Tonight's word is Leadership.
August 30, 2004
rudy giuliani
Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, a few minutes ago at the Republican National Convention:
In choosing a President, we really don’t choose a Republican or Democrat, a conservative or liberal. We choose a leader. And in times of danger, as we are now in, Americans should put leadership at the core of their decision. There are many qualities that make a great leader but having strong beliefs, being able to stick with them through popular and unpopular times, is the most important characteristic of a great leader.
john mccain
Senator John McCain (AZ), a few minutes ago at the Republican National Convention:
My friends, we are again met on the field of political competition with our fellow countrymen. It is more than appropriate, it is necessary that even in times of crisis we have these contests, and engage in spirited disagreement over the shape and course of our government. We have nothing to fear from each other. We are arguing over the means to better secure our freedom, and promote the general welfare. But it should remain an argument among friends who share an unshaken belief in our great cause, and in the goodness of each other. We are Americans first, Americans last, Americans always.
democracies
My mother forwarded this to me... I think it's worth sharing:
At about the time our original 13 states adopted their new constitution, in the year 1787, Alexander Tyler (a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinborough) had this to say about "The Fall of The Athenian Republic" some 2,000 years prior.
"A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, (which is) always followed by a dictatorship.
"The average age of the worlds greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence:
From Bondage to spiritual faith;
From spiritual faith to great courage;
From courage to liberty;
From liberty to abundance;
From abundance to complacency;
From complacency to apathy;
From apathy to dependence;
From dependence back into bondage."
Professor Joseph Olson of Hamline University School of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota, points out some interesting facts concerning the most recent Presidential election, in which Al Gore won the popular vote:
Square miles of land won by:
Gore= 580,000
Bush= 22,427,000
States won by:
Gore= 19
Bush= 29
Murder rate per 100,000 residents in counties won by:
Gore= 13.2
Bush= 2.1
Professor Olson adds: "In aggregate, the map of the territory Bush won was mostly the land owned by the tax-paying citizens of this great country. Gore's territory mostly encompassed those citizens living in government-owned tenements and living off government welfare..."
Olson believes the U.S. is now somewhere between the "complacency" and "apathy" phases of Professor Tyler's definition of democracy; with some 40 percent of the nation's population already having reached the "governmental dependency" phase.
another democrat for bush
Read about Zell Miller, a democrat who gives the keynote address at the republican national convention. Miller says that "There's no room in the Democratic party for moderates and conservatives." Ouch.
August 29, 2004
tonight's fortune cookies
For supper this evening, we ate at a Chinese restaurant in South Bend. This was Nadine's fortune. It's rather sweet...
But what was even more amazing was how accurately my own fortune described myself. It's uncanny...
August 24, 2004
real heroes don't brag
Ralph Peters in today's New York Post:
"...real heroes don't call themselves heroes. Honorable soldiers or sailors don't brag. They let their deeds speak for themselves."
"...real heroes don't call themselves heroes. Honorable soldiers or sailors don't brag. They let their deeds speak for themselves."
August 23, 2004
democrat ed koch supports bush
Yahoo! News - Koch: I Support Bush, His Stance on Iraq
"Calling himself a "liberal with sanity," former mayor Ed Koch — a lifelong Democrat — said he decided to support President Bush in the 2004 election because of Bush's stance on Iraq"
"Calling himself a "liberal with sanity," former mayor Ed Koch — a lifelong Democrat — said he decided to support President Bush in the 2004 election because of Bush's stance on Iraq"
August 22, 2004
August 20, 2004
August 19, 2004
August 17, 2004
south africa wins gold!
go South Africa! 
from the Mail & Guardian Online:
from the Mail & Guardian Online:
South Africa's golden boys led Olympic news in Greece and the United States after Roland Schoeman, Lyndon Ferns, Darian Townsend and Ryk Neethling broke the world 4x100m relay record for gold in the biggest upset of the Athens Olympics so far.
"South Africa's relay men cause upset of the Olympic Games," crowed the Olympic early-morning update on national Greek TV station Alpha. The station showed the entire relay, then focused on the jubilation of the foursome at the edge of the pool where Ferns, who turned 21 last month, stood on the block flexing his muscles and waving the South African flag.
August 14, 2004
sunset/storm panorama
From the roof of the Howard Performing Arts Center at sunset after a rainstorm. Click the picture to see it bigger. If you have a high-speed internet connection and Apple Quicktime, click HERE to open an interactive 360° pan&zoom view (15Mb).
August 11, 2004
renita sings
Check out my sister, Renita, singing a section of "The Prayer"
She thinks her voice is a little rusty cause she hasn't been singing much, but I think it's pretty good. You wouldn't want to hear me singing something by myself, that's for sure. (This is why I only sing in groups)
She thinks her voice is a little rusty cause she hasn't been singing much, but I think it's pretty good. You wouldn't want to hear me singing something by myself, that's for sure. (This is why I only sing in groups)
August 10, 2004
all by myself
...All by myself
Don't wanna be
All by myself
Anymore...
Yep, my baby left me again. This week she has to work at the Faith on Fire Pathfinder Camporee in OshKosh, WI
...Oh we are the Pathfinders strong...
Can't believe I remember that dorky song. Pathfinders was so pathetic, at least that's how I remember it. Somewhere I've still got that stupid yellow bib with the plastic choker thingy and the black clip-on tie and the ugly green sash with like 4 or 5 patches on it; trees, knots, marching... forget what else. Seems to me I do remember a couple fun camporees and "girlfriends." 'Course that was back when holding hands was a big deal...
August 09, 2004
August 06, 2004
political rant
I think a person shouldn't necessarily feel like they have to choose to be a democrat or a republican. There are so many things about this two-party "system" we've got that alienate a lot of people who would rather be in the middle somewhere.
I think Bush is a pretty cool guy. I like the fact that he has an MBA and has management experience and good decision-making skills. He's got most of the qualities that make a good leader, in my opinion. And he doesn't come from a background quite so steeped in Washington politics, like a lot of the other Senators, etc. who run for president. It's a shame that his public communication skills aren't the type that engender respect like some orators do. But at the same time, there's something about the way he speaks that doesn't sound he's "talking down" to you. He respects the position of President of the United States and takes his job as Commander-In-Chief very seriously.
Other republicans that I admire as leaders or whose beliefs I tend to agree with are people like John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. I like the opinions and viewpoints of people like Dennis Miller and Bill O'Reilly.
But there are many ideas in the more conservative, right-wing spectrum that I just don't agree with, and I think it's a shame that everyone who chooses to call themselves republicans get bundled in with that bunch.
For me, I think it's more about core values. It's amazing to me, and very telling, I think, that party lines tend to break along religious lines as well. By far the majority of people who say they attend church regularly also typically vote republican, and democrats refuse any mention of religion, many times espousing ideas and values that go against most religious values I can think of. There are always the exceptions, of course, but I just ask myself which candidate for president has the record showing most of the values I would want in the leader of the country.
For me, the answer to that most basic of questions is very clear, whether I choose to call myself a republican, democrat, or anything in between.
I think Bush is a pretty cool guy. I like the fact that he has an MBA and has management experience and good decision-making skills. He's got most of the qualities that make a good leader, in my opinion. And he doesn't come from a background quite so steeped in Washington politics, like a lot of the other Senators, etc. who run for president. It's a shame that his public communication skills aren't the type that engender respect like some orators do. But at the same time, there's something about the way he speaks that doesn't sound he's "talking down" to you. He respects the position of President of the United States and takes his job as Commander-In-Chief very seriously.
Other republicans that I admire as leaders or whose beliefs I tend to agree with are people like John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. I like the opinions and viewpoints of people like Dennis Miller and Bill O'Reilly.
But there are many ideas in the more conservative, right-wing spectrum that I just don't agree with, and I think it's a shame that everyone who chooses to call themselves republicans get bundled in with that bunch.
For me, I think it's more about core values. It's amazing to me, and very telling, I think, that party lines tend to break along religious lines as well. By far the majority of people who say they attend church regularly also typically vote republican, and democrats refuse any mention of religion, many times espousing ideas and values that go against most religious values I can think of. There are always the exceptions, of course, but I just ask myself which candidate for president has the record showing most of the values I would want in the leader of the country.
For me, the answer to that most basic of questions is very clear, whether I choose to call myself a republican, democrat, or anything in between.
August 05, 2004
kittens
John Kerry is out jogging one morning and notices a little girl on the corner with a box. Curious, he runs over to her and says, "What's in the box?" The girl says, "Kittens, they're brand new kittens." Kerry laughs and says, "What kind of kittens are they?" "Democrats," the girl replies. "Oh that's cute," he says and goes on his way.
A few days later, John Kerry comes by with his buddy Ted Kennedy and he spies the same little girl with her box. He says, "You gotta check this out. Look in the box, Teddy, isn't that cute? Look at those little kittens. Hey, tell my friend Teddy what kind of kittens they are."
The little girl replies, "They're Republicans." "Whoa!" John Kerry says, "I came by here the other day and you said they were Democrats. What's up?"
"Well," the girl explains, "their eyes are open now."
A few days later, John Kerry comes by with his buddy Ted Kennedy and he spies the same little girl with her box. He says, "You gotta check this out. Look in the box, Teddy, isn't that cute? Look at those little kittens. Hey, tell my friend Teddy what kind of kittens they are."
The little girl replies, "They're Republicans." "Whoa!" John Kerry says, "I came by here the other day and you said they were Democrats. What's up?"
"Well," the girl explains, "their eyes are open now."
msn web messenger
Hey, cool... You can run MSN Messenger from a web page now!
Check it out: webmessenger.msn.com
Check it out: webmessenger.msn.com
August 04, 2004
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