Could it be . .

After eight years of "shoot-first, ask-questions-never," we have a president who is not afraid of a much harder, complex war? Politicians generally want a war where clear measurements of who is winning and losing are always available. Obama isn't afraid to go into a war where intelligence is the key to success and thus making it difficult for Al Quida to operate and have shelter.

The Honorary Oscar for Charlie Chaplin

I had occasion to spend a lot of time on Youtube and came across this clip of Charlie Chaplin receiving an honorary Oscar in April of 1972. Chaplin had been out of the U.S. for twenty years following his being ostracized for his political views among other things. His return to receive this Oscar was quite the triumph and even though the tape you can feel the emotions of Chaplin and the audience. What a moment.

Clock the standing ovation . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3Pl-qvA1X8

I want what I want

So it would seem for the woman bearing eight new children to add to her existing collection of six.

And, no, she can't afford it. She can hardly afford herself and the brood she has.

But her solution to all that was to have more children. Now she has 14.

She loves kids, is the excuse.

She wants what she wants no matter what. Her supposed love of children makes me gag.

Let's pretend for a moment that this mother can indeed financially support 14 children. How much quality time can this mother hope to spend with each child each day? Not much.

But this woman wanted the kids because she loves kids.

I do not have children but I have enough exposure to those who do to know how expensive clothing a child can be and what a typical child wants growing up. There are the toys, the media games, sneakers - all the things children want to have to be like the other kids and because they enjoy playing games on their DS Nintendo, Playstation, Wii - whatever it is. How do you do that with 14 children? Even a parent who is conservative about how many toys his or her child has would be hard pressed buying a mininum of stuff for their 14 kids.

The kids are going to want the basic things children want and not get it or get the item second or third hand if at all. This is a deliberate choice by the mother. She has consigned her children to getting only miminal one-on-one time with their parent and to receive second and third hand items and be denied the pricier toys outright.

What a selfish, selfish woman.

"The Past is Very Small"

The Past is Very Small
Originally uploaded by lauren.rabbit

I'm always amazed at what a photograph can dredge up from your soul. The artist is, of course, sharing a part of his or her soul in the art.

This piece by artist Lauren Simonutti, one of my favorite artists, is an example. She can be found on deviantart.com. If you've never visited deviantart.com, you are missing out on some fun and beautiful stuff.