Happy 25th Barbara & Jim

And they said it wouldn't last.

Pass the Jug To the Republicans Max. They Need to Get Courage Somewhere.

"Senator Max Baucus (D - Montana) had launched a spirited debate against Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker on Heath Care Reform. In the process, his tired, angry, articulate tirade was such that online Conservatives activists elected to make a charge that Max Baucus was drunk.
The fact is that Max Baucus was not drunk and correct in his attack against Republicans who did not break ranks to join Democrats in backing Health Care Reform. Rightpundits explains that Baucus' "core argument is that those who oppose healthcare reform are somehow lacking courage.."
Baucus is right for a very basic reason.
We've had the same Health Care System for 60 years and over 30 million Americans are without insurance. It, by nature of what it takes to mount a change to a culture takes courage to do so." Max Baucus not drunk on Senate Floor - war of words SF Chronicle.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/abraham/detail??blogid=95&entry_id=54204#ixzz0azfD2oDi

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/abraham/detail??blogid=95&entry_id=54204#ixzz0azdErxOp

See, also, Sister Jennifer explains it all for you.

It's Not Too Late to Give These Gifts.

from Sojourners Verse and Voice:

Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect.

--Oren Arnold, American editor and freelance writer

Thanks to Rev. Sandi

Donovan Makes Us Sing

Window Peeking is Bettter Than Peking Duck Says Justice Alito.

"In a public ruling made this week while peering into the home of 28-year-old resident Laura Daltry, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito stated that "in no way whatsoever" is the right to privacy explicitly upheld by the U.S. Constitution.
‘After careful consideration, it is this justice's finding that there is no specific mention of the right to privacy in any of the 27 amendments,’ Alito whispered, before furtively looking around and then jimmying Daltry's bathroom window ajar with a penknife. ‘A rigorous originalist interpretation of the pertinent statutory language has yielded the conclusion that privacy is not now, nor has it ever been, a federally protected liberty.’"  See, Right To Privacy Not Guaranteed By Constitution, Says Supreme Court Justice Peeking In Bathroom Window
Thanks to Tony.

A Christmas Prayer-No Wonder Jesus Loves the Little Children.

"Dear Santa, this year please send clothes for all those poor ladies in Daddy's computer,

Amen."

Thanks to James T.

Don't Cross Swords with Musashi, Don't Spit Into the Wind, and Don't Mess With Me.

Thanks to Aarika

Ellie & Friend

Give Her The Gift That Keeps On Giving This Christmas

Thanks to McGraham

We'll Miss You and Your Music Too Rano. I'm Glad You're at Peace.

Rano Paul Papini, 54, of Kansas City, Missouri, died peacefully after a valiant battle against pancreatic cancer on December 3, 2009 in Tubac, Arizona, in the company of his loving family.  He is survived by his wife, Rita, daughters Amber Papini and Gia Papini Lee, his mother, Ruth Papini, sister, Claire McJunkin, brother, Penn Papini, and a grandson, Arthur Rano Lee.  A celebration of his life will be held for family, friends and fans at 1pm on Thursday, December 10th, at The American Restaurant in Kansas City, where he played the piano with verve and flair for over 20 years.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Rano Papini Memorial fund in support of the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, http://www.pancreatic.org/memorial/rano (310) 473-5121.

Too Cute-Surprised Kitten.

I Miss You Sweet Mary. Here's To The Old Days.

Toy Trains

We Miss You Bennett and Your Beautiful Music.

Bennett Ryel was a marvelous young man who brought joy to all who knew him. He died after a courageous battle with cancer.
Thanks to Lainie and Ellen for the information and a special thanks to Bennett's friends Jennifer & CJ who stood by him and cared for him during the dark times.

Discipline Is the Key to Stop Kids from Growing up to Be Tree Huggin', Peace Lovin', Pot Smokin', Lazyass Hippies like Todd Snider.

Some fun from Todd Snider

A classic from Todd Snider---with a funny story on the front end. The song is called "Conservative Christian, Right Wing Republican, Straight White American Male"

Thanksgiving

"This nation is affluent and has more than it needs. The realization that what we have is a free gift can deepen our desire to share this gift with others who cry out for help. When we bless the fruits of the harvest, let us at least realize that blessed fruits need to be shared." Henri Nouwen
Thanks to Rev Sandi

Arlo Guthrie Alice's Restaurant
Uploaded by shawshawshaw. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

How Else Are They Gonna Learn? But How Biga Ole Girl Was She?

"The Texas granny who got Tasered was one thing. But a 10-year-old girl? It happened in Ozark, Ark. Heckuva story here from 40/29.
It appears the mom of an unruly child gave an Ozark cop the OK to Taser her kid and he did so after she kneed him in the groin. The police chief has backed up this use of force against a child.
Happily, there is at least one rational adult in Ozark, the girl's father.
"I would like to say Ozark police Tased this little girl right here. Ten years old and [they] shot electricity through her body, and I want to know how the heck in God's green earth can they get away with this," said the girl's father, Anthony Medlock.
Medlock said his daughter Kiara was at her mother's house when Ozark police Officer Dustin Bradshaw shocked her in the back with a Taser and arrested her.
'If you can't pick the kid up and take her to your car, handcuff her, then I don't think you need to be an officer,' Medlock said.
Medlock said his daughter does show signs of having emotional issues, but she 'doesn't deserve to be treated like a dog. She's not a tiger.'" From Ozark cop Tasers 10-year-old,  Arkansas Times Blog Posted by Max Brantley  
(The officer and child pictured here are for illustrative purposes only and are not actually Kiara or officer Bradshaw)

Jesus, Our Savior, Prince of Peace, We Honor Your Birth.

Kinky may have been right. "We Jews believe it was Santa Claus who killed Jesus Christ." from They Ain't Makin Jews Like Jesus Anymore, by Kinky Friedman

Gus October 8, 2002 - November 15, 2009. The Sweetest Creature I Ever Met.

Eulogy & more to follow. TFD now.