I’m 18 but my parents have decided that they’re still going to buy me presents. This is what I got:

A DP 300 digital photo frame.I’ve really wanted one of these for ages but up until now they’ve been too expensive. Then, on the run up to Christmas I saw this one really cheap at Play.com (I love that site) and I thought “I have to put this on my list”. Lo and behold, I got it! I (more or less) instantly filled it with lots of lovely pictures of me and my friends, and I absolutely love it – just plug it in and away it goes, displaying all the nice pictures. I fired it up for five minutes one night, which was a mistake, as I found that I miss them all terribly. I really am too close to my friends, I think I have a problem. Well, another problem to the ever-growing list, at least.

Another thing I got was Chuck Season 1 and Season 2 on DVD. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s about this nerdy guy who gets a load of government secrets into his brain with no way of getting them out, so has to be protected by two secret agent ‘handlers’, Casey (Adam Baldwin) and Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski). More interesting to me (kinda why I like the show) is Chuck’s relationship with Sarah. It’s slowly revealed that they both like each other, but Sarah can’t really admit it because she has to protect Chuck and is a spy so naturally does not want Chuck to know anything about her, even though she does really like him. Again, I like it because it’s the whole nerd-might-get-the-girl situation that I look up to – if he can get the girl, then perhaps I can do. Then again, he’s a nerd, I’m just a geek, so not really that good a comparison (Nerd = clever and likes sci-fi, fantasy, e.t.c. Geek = second bit without the first bit i.e cleverness, see here). But anyway – yeah, I want to be the geek who gets the girl.
(I reckon in my life though that I know the ending. It certainly won’t be me getting the girl.)

I also got Star Trek on Blu-ray, The Hangover on DVD and Guitar Hero: Greatest Hits. Oh yeah, and lots of chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate. But I’ve already eaten most of it. Pretty good haul, all in all. Now to spend money to buy what I didn’t get, that I wanted, in the post-Christmas sales. Yay! I’m going to buy Wipeout HD: Fury and Motorstorm: Arctic Edge I think. Well, Wipeout at least.

Stay tuned for more (hopefully) interesting posts from me in the coming days, weeks, and months. Have a good new year, although I’m sure I’ll post something before then. Got to do my uni essay this week as well, blast it. Oh well, life goes on…

After months of debate, a major health care overhaul  passed the Senate on a 60-39 vote this morning. Pennsylvania Democrat Bob Casey says it’s “a historic step,” claiming the measure will expand coverage to 31 million more Americans, as well as lop 132 billion dollars off the federal deficit over the next decade.

Here’s more of Casey’s statement:

“This bill also makes improvements for children’s health care and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).  I have been a strong advocate for protecting and improving CHIP in this bill.  We prevented the dismantling of the program and were able to secure a two-year funding extension in addition to other improvements such as strengthening enrollment and outreach mechanisms and immediately implementing provisions to prevent denial of care because of preexisting conditions.

“More power is given to consumers and we end many of the worst practices by insurance companies.  Discrimination because of pre-existing conditions would be prohibited.  Insurance companies wouldn’t be able to drop coverage if you become sick.  Arbitrary limits on coverage would be eliminated.”

PA Republicans disagree. State chairman Rob Gleason calls it “an awful piece of legislation that will raise taxes, kill jobs and drive a government-sized wedge between patients and their doctors.” He says it doesn’t address the country’s health care needs, and that the party looks forward to waiving the bill around during this year’s Senate campaign. “Pennsylvanians will not forget that Senator Specter gave the Democrats their 60th vote and assured the passage of this awful legislation.”

Every day, on average
18 American veterans**
commit suicide

….

The military rushes these young men and women

out of service through the WTB’s

to where the numbers no longer count against the

commander’s, leader’s or medical professionals

**Stats as of 20 Dec 09, Dept of VA

Ava, Mia, Sienna, Isla, Stella, Eva, Bella, Isabelle, Peyton, Keira, Alexis, Millie, Aaliyah, Nevaeh, Gemma, Mya, Aria, Leah, Brooklyn, Lucia, Mackenzie, Poppy, Harmony, Manaia, Scarlett, Abby, Maya, Lilly, Riley, Hazel, Savannah, Natalie, Ayla.

1999

Paris, Brittany, Megan, Rachel, Nikita, Claudia, Natasha, Brianna, Ashleigh, Monique, Michaela, Shannon, Cheyenne, Stephanie, Melissa, Jamie, Casey, Rebekah, Jessie, Michelle, Morgan, Tegan, Tiana, Renee, Julia, Kelsey, Alicia, Jennifer, Katelyn, Crystal, Tamara, Tara.

Where have all

the good people gone?

Where have they all been taken?

Why can’t man

accept that he has a better?

O world, when didst thou fall

into despair?

O world, with your atheists,

with your deists,

with your Buddhists,

Hindu,

Scientologists,

and your Islamics,

I pray for you.

I pray you see.

You will never be able to

explain the Bible away.

The Bible was here.

The Bible is here.

The Bible will be here.

The Bible will stand

Forever.

Atheists.

Always wanting evidence.

Always trying to pile up evidence

to break down

the faith of some of the best people you will ever meet.

All of your theories

about evolution and the big bang

are only theories.

And you accept them

like a religion.

Atheists need faith

to believe these things

just as Christians have faith

in God.

While you have “evidence” to prove these things happened,

“Blessed are they

who do not see

and yet have faith.”

Atheist snobs,

are there no such things as morals?

Is there right or wrong?

Who established that for you?

Did science ever teach you love?

How can you prove

God doesn’t exist?

Logic?

What is logic?

I’ll tell you what logic is.

It’s the atheist word for

“I don’t believe in God

Therefore I own a brain

And have the ability to reason.”

That doesn’t sound very logical, does it?

So don’t use that on me.

Happy birthday, Anoop! This is a birthday gift from us, your fans. Your fans all over the world submitted videos and photo messages, and Diana (@diananoop on Twitter) put them all together into this video montage with a help from Anne Marie (@amc1988) and Brooklyn (@brooklynoop). You will also see that a few of your American Idol friends (Kris Allen, Michael Sarver, Alexis Grace, David Hernandez, Gina Glocksen) and your little clay creature pal wanted to wish you a happy birthday as well.

We are a creative, funny, and good looking bunch, aren’t we? ;-p

We hope you have a great birthday with people you love. This is going to be a great year!

Love,
Your fans all over the globe

A few scenes from the video montage include:

ETA: There have been quite a few birthday wishes for Anoop on Twitter. Here are a few examples:

David Cook is also celebrating his birthday today He asked his fans to donate to the National Brain Tumor Community instead of any birthday gift.

This post could alternately be titled as “Bad Things Happen When Children Are Too Quiet”

What do you get when you combine puffy paint and small children?

A mess.

Last Saturday Casey, the kids and I went to my youngest sister’s basketball game.

(Side note: Sydney is in 7th grade and is playing on the junior varsity AND varsity teams! How exciting is that? She even scored a three pointer during the varsity game! Back to the story at hand.)

Our kidlets sat for a while (like 6 minutes) and then Casey and I alternated in taking them to the concession stand, restroom, hallway, etc. Basically anywhere that was unlocked and not off-limits within the school.

Their favorite spot was the lobby, where the students’ lockers are housed. They ran around and around the first set, chasing each other and laughing. Casey and I stood together and watched them, having one of those moments where you’re just totally in love with your kids and their utter adorableness.

We stood there visiting as the kids continued their laps, extending themselves from the first to the second locker banks and finally on to the third. It was pretty much a date, right there in the school lobby. Take them when you can get them, I guess.

The date came to an end when Peter came up to us and said he got dirty. Dirty? How would he get dirty in here?

That’s when I noticed that Charlotte’s boot had something blue on it.

Blue? There is nothing blue in this area. What is that?

Casey and I got closer to the kids to respectively examine their blue dirt.

Oh crap.

Paint.

Where did they find paint?

I walked behind the third bank of lockers and stopped short.

Puffy painted shirts were drying on the floor. Cheerleaders’ puffy painted shirts. Cheerleaders’ puffy painted shirts with little footprints on them. And carpet. Carpet with red and blue paint.

Oh. My. Goodness.

The kids had run around the corner, coming from opposite directions, and ran right into the shirts. Definitely an accident on their part, but why do accidents never involve buckets of soapy water?

Casey took the kids to the bathroom to start cleaning up their shoes while I paced and tried to figure out what to do to clean up the mess. 

I found a random roll of paper towels and headed to the bathroom to get some water so I could start cleaning up the carpet.

I poked my head into the men’s room to see how the cleaning was progressing. The shoes were coming clean, but Peter had another accident…this time in his pants.

Excellent.

We decided that Casey would take Peter home to change his pants, and would bring back carpet cleaner and a scrub brush.

In the meantime I took Charlotte back into the gym to sit with my parents and siblings while I started cleaning the carpet. They asked what was going on and I told them the story. They thought it was funny.

Yep. Funny. That’s exactly what I was thinking as I worried about getting beat up by high school cheerleaders.

After scrubbing out what I could, I joined my family in the gym and wrote notes to the three cheerleaders who had been impacted by the incident.

I wrote out three $10 checks (accidents are also rarely inexpensive - bummer) and stuck them in the envelopes, then waited for Casey to return with the supplies.

He soon arrived and I got to work. I was glad to have done the “pre-treating” because the paint came out really well with the Resolve cleaner and a bit of scrubbing.

I placed each card by an affected shirt and headed back into the gym for the rest of the game.

After the game, we hung out for a few minutes congratulating our basketball star and letting the kids run in the gym.

As we left the building my phone rang. I didn’t know the number and my heart dropped into my stomach as I thought again about angry cheerleaders.

I answered hesitantly.

It was one of the cheerleaders.

She said she got my note.

She said she and the two other girls tore up the checks.

She said that was way too much money and it was an accident and I didn’t have to worry about it.

I almost started to cry.

Cheerleaders at private Christian schools are awesome!

I told her she was a sweetie and apologized again.

My heart returned to its normal position and we headed off for our next adventure.

Even though we’d already had enough adventure for a few days.

Ben Nelson Got Free (e.g. federally-funded) Medicaid for Life for Nebraska. Mary Landrieu got $300 million in taxpayer-funded favors for Louisiana. Socialist Bernie Sanders got $10 billion for soviet-style “Community Health Centers” and $600 million in Medicaid for Vermont. John Kerry (who served in Vietnam) got $500 million for Massachusetts. Joe Lieberman cut a deal as well. Chris Dodd got $100 million for Conecticut. Senators Charles Schumer of New York, Bill Nelson of Florida and Ron Wyden of Oregon secured special provisions shielding seniors in their states from Medicare Advantage cuts. Senator Bob Casey says he wants ‘very comparable’ protections for his state. Sen. Reid had carved out his own Medicaid exemption for Nevada. What did Kay Hagan Get in exchange for her promised “Yes” vote on Socialized Medicine?

Nothing.

Apparently Kay Hagan intends to freely and willingly adopt British-style socialized medicine, panels of bureaucrats deciding what medical procedures we are allowed to have, tax increases on businesses and individuals, jail time for refuseniks, taxpayer-funded abortions if the States allow, Medicare cuts for seniors, wage controls for doctors, health care rationing for everyone, and massive deficit spending – Not because she got anything in return for North Carolina, but because she actually likes all those things.

What ever happened to representative government? Almost 60% of Americans hate this health care bill, and only about 30% like it. But apparently Kay Hagan knows better than her constituents what is good for them. From Rassmussen Reports:

Fifty-six percent (56%) of voters are now against the health care plan working its way through Congress, while just 40% support it. Perhaps more significantly, 46% now Strongly Oppose the plan, compared to 19% who Strongly Favor it.

Fifty-seven percent (57%) say that it would be better to pass no health care reform bill this year instead of passing the plan currently being considered by Congress.

One reason for the opposition is that Americans suspect the increased financial regulation and the health care plan will both grow the size and cost of the federal government. Sixty-six percent (66%) of voters prefer a smaller government with fewer services and lower taxes over a more active government with more services and higher taxes.

Despite the longstanding opposition to bigger government and higher taxes, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others have suggested a new national sales tax as a way to pay for government programs.

The Reid/Pelosi health care bill(s) will expand the Medicaid rolls in North Carolina by an estimated 37%, and we NC taxpayers will have to pony up for all that. In this jobless depression we are suffering here in NC, how are we going to pay for it? I wrote and asked her that very question weeks ago, but as we have seen, her highness never responds to us mere citizens (e.g. peons).

You should ask her who’s going to pay for the Medicaid expansion too.

See also: Sell Out! Nebraska’s Sen. Ben Nelson (D) Gets His Price for Health Care Vote at Flopping Aces.

See also: Dem’s Nationalized Health Care Plan Still Requires a Monthly Abortion Fee at Gateway Pundit.

See also: Cornhusker Kickback: Dems Give Nebraska Special “Lifetime” Medicaid Break For Nelson’s Vote (Video) at Gateway Pundit.

See also: Was Your Democrat Senator Too Stupid To Get a Bribe? at JammieWearingFool (Caution: One-finger-salute alert)

…and from the Heritage Foundation: While You Sleep: 1:00 AM Monday Vote Set on Obamacare. The plan:

* Monday, 1:00 AM – Vote to invoke cloture (i.e. end debate) on the manager’s amendment. 60 votes are necessary.
* Tuesday, 7:00 AM – Vote to approve the manager’s amendment. A majority vote is necessary.
* Tuesday, 8:00 AM – Vote to invoke cloture on the original Reid substitute amendment (the 2,000-page bill). 60 votes are necessary.
* Wednesday, 2:00 PM – Vote to approve the Reid substitute amendment. A majority vote is necessary.
* Wednesday, 3:00 PM – Vote to invoke cloture on the underlying bill. 60 votes are necessary.
* Thursday, 9:00 PM – Vote to approve the underlying bill (i.e. the Senate’s version of Obamacare). A majority vote is necessary.

Update 1 – From Big Government: Sold: Sen. Nelson’s Bribe:

We’ll be blunt. The ‘health care reform’ legislation under consideration in the Senate is the most corrupt piece of legislation in our nation’s history. Yes, we understand that is a strong statement and there have been other abominations throughout our nation’s life. But never before did corrupt legislation threaten to radically and forever change the live’s of every American.

…the federal government will forever cover the costs of Medicaid expansion in Nebraska. Taxpayers in every other state will forever be responsible for the expanded Medicaid program in Nebraska.

Outrageous doesn’t do justice to describe this situation. Sen. Nelson also secured an exemption from a new insurance tax for non-profit companies in his state. Mutual of Omaha and Nebraska’s Blue Cross/Blue Shield won’t have to pay a tax other companies will be required to pay.

I remember having to read – as a high-school student – JFK’s Profiles in Courage, a collection of stories describing acts of bravery and integrity by eight U.S. Senators. Such a book couldn’t be written today, due to lack of subject material.

Update 2 from The Foundry: The Reid Amendment: Sweetheart Deals and Interstate Warfare

Christmas is coming early for a few lucky states including Hawaii, Massachusetts, Nebraska and Vermont. But their good fortune will come at the expense of other states. Overall, the government health care plan is still alive and well in Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-NV) manager’s amendment released this morning, hiding in the form of expanding Medicaid eligibility and inserting State Children’s Health Insurance Plan (SCHIP) rules into the Exchange.

First, the winning states. Nebraska and Hawaii are easily identifiable because the Reid amendment specifies their sweetheart deals by name. While all the other states will lose the extra federal financing for new Medicaid eligibles after 2017, full federal financing will continue for Nebraska. Hawaii gets funding for Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments that it gave up years ago to expand Medicaid eligibility. Ironically, $18.5 billion in cuts to the DSH program in all the other states help finance the rest of the health care legislation.

Massachusetts and Vermont have already expanded Medicaid eligibility so they would not have benefited from new federal financing under the original legislation. The Reid amendment provides a fix for these states. The increased federal spending will not increase insurance coverage, it will only substitute federal funds for state funds.

Who are the losers? All the other states.

The U.S. Constitution was specifically written to prevent one State from gaining an advantage over any other. Article I, Section 8 specifies that “…all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;”. Article 9 specifies that “No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State.” and “No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another; nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.”

Clearly, the founders intended that all States would be treated equally under the law, but this bill does just the opposite, giving preference to one State over another.

Yet another reason any Senator should vote NO on this bill.

Update 3 – From Michelle Malkin: Sunday showdown: The Senate’s Demcare treachery

Time is of the essence. Here’s the rundown of the next 24 hours:

“Following the remarks of Senator Coburn, the Senate will adjourn until 1:00pm Sunday, December 20. Following the prayer and pledge, the time until 1:30pm will be equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees. Beginning at 1:30pm and until 11:30pm, there will be alternating blocks of time, with the Republicans controlling the first hour and the Majority controlling the next hour.

At 11:30pm (Sunday), the Senate will recess until 12:01am Monday, December 21. Following the prayer and pledge, the time until 1:00am will be equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees, with the Majority Leader controlling the final 10 minutes and the Republican Leader controlling the 10 minutes immediately prior.

At 1:00AM Monday, December 21, the Senate will proceed to a cloture vote on the Reid-Baucus-Dodd-Harkin amendment #2376.”

Update 4 – from The Patriot Room: Specific provisions that bought dem votes: Just disgusting ( A complete-to-date list of all the buyoffs)

Question: Who is is that sells their favors for money, and works at 1AM?

Answer: The U.S. Senate, of course.

Update 5 from RedState – The Extraordinary Measures Needed to Kill the Bill

The Plan: First, conservatives will object to the appointment of the conferees. This is not a motion, so it is non-debatable. An objection cannot be overcome unless the Senator making the objection caves. Let’s hope Senator McConnell agrees with this approach — but regardless, the objection shall be made.

This forces two votes in the U.S. House, one vote to amend the Senate bill on the House floor, since the Senate bill likely cannot pass the House unamended, and will force another vote on final passage of the amended House bill.

So, first, conservatives force two votes in the House, by preventing the appointment of the conferees, and therefore, preventing a House-Senate Conference.

Second, the left will focus on three separate issues to kill the bill in the House. The object of these issues is not to support these policies per say, but to add items to the House bill that will be so objectionable that when the bill goes back over to the Senate, that the Dems lose one or more of their 60 votes.

Update 6 from Politico: Mass., Vermont bigger winners than Nebraska

Perhaps the Republican criticism of Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) is misplaced: Nebraska is set to reap only a fraction of the $1.2 billion in special Medicaid deals for three states.

Vermont, which is represented by the once-wavering Sen. Bernie Sanders, would recieve $600 million over 10 years for its Medicaid costs, according to Congressional Budget Office figures requested by Senate Republicans.

Massachusetts would see $500 million, according to the CBO.

Nelson, who has been lambasted throughout the day, steered only (!) $100 million to his state to cost the full cost of the Medicaid expansion.

Update 7 from Michelle Malkin – Cash for Cloture: Demcare bribe list, Pt. II

Update 8 from Gateway Pundit: http://gatewaypundit.firstthings.com/2009/12/dems-strike-down-gop-effort-to-strip-bribes-from-health-care-bill/

Senator Mike Johanns asked consent today to strike the special carve-outs from the Senate health care bill. Democrats immediately objected, thwarting the effort.

“There should be no special deals, no carve-outs for anyone in this health care bill; not for states, not for insurance companies, not for individual senators.

“All of the special deals should be removed. If the bill cannot pass without carve-outs, what further evidence is needed that it is bad policy? No senator should vote for the final cloture vote until all of the carve-outs and special deals are removed.

“Nebraskans don’t want a special deal, they want good policy. They don’t believe the Federal Government is the answer to every problem and they don’t like backroom deals.”

Logan (ok, more like me!) participated in the yearly Dobermantalk.com Secret Santa Gift Exchange –
Yesterday, his monstrous package arrived!

After our studious photographer(aka the boyfriend) arrived home from work, the festivity began!

I think I was more excited to see what was in that box!

Logan checking out his new football, Casey looking for food!

Casey convinced he smells something ...

TADAA! Casey was onto something good!

All of the goodies were inside of this fabulous hydrant!

A trick for a treat - Logan successfully completing a 'leave it'

Va asteptam in Temple unde muzica electronica nu cunoaste limite , un after de mult dorit de pasionatii de muzica electronica buna , o petrecere care merita in care sa te distrezi alaturi de deejay-ii ce vor scoate maximum din incintele acustice.

Temple este un miniclub care se afla vis a vis de Hotelul Victoria , langa Colegiul Zinca Golescu.

Ia-ti prietenii cu tine si hai sa sustinem acest mic event  , unde vor veni pe viitor si deejay-ii favoriti.

P.S. : Aici nu vei auzi muzica de duzina , muzica comerciala , sarbe , manele si altele  . Oamenii care vor sa asculte asa ceva sunt invitati afara.

You all remember this shirt that was being sold on Ebay ?

Well, the good news is bidding has ended. The bad news is the shirt is still for sale. With the asking price of 5 grand, bidding made it to a whopping $2.25.

Thats still way to much if you ask me.

This is not an emo poem

because it doesn’t cut itself.

It doesn’t grow out it’s hair.

It doesn’t listen to grunge music.

It doesn’t dress in all black.

It doesn’t seek attention.

It has a reason to be sad.

This is not an emo poem.

You take nothing at face value

and you take everything at face value.

What is the method to your madness?

This is not an emo poem!

Some people don’t embrace the darkness they receive,

They are made to dwell in it.

Emos love to hurt.

Why?

This is not an emo poem.

Suicide is for cowards.

This is not an emo poem.

Poetry is about love

friendship

happiness

and light.

This is not an emo poem.

And some poetry is about hate

enemies,

sadness,

and darkness.

This one is.

But take it for what it is.

This is not an emo poem.

So don’t call it that.

You only drive it deeper into depression.

For a mere $5000.00 you too can own a shirt worn by attorney Jose Baez.

My question is, why would you want to?

The ad on ebay goes as follows:

Yes!

Yes!

Yes!

Although I hate to see someone heartbroken

I cannot help but rejoice

And scream my joy to the clouds!

Yes!

Yes!

Yes!

He vomits black and blue

But light bursts from my bosom.

And she is oblivious to this.

Yes!

Yes!

Yes!

He is betrayed

While I am even more madly in love!

Victory is sweet!

Yes!

Yes!

Yes!

But does she know

that she has two admirers?

He and I

Does she?

Does she?

Does she?

And is it permanent

was “getting her life on track”

just a lie to him?

I hope so.

I hope so.

I hope so.

Let this be my chance

To hopefully win her over

and make myself whole.

Please

Please

Please…

Wow.

You are all I want to be.

We are so much alike

and yet so much different

Neither of us “conform to the norm”

and yet we do it in our own way.

For you, in art.

For me, in music.

For you, in poetry.

For me, in prose.

(Though we often write both.)

We are both deep.

We are both great in words.

We are both strong in the faith.

We are both artists in our own way.

So how is it that you are so admired

And I, so despised?

Is it your generation?

Is it mine?

Is it your demeanor?

Is it mine?

All I want is to be like you.

I will be happy then.

I will be in want no more.

But how?

Tell me how!

I want success and fame

Not on a large scale

But on a small one like you

Where one is liked

But not obsessed over.

Friend, please show me the way

To my dreams.