And the other lovely ladies in my life, the Momma Bird and big sister Chloe.

Paige giving us that great smile ... what a beautiful kid if I do say so myself.

Here she is, baby Paige giving us a look at her tonsils. She's a very happy, well fed baby.

Whoa, close up!

One month old Paige with Chloe

Chloe and Paige

Thought for today ...

"Do all you can with what you have in the time you have in the place you are." - Nkosi Johnson (1989-2001)

Amazing that an 11 year old said this ...

Nicely put

This story from the CATO institute has some interesting quotes - regarding the "conservative" folks and their want for FCC to censor TV.

"The latest Nielsen television ratings are out and they reveal that in addition to being the most popular show among adults, ABC's smash-hit Desperate Housewives is also the most popular broadcast-network television show with kids aged 9-12."

"No doubt, the relentless censorship advocates at the Parents Television Council (PTC) are already firing up the engines at their automated complaint factory to bombard Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulators with letters. Recent Freedom of Information Act requests to the FCC have revealed that the PTC has been responsible for over 98 percent of all indecency complaints to the FCC over the past two years. PTC is quickly coming to have a "heckler's veto" over programming in America as many of the shows they complain about receive significant fines or are even driven off the air."

"While the PTC claims to be non-partisan, the watchdog group's public policy advocacy adopts a distinctly social conservative and moralistic tone ... PTC's motto is: "Because Our Children Are Watching," ... Why are your children watching? Why are they watching Desperate Housewives or any other show you find objectionable? I know my kids aren't watching."

"I've always been particularly troubled by the fact that so many conservatives, who rightly preach the gospel of personal and parental responsibility about most economic issues, seemingly give up on this notion when it comes to cultural issues"

Done. Last quote I put sums it all up. If you take the jump, there is some really interesting stats provided ...

Fast food - not so good for you

I just finished watching Super Size Me - a pseudo-documentary work by Morgan Spurlock. If you haven't heard of it, he basically eats nothing but McDonald's food for 30 days, and tracks his weight, blood work, and overall well being. While his methods may not be the mosy scientific, the outcome is plain to see, eating nothing but fast food is not so good for you. On the DVD there is an interview with Eric Schlosser author of Fast Food Nation - he makes a compelling argument against most fast food restaurants. I tend to agree with his arguments that because these places are driven by corporate greed, they do whatever it takes to addict people, and serve the food that will make the most profits.

Being that I have a 2 year & 10 months old, and a new baby on the way, the discussions in this movie regarding the addiction of children to fast food really hit home. I think that for any "brand" name you could claim that the corporation is attempting to create an addiction that will subliminally force you to choose their product above others.

In this addiction vein, Heidi and I have become incredibly sensitive to TV advertising, to the point that we try not to watch network TV, and I cringe when watching sports on TV with Chloe in the room when the ads come on (which by the way, is with increasing frequency if you are keeping track - another discussion).

My concern is how to make sure that our kids don't become tools of these corporate beasts. How do I teach my kids to make informed decisions when they are constantly being told that brand or company XYZ is the best. We're trying to start with limiting TV, but what else can we do. We very rarely eat fast food ... only really the occasional breakfast Egg McMuffin. Interestingly though, Chloe has already made the connection between the Egg McMuffin and the "fun play place" that McDonald's has ... scary. I teasingly call her the "brand name baby" because she already knows the following by their "icons": Target, Starbucks, Pei Wei, Baja Fresh, Chipotle, IKEA, Home Depot, Joe's Real BBQ, and Costco. I'm sure there are more, but if you look at that list, it's pretty much a list of the places that we frequent ... and she's already built that association with food and shopping at all those places. Are we on the road to ruin with our kids since we eat out too much and they know the names of all the places we shop? Hmm .... only time will tell.

Tis the season ..

This holiday season was the last as a 3 person family unit ... I'm excited, anxious, and nervous for to meet the new little Leff that is putting on it's last few layers of fat before coming out an meeting us. It was a crazy holiday, as usual, since we basically do 3 seperate Christmas "present openings". And it's non stop eating as you troop from one faimly to the other. It is great to spend time with people that you may only see once or twice a year.

This year I got a story from Heidi's cousin that touched me. Admittedly I'm a bit of a sap for these things, but I really think that this story tells the true meaning of Christmas and is an inspiration for us all. Thank you to Jackson, Kyle, and Lucas for sharing the magic of the season.

LOST

I've been watching the show LOST on TV this season. What a great show ... it's really pulled in Heidi and we can't wait each week to see what happens. We're both hoping that the show doesn't get too corny with monsters and such ... the anticipation/suspense is what keeps the show flowing. They have done a nice job of introducing all the characters and their histories to give perspective and show where they are coming from. If you haven't seen it, wait, I'm sure it will be on DVD before next Christmas.

Musings & stuff

It's been a while ... here goes. I've been busy working and trying my best to keep my housing projects on track. Some random thoughts ...

A new location of the uuber-furniture empire called IKEA opened here in AZ recently. We've found some cool stuff ... and shortly I'll have the contemporary office of the new millenium in the next few months.

I have discovered a new "toy" at work and it's called VirtualPC - it's a way for you to install a virtual computer inside your existing computer. I have since installed 3 seperate operating systems on my laptop (including Linux) and I have installed Linux at home too ... might be shifting off the M$ platform soon ... ooooooh ... aaaaaaaahh.

Parting shot ... if you haven't tried it already ... download the internet browser called FireFox ... it's free, and it's kicks IE's arse up and down. Oh ... and it's got a whole host of features included that IE does not ... and oh ... did I mention it's free ... and oh ... one more thing ... you know all those "security holes" that IE has ... Firefox is not succeptible ... not to say it will never have security issues, but it's not swiss-cheese IE. Naner, naner.

Pre-fact check

One day before the final debate at Arizona State University (go SunDevils!!) and this article is publishing the (dis)information that those that have been following the debates have grown accustomed to. It's definately pro-Kerry ... but more than that it's a preview of some of the hot buttons for the upcoming debates.

It would be nice if prior to the debates the "television media" (whatever that moniker amounts to these days) would do some sort of presentation of the FACTS, then watch as BOTH candidates spin their webs around them.

It would leave me the voter to decide which rat is the least harmful.

Makes me sick ...

Here is a story from the NY Times (registration req'd) that outlines how the Bush folks are putting money into the Catholic church to buy votes. Of course the article doesn't really say that, but you can read between the lines and see that they have been trying to influence the opinion of devout Catholics by using abortion, gay marriage, and embryonic research. All well and good if you believe, as the Catholic church does, that those things are wrong and constitute sins.

However, the bit in the story, that was ever so briefly mentioned, was that Mr. Bush is no saint. Are waging war and supporting the death penalty not sins? Apparantly not when a few $$ are thrown around.

I sincerely hope that come November we as Americans are smart enough to make the right decision.

More truth ...

It seems the mainstream media and rhetoric slinging politicians have another website to contend with. FACTCHECK.ORG is the latest one that I have been turned on to ... they went point by point through the VP debate and opened up each claim to well deserved criticism. I have added it to my list of places to read, especially in this electoral season.

Information galore!

Another great site that will cut through the maze of cr*p that BOTH candidates for president have been slathering foth. Spinsanity.org is the site and they collect all of the "spin" that the political parties are constantly bombarding us all with and they attempt to debunk it. Read and be entertained, then understand how you are being played by the candidates. Ouch.

The truth doesn't lie ...

Here is a web site / blog that has kept score of the Bush Administration's track record on many things. It's totally subjective, however, they also include the link to the story that discusses the issue, which then allows you to make up your own mind. (What a novel concept!)

If you look at the things that GW said he was going to accomplish versus what he has accomplished, you will see he veered well away from his stated goals 4 years ago. Oh yes, there was 9/11, and it did change everything. Or did it? What have you done differently in your life since 9/11 except for become more afraid and paranoid that the "enemy is out there"? Seriously. 9/11 was a wake up call. Now we are awake. It was not, however, a blank check to wage war against any regime that we think might be the slightest bit questionable.

This administration's time is up.

The Daily Show ...

Great article about the Daily Show ... which is my only source of TV news. The rest of the time I read about things on the internet, or get it over the FREE airwaves. Try it ... you'll be amazed at how much thinking for yourself is liberating.

If you can't tell, I'm a bit tired of being force fed what the networks TV folks want to feed me.

About politics and truth ...

Democrat v. Republican

Liberal v. Conserative

Good v. Evil

These are convenient labels that apply to the political process so that we can align ourselves to one camp or another. When will the madness stop? How do we really make a difference? How do we challenge these people in Washington DC to climb down from their pedestals and see what is really going on in the USA?

I have been listening to the campaigns of both Kerry and Bush for the 2004 election. Admittedly I haven't been listening that closely, but I have heard and seen some things that are disturbing and others that just don't make sense.

Kerry's Military Service:
If John Kerry's service was truly what these Swift Boat talkng heads claim it was, would they not be condemning themselves? One of the main detractors of Kerry's service earned a Bronze star based on the same event that they are claiming was false. His own account of the events (captured at the time during Vietnam) contradict what heh is now perpetuating.

Iraq War:
Rent the documentary called "Uncovered: The War On Iraq". It's a very good look into the PR machine that the Bush Administration is. The DVD has a collection of experts from many different areas (CIA, foreign ministers, weapons inspectors) and the information that they provide via interview is damning. I am a firm believer that our current president took our country to war based on lies and deciet. The facts speak for themselves. Iraq was never a threat to the USA. Iraq did not harbor terrorists. Black and white.

I have been looking for positive from the Bush administration. All I am faced with day in and day out is fear. I'm supposed to be afraid that a terrorist is going to harm me and as such I have to keep the people that are keeping me safe in office. They are somehow protecting me by wasting my tax dollars on a farse called the "Department of Homeland Defense". What has this department done other then raise and lower the terror threat level whimsically? I'm tired of the fear-mongering. I'm tired of the talking heads and talking points. Please ... please ... please ... stop!

I will do what I can to bring an end to the Bush monarchy ... er ... administration ... what about you?

Neuromancer - quick review

Neuromancer - William Gibson's groundbreaking cyberpunk novel was many
years ahead of it's time. Published in 1984 he discusses ideas that
were most recently displayed in the blockbuster film the Matrix.

I found the book an interesting read some 20 years later. Gibson
discussed ideas that can still be considered many years away if they
will ever happen. For an overview of the story, there is a study
guide on the web that does a fair job of summarizing the novel.

Without going too far into a literary criticism, I found the book hard
to follow at points. Gibson launches into the "future" terminology
without giving the reader any background information. Nothing to
refer to. Other than that ... excellent book ... highly recommended.