cheeks and his accent.

Mono: I really liked how King Abdullah handled the War with Iraq. He tried not to get involved, but he wanted the UN to have leadership in the finding of WMD and believed we shouldn't go to war, and I will say that I agree with him on that. I feel sorry for a little country like Jordan to be in such a hostile area, but I do think King Abdullah handled the war really well and is doing good at keeping Jordan neutral in this conflict.

Keziah: It’s just that for me seeing him in a bathing suit was just weird.

Mono: Well I like him as a leader I guess. I hope he stays on our American leaders good side and so far he has done that. I hope there is some peace in that area soon.

Keziah: The war was difficult for everybody. Nasty how cowardly Saddam was in the end, hiding in a hole and all. Hopefully there will be peace soon. There's just some people who try to mess it up for the people that want peace.

Mono: There’s a new talk site out on HRH King Abdullah. I think he’s a interesting subject to talk about. The photo is from BBC News.