The proposed mosque and Islamic center in downtown Manhattan- near ground zero- has sparked controversy throughout America.  I think this is ridiculous.

First of all, aren't we allowed to practice religious freedom in this country?  Or we only allowed to practice it when others decide it is all right? 

Secondly, since when do we blame an entire people for the actions of a few? 

Even if you find this "insensitive" in some way- get over it.  I bet you don't want your kid's teachers using red pens, either- after all, knowing they had the wrong answer might hurt your kid's feelings.

I'm a Catholic.  For many years during the early times in our country, there were outrageous rules on where Catholics could build churches and they were discriminated against.  Hell, I guess with the sexual abuse scandals that rocked the Church in recent years, I shouldn't be allowed to be Catholic.  After all, it's so insensitive to anyone who suffered. 

Oh, hell, I just remembered.  The AP reported that the rate of sexual abuse is actually HIGHER in protestant churches.  I guess no one can be protestant either. 

And you can't be white  (remember slavery?).  Or black (remember the black panther members who were threatening voters?).  Or Japanese or German (WWII).  Or Chinese (human rights abuses occurring today).   

If we want to give proper honor to those who died on 9/11, we should do it by standing by the American values and religious freedom that they were killed for. 
Not by renouncing those beliefs.  By renouncing the rights of others to practice their religion, we're siding with the radical jihadists.  We're saying that we have the right to decide what religion(s) should be allowed and where. 

Muslim, Catholic, Jewish, Protestant, black, white, and- my personal favorite- Vulcans, should be allowed to live in America and share the same rights.  

I've been holding out on buying a Nook for awhile.  For a few reasons...I'm fond of books.  I already own over 500....I'm not looking forward to re-buying them for my Nook. 

I'm a writer.  While I haven't gotten a book published, I know a lot of writer's are complaining that e-books and such are ruining the industry.  Having bought a couple of e-books now, though, they're priced very close to print books.  I can't see people switching over to e-books instead of print hurting the industry in the long term.  In fact, I think the ability to buy any book you want as long as you have an internet connection would actually INCREASE purchases. 

Anyway....any of you own a Nook (or similar device)?

Do you like it? 

I have to tell you, blog browsing occasionally depresses me. 

I'm not putting the link here- because I refuse to send traffic to this site- but I ran across a blog that used the following argument:
I hate Glenn Beck.
Here are a bunch of details about Nazis.
Conclusion: Isn't it funny that Glenn Beck is hiding how much he is like the Nazis. 

Huh?  They didn't list a single thing that Glenn Beck had ever said that agreed with the Nazi ideology that they were describing.  What type of argument is that?  I left a comment on their blog pointing out the lack of coherent argument (and their misspellings...and the fact they can't write).  I'm kind a bitch sometimes.  Anyway, I went back to visit today to see if they left a response.  They had disabled all commenting on their site...hey, at least I had an effect.  (ha-ha)

I, obviously, don't agree with every blog I run across.  But if they've done their research- and can actually write- I'm always willing to stop, read, and consider their views. 
But when I run across rabid- whether right, left, purple, Vulcan- blogs with no intelligence, I seriously worry about the future of the U.S. 

Anyway, on a lighter note, another blogger published one of the funniest jokes I've read in a long time.  Out of respect for the blogger, here is the link to the joke on their blog: "A Disgruntled Republican: a little comic relief"
Seriously, go check it out. 

Note: Due to a reader comment the other day, I need to point out that a cartoon does prove one side of an argument correct.  It is not a source of scientific data.  Cartoon = funny does not mean cartoon= scientifically correct.  Can I make that any clearer?     

I was browsing blogs the other day, and found an article on the Sparkpeople blog (a health and fitness website).  It announced that a current health threat is people using re-usable bags, but not cleaning them.  Apparently, there are dangerous levels of e-coli on many bags, not to mention other germs. 

Uh, this is not a health threat.  This is a common sense threat.  If people are stupid enough to:
a) put meat in cloth bags without first having them double-wrap it in plastic    -and-      b) not wash their bags     -and-      c) manage to transfer the stuff on the bag to the food their eat (or put their hands in their mouths),
I call that Darwinism at work. 


I am so tired of companies touting their green credentials.   I'm dubious that 1) not only is global warming occurring, but that 2) we did it, and that 3) we can change it, and that 4) methods such as re-usable bags and e-mailed credit card statements are an effective method.  I might buy into one (or even two) of them, but not all four. 
Almost every company I deal with on a regular basis  now has an entire department dedicated to show how green they are.  Not to mention commercials. 

I feel like starting an anti-green movement.  A group of people who refuse to do business with companies that are bragging about how green they are.  A group of people who buy REGULAR toilet paper and paper towels without feeling guilty.  Hell, let's not glare at people when they use plastic bags at the grocery store. 
Or, even better yet, let's start making people more aware that the green activist flying a private jet around is doing more damage than using the occasional plastic bag. 

As of today, I refuse to listen to another word about any health threats or green companies.  I'm adopting common sense and going to drive five extra miles every day. 
(That way, when everyone NOT making carbon becomes a problem, I'm already a part of the solution).