Tips for you Rep. Christopher Lee lovers...wannabes:

Alrighty cheaters, listen up! I know my time would be better served watching CNN right now, as the fate of Egypt unfolds to the tune of Anderson Cooper's voice, but here I am instead...multi-tasking.

We all know that GOP Rep. Chris Lee loves ladies. We know that Republicans love his hair. We know that he is married, 46 years old and has a young son. More interestingly, he isn't so smart. (on many levels, but let's stick with horny stuff.) The "leggy" lady who received his photo, and within 6 hours of his sexy big fingers punching the "send" button, he was resigning. Think about that. You know when you get that tummy-drop and sweaty prickly feeling that the universe sends you to give you the heads up that you just did a DUMB DUMB thing? Yep. He does too. So some lessons to learn here:

1. DO NOT lie about your age. What is it with saying

39"? People like to avoid 40. 40 is grand and distinguished. The thing is, a girl finds out your lying about your age and she is immediately going to want to call you out. Send your bare hairless chest to Gawker...maybe not, but still. C'mon.

2. DO NOT show your flexing fist....'Nuff said. Dude? Really....and see point 1. No one is really in awe at those guns, or your sucked in tummy. Stop. Just stop.

3. DO NOT show your face. WHAT? (sigh) If you are married, have a child, and sending a sexy* picture out into the oblivion to a stranger. Take SOME precaution. Jeez, no one could figure out Favre's man-meat cause it was attached to nothing. TECHNICALLY, it was debatable. AND...too rotten for mass media to make viral.

4. DO NOT use a gmail account with your REAL NAME, that is also attached to your FACEBOOK account. This is getting painful. Honestly, my 5 year old already knows how to cover her tracks when she watches "Spongebob Squarepants"...she changes the channel twice (Disney, then PBS) so as not to be found out on the "LAST" button.

5. DO NOT jump ship so quick. I think if Spitzer would have been caught sending a topless picture and NOT humping a hooker, he would of laid it out straight like he does on CNN. Shit, Clinton would have laughed a little, patted the back of whomever was near him when he found out the pic leaked and said: "Aw, boys...looks like someone hacked my account and sent a picture I took for Hilary to the young, lost woman trying to make a buck." -That's genius.

The little leggy lady said it herself: "people cheat everyday, only the dumb ones get caught."

To take a look at Little Lee's pectorals and fists...take a gander and CLICK HERE.

Ponder this cautionary tale. Think harder, fluff and flex less and be smart.

Shut it Sanford. Livin' La Vida Loca...

Enough is enough. For starters, I DON'T CARE about political power men having affairs. Sorry, I don't. Its none of my business and its brutal on the spouse. Call me a cynic. I don't care what a man or woman is doing in their personal life so long as they are not hurting children, me and my family or killing people. Marital infidelity is great fodder but what else is the gain for anyone?

From pro athletes to politicians. Are they doing their jobs? Are they hurting society? Its sad I know...but how can we all keep up? I feel for the wives. Surely they deal with the heartache, betrayal and humiliation in their own circles, but to put it in the spotlight? Really. For what? Does it show their judgement? Yes...on a personal level. Does it make us roll our eyes at the same old fallen man of big talk and righteousness? Affirmative. But I give it to Spitzer. At least he shut his pie hole after he apologized. I haven't heard mum since he wanted to start a hedge fund. But this guy....

Farking Governor Sanford can't cork it on his "soul mate" and other boundaries crossed, but "not the ultimate boundary". What is compelling this man to tell us about his dry-humping dances on business trips. I don't care if my husband rubs around at a bar...good on him. Seriously, get it where you can, but don't get on TV and try to evoke pity or some badge of honesty. Give me a break. Is anyone shocked that mediocre men in power enjoy female attention and make mistakes? I'm just in shock that this man can't stop playing the bleeding heart song!!!

Media is having a field day parading this man's self-destructive plummet into admission and emotional instability. I don't want to read their intimate emails! More because I don't give a shit, but also because his wife...this woman has to live with the dangling words of "my heart aches for your touch..." . Oooookay. At what point can the quiet, stoic wife just drop F-bombs and criticize his narcissism, call him a horrible lover, bad father and tell him to stuff his soul mate in the same place he was getting stuffed by the Argentinian thumb. ENOUGH.

At least I'm not alone...I laughed so hard at Jon Stewart's sixth or seventh rant on Governor Sanford. Take a look-see.





Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Shut Up, Mark Sanford

http://www.thedailyshow.com/

Daily Show Full Episodes

Political Humor

Jason Jones in Iran

Like he said...take it both ways Sanny...ZIP IT.

The first day of the first black president. Obama Inauguration schedule.

Forgive the strange paring of Billie Piper below and this. Today is all emotion, business and hope for something new. All other things aside. Today marks a beautiful day in the United States of America. A day, where Conservatives, or Liberals alike, have no choice but to see that a country as a whole was able to look at their own past(s) and look forward and decide that (for some) they had made mistakes, and for others, they were finally ready to change. A huge step in humility and a giant leap towards the new state of mind, where believing in some sense of idealism, living and acting in a way that shows acceptance to things that may be different and a grand agreement that it is time to want more from our country, to expect compassion and grace instead of brut and closed fist pride.

I am not a hugely political person. I am a liberal- If I must be labeled. Most of all, I am just wide-eyed and excited to see how Barack Obama will maneuver the global landscape, our terrible financial climate and the unfortunate anticipation of his trials under pressure. I believe in him. I do. Moreover, I believe in the evolution that this day and that in November represents. That we are CLOSER to all men(and women) being equal. That we are becoming a nation that sees things a little more clearly with truth, and with less knee-jerk judgment.

I don't know where you will be today, but I certainly have been trying to figure out how to plant myself either at home, or at the gym, in front of a TV to see what he says. Below I have listed a rough schedule of today's events in DC. Already, a little behind schedule....(he was supposed to depart for his church service at 8:3am...and that didn't happen.) But then again, we are talking about a president that sat nonchalantly, legs spread, bopping his head next to his family while Stevie Wonder sang. Right or wrong, the man seems real, relatable and perhaps...late sometimes.

Procession to the Capitol – Members of the JCCIC will escort President-Elect Obama, the Vice-President-Elect, outgoing President Bush, and their families to the White House for a meeting, then all will proceed to the Capitol.

Swearing-In Ceremony – Aretha Franklin should perform just before the swearing-in begins. Joe Biden will first be sworn is as Vice President. Barack Obama’s oath will follow around 12 p.m. A schedule posted on the PIC website details the lineup for the swearing-in ceremony, from who will be administering the oaths to the person slated to read a poem after the fact.

Inaugural Address – shortly after the 12 p.m. swearing-in ceremony.

Departure of the Outgoing President – President Obama should escort outgoing President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush. Depending on weather, the former President and First Lady will most likely leave the Capital via helicopter.

Inaugural Luncheon – at Statuary Hall at the Capitol.

Inaugural Parade – A parade to the White House down Pennsylvania Avenue is coordinated by the Armed Forces Inaugural Committee.

All of this will be followed by at least 10 Inauguration balls.

No matter how you feel, or what you think of all of this. Today is a day to remember where you were, how you felt, and what this means to you. Tell your kids, grand kids and the future of our nation that anything is possible.

(ps: Michelle Obama is in bright canary yellow today!) Enjoy. Celebrate.

Palin Balin Bo-Balin...Banana Fanna..Fee Fi Fo..Hell No.

Wow. Has it almost been a week? I pinky swore a friend that I would post. I am back. Truly. The world has been rainy and I have been sick, and by God, there is too much to talk about NOT to throw my dribble on the pointless wall of this blog. Can I be obnoxious today? No, here goes.

I think I want to hear Sarah Palin come out to a podium to Katy Perry's "I kissed a girl" or Pink's new song called "So What?". It would be amusing, and I might actually laugh instead of shake in my boots. Seriously, the nomination of Sarah Palin has been a strange and intriguing event. I have had a muzzle on my always spewing mouth. It is complicated (what isn't?). I am offended that women are supposed to like her because she is a "hockey mom" or because she has five children, or a set of boobs and speaks with a "folksy" twang. Honestly....no thanks.

Now, I am the first to enjoy speaking "crazy" with people. Its a language that can be fun, entertaining and button-pushing. But she supports Pat Buchanan....(crickets). That is a dialect of crazy I can't even rationalize. She has been a life long member of the NRA. She doesn't support gay rights/marriage and a woman's right to choose. Allll done for me. Would it be neato to see a woman in office? Sure. Just not that one. Mostly, because I couldn't stand listening to her voice and I don't think her "pitbull/lipstick" comment will penetrate 3/4 of the world-a platform of people she would have to be able to engage.

Why is it that a woman has to come off as sarcastic and smug to be taken seriously? Why can't a woman carry grace and facts and strength without needing to seem catty and facetious? Oy-vey. I am a mother, I love hockey, I support a woman's privacy with her family and teenagers, yet I believe none of those things have any baring on the right to help run the most powerful country in the free world. Surprisingly, I am impressed by McCain on a human level. I am impressed by his wife's ageless face and incredible fashion sense (Gold Oscar Del a Renta?!), but his judgement with Palin is stiffeling.

It actually hurts that a woman is pushing boundaries and attempting to beat the odds of nay-sayers and doubters in my voting lifetime, and I cannot support her. Not on her X chromosome alone. There are issues too great. I spent too much time in women's studies classes to vote anyone (man or woman) into a place of power that ultimately disagrees with some core beliefs I hold. We'll see what happens. I will cringe at her ingenuine concern for women, and I will endure several future speeches where she takes low blows at Obama, because at the end of the day, I am fascinated that we are all tuned in, arguing, thinking things through and wanting our respective "change" to come to fruition.

One of the co-founders of the blog cluster I contribute to gave some insight last week. I will let her research lay before you here: Sarah Palin You Scare Me!

I will sit back, wait for the Biden/Palin debate, which I guarantee will light me up. Again, the double standard of women being taken seriously. Everyone is saying: "oh Biden will have to be very careful...not to be condescending" or "Biden will walk a tightrope". Bullshite. If she wants to run for office, and be taken as seriously as any HUMAN demanding the same respect, and proving the SKILL SET needed, than she should be treated as anyone. Is that not what women for decades have been fighting for? let's see her cleavage in Vogue! (sheesh) I will stop.

Happy Saturday!

Erica Hill and Anderson not so flirty, but a little dirty.

So...You all know that I am a HUGE fan of Erica Hill and Anderson Cooper on Anderson Cooper 360. Tonight, sadly, was a little disappointing. A couple things....

1. Whoever produced tonight's show coined a portion of the show: "Digging Deeper". Eh?

2. Not fun dirty: Who approved the graphic for the Obama segment? This is silly, just silly. Not even funny silly. AC!? Don't pander to the over-sensationalized media obsession with Obama, his pastors and a hidden agenda to keep things "interesting". This isn't. The Pastor on the screen shot is NOT Obama's. Obama has never been to this guys church sermon, and although it may be an affective sound byte from Easter service, it just isn't relevant. This guy is NOT Reverend Wright. Leave the dead beaten horse. Move on. It's just lame. Can we talk about what matters? Really.

3. Fun dirty: Dick is inside a Bunny. This is the little cute moment where Anderson makes fun of Erica doing a "bob" or a "wiggle" or a "bounce" during the cheesy music. Readers/Bloggers write a caption about the picture of the day. This was funny. Bush and a bunny. Well played.

4. How could we not take a moment to really look at these two? I love them. They even smile sarcastically in the exact same way. It would be great genetic melding. Seriously, its becoming a bit of a vicarious need. They are onto me though. The flirting is waning. I will it for tomorrow night. I will some saucy innuendo and borderline boundary-jumping intimacy. I need to experience it....even if by proxy.

Just look at her eyes, take if from me, raised-eyebrows basically say: "Let's do this"....she is saying: "Anderson, I want you to dig deeper, put me in a bunny suit and hop on my little cotton tail."

Ha cha cha.

BubbleYum! Anderson and Erica flirting on.

Per usual, my tired eyes stay open to watch Erica Hill and Anderson Cooper flirt. It is CNN genius. I really do listen to all sorts of newsworthy information solely as something that must "get done" to bring me back to the two of them. ( Not really, but sort of). I might even be living out some vicarious love affair just to keep my boring, hum-drum, lack-of-bubble-yum life exciting.

During a clip where they were talking about a high school student getting suspended for buying skittles candy from another student. That school had a "zero-tolerance" candy rule. Seriously? Oh the priorities. I think obesity is an issue, but suspended. Really? Anderson moved on, and talked about how he loved Bubble yum. The two of them went back and forth with energy-punched eyes, and cut to commercial. He didn't mention it after the break. Bummer.

Naysayers will claim I'm way off base. That is fine. Nay all you want. You watch, you decide. Let's get that therapist from the Today show back over here to talk about THEIR facial features and gestures. I volunteer to moderate...naked.

They might have been mild tonight, but the monkey business is hanging around a TV corner somewhere near you. Even if it is only in my mind. It's in yours too...because here are a few of your searches that got YOU here. (Great minds suspect alike):

"Anderson Cooper+Erica Hill nasty affair"

"Erica and Anderson having sex."

"Anderson Cooper and Erica Hill flirt"

"Secret affair+Anderson+Erica"

"Anderson Boning Erica"

"Anderson's girlfriend Erica?"

"Is Anderson Cooper dating Erica Hill?"

"What is a prostitution ring?" ( oh wait?)

Anywho....you agree, obviously. They are bubblelicously suspect.

( I will not say "bubble yum" or "bubbleiscious" again. It got away from me. Sorry.

"Crusader of the Year" and a harlot.

Upon reading and hearing about today's news of New York governor: Eliot Spitzer being involved in a prostitution ring, three questions came to mind immediately.

1.) What is a "prostitute ring"? I am not sure why, but I picture people standing in a circle like Eyes Wide Shut, or something involving a circus leader with a handle-bar mustache and elephants.

2.) Who is going to be the therapist for his three daughters? No doubt they will will now resent him, have trust issues, and then somehow, ironically, grow up attracted to men who cheat. Let's make it reality tv show!

3.) Is what the Today Show psychologist said about men with "high cheek bones, and protruding noses" true? She said that men with such characteristics tend to have more testosterone and be more aggressive. What does that really mean? Women should look for pudgy-faced small featured men? Can you actually say: "Honey, you have a big nose...I know you will nibble some nookie, so I'm installing this tracking device on you." Who comes up with this shite!?

I understand the mild outrage, I think its deplorable, but I am not at all shocked. Are you? Seriously? My husband has made an interesting argument for years. If he were going to cheat ( bare with me here) it would be with a hooker. Why? Because there is no fear that she will fall in love, or want more than sex, because he just doesn't have enough room in his life for more than "one crazy". No boiling rabbits, no love-letters, perhaps just some paid-for validation of his dominant sexuality. (ha)

I know, I know...it's terrible, how sexist and disgusting. But...I see the point. Does that make it ok? Absolutely not. I'm just always interested in how shocked people are that men want sex, and they don't necessarily want to deal with all the messy, stringy emotions that come with it.

In a hypothetical horrific world, let's assume 50% of men will cheat. Would it be better for them to fall in love with a mistress and emotionally attach, or boink a hooker? Maybe old school Venetians had it right with courtesans.

Get mad, get offended, but get real.

Viktor Bout arrested, Paul Salopek article disappears?

I usually like to stay away from heavy hitting news. It's...well, heavy. I do, however, have an obsession with Africa. This morning I was reading my Chicago Tribune, and found a fascinating article on page 14, by Paul Salopek(the Tribune's African correspondent) about the Arrest of Russian arms-dealer Viktor Bout.

The article is about the 8-year-long track of Bout by Paul. It was about how this bloodbath inducing arms-dealer of Africa (coined the "Lord of War") has been arrested in Thailand. Viktor Bout was described in this article as a "twisted genius" and it links him with FARC, Al Qaeda and the Taliban.

Now, my interest in all of this is two fold. For one, I love to try to understand and pay more attention to what is going on in the world. I think it is important to see Africa and its problems, far deeper than the commercialized (but helpful) campaigns of "Go RED" and Oprah's South African school for girls. So I jumped online to find the electronic version of the article to share. I googled...nope. I went to the Chicago Tribune website...nope.

I searched the name of the article and its author and got a link that took me to a "Page Not Found" Hmm..curious. Maybe it slipped through editing. ( nothing slips through editing), or maybe it just happens to be the ONE article on the March 9th electronic version (with all the other articles present) that didn't get linked properly? Who knows. I do know, it's peculiar, like Anderson Cooper's deep breaths between sentences, or Webkinz.

So, here you are...The article ended with a provocative 2 paragraphs. Paul Salopek writes:

"Readers often write asking why Africa seems forever to be embroiled in mayhem and violence. The reasons are complex. But the fact that the U.S and the old Soviet Union dumped mountains of weaponry into the world's poorest continent during the Cold War- a lethal trade allegedly taken up with gusto by Bout, for sheer profit, not ideology-- is surely part of the answer.

Seeing Bout handcuffed on TV, I am reminded how remarkably young he is. Just 41- and how he will have his day in court, an accounting of Africa's vicious wars, long enabled by cynical outsiders, will never be afforded. "

If you don't believe me, try it yourself. Look for "Cause for cheer in war-torn Africa" -the name of the article. If I am wrong, and you get it...hooray, you can read the article. I'm not making any statements about accuracy, or free speech, or digging too deep, just saying...It's weird. Happy Sunday.

And, man if you are a first time reader of mine...just bounce on without looking around, the chances that the rest of these pages are for you, are about as slim as Nicole Richie when she stops nursing.

***Updated (6:23pm) - Link is live: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-bout_letter_salopek_bdmar09,1,7557876.story

Erica Hill and Anderson Cooper FLIRT on...Whose got guns?

Okay,
I rest my case. If you were watching tonight's show; you saw what I saw.In case you didn't, I took a few pictures to give a handy dandy recap. There is chemistry, there is love, there is teasing, maybe even some hair pulling behind doors. I was waiting for them to jump over their respective desks matrix-style and start making out. Fine, maybe its an act...but it is a damn good one. Here goes:


"Blah blah blah...exclaimation points..."


" You were GREEEEAT on Conan, Coops...."

"I have to say....we looked through footage, we couldn't find "the govinator" pointing at your guns..."

Translation: "Since we see each other naked, I am comfortable enough to call out your man-card AND call you a liar. Watch, people will dismiss it as false intimacy."


"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha" ( spinal chord is setting on fire, he is trying to process if he is embarrassed or completely turned on by her display)



" I can't believe you are saying this!"


Translation: "I will crush your caramel perfect arse like this extra paper after this show. I want to bite your ear lobes and smell your shoes. "


Awe...the giggle loop. All is fair in news and sexual tension on live TV.

Now that, my humble hookers and homosexuals, is good, clean news delivery. I want to sleep with both of them now...who wouldn't?


Don't you quit on me.

OBAMA projected to win first state polls. (GA)

Quick happy dance for Obama projected to win GA. The first state polls to come in today. I feel guilty and silly for having done some of the trivial things I did today. Like buying a sweater for Maui, writing a post on ex-boyfriends, complaining about not having any lunch at work... In hind sight...it is what it is. Triviality has its place. So does change.

More later. Go Obama. Hip Hip Hooray for the "young"(and all) voters.

Anderson Cooper and Erica Hill - Flirt me the news!

I am curious to know what kind of spikes Anderson Cooper, John Stewart and Stephen Colbert are seeing on their shows due to the writers strike. I find that these three men take turns making me giggle, tilt my head and pause, and smile with sheer glee and anticipation of what's to come next. Anywho...

I was absolutely convinced that Anderson Cooper and Erica Hill are doing all kinds of lascivious things. That kind of chemistry can't be manufactured. It's fantastic! It's like watching the news being discussed with undertones and surprising hope that one will slip and let on to their secret love affair. It sure is keeping my attention crisp. They are so fast to quip, so clever and funny... the long pauses, the sweet looks? I am in pure amazement. He actually made a comment about her "wiggling" last night and all kinds of terrible innuendos went flying through our living room. It's pure genius.

She is married, she has a child....yada yada...me too.... I know, I know....chances are it is just some pent up excitement that their ratings are flying, and both of them have that fast-tongue spit-fire,whip-smack compatibility, but I am glued now. Keep it up kids. It's too fun to watch. If you can't get your fill of good suggested sexual tension from dramedy syndication these days, well,you can get it with your news. Sure beats watching people sell their souls with "truths" that should never be sold for $500k.

Anderson Cooper ( because of Erica Hill) just made my Top 3 "Bed 'em get 'em". I don't care what people speculate....His sexuality just lit up by pure proxy to watching those two flirt. Silver never looked so good to me.

I can't help but feel a little trite and dirty knowing if they both looked like the guy behind the bodega register on 9th I'd call it disgusting and flagrant...but this is America. Yeah, Yeah, We can ponder how beauty is on the inside and news can't be sold with sex tomorrow.

Today I love these two. Well played CNN. Well played.

For more Erica Hill & Anderson Cooper debauchery:

http://lulunotes.blogspot.com/2008/02/whose-got-guns-erica-hill-and-anderson.html

Obama won Iowa Caucus!!!

Yip yip yippe for the brown man from Illinois!!!!

DES MOINES, Iowa (Reuters) - Sen. Barack Obama won the Iowa Democratic caucus on Thursday, dealing a setback to national front-runner Hillary Clinton in the first nominating contest of the 2008 U.S. presidential election, NBC News reported.
The Iowa victory buoyed Obama, a first-term Illinois senator trying to become the first black U.S. president, and gave him momentum as he headed into the January 8 primary vote in New Hampshire, where polls showed him in a tight race with the former first lady.

Bhutto Who? Shame on you!

Disturbing display #1:
I am at the gym yesteray morning. Busy pumping along on the elliptical machine trying to meet the expectations of the heavily accosted women of America to be below a size 4. "The View" gets broken up by a NEWS BRIEF on Benazir Bhutto's assassination. Bush appears before the camera in Crawford Texas. What happens next? 75% of the other women and men CHANGE THE CHANNEL! (each cardio machine has it's own tv) WHAT? The woman next to me puts on the Food network. People switch to VH1 or other surreality crap. You don't have to like Bush, you don't have to like news, but man....

Disturbing display #2: On Larry King Live last night, the news story cut from the live coverage to "Mischa Barton's 7 hour jail sentence" then back to: "More on the horrific unraveling of Pakistan in the wake of Bhutto's death" - Thank you CNN for sharing those two news reels. (I am being sarcastic.) (( It is sad I need to state that, but I do.)

Disturbing display #3: The media moguls are busy at work naming Pakistan: "Terror Central". Late last night I predicted it would be something like: "Pakistan, RPG in hand" or "Pakistan-Terror land" or "Axis of Terror land". Can we just watch the news? Without a catchy-commercialized label and well-designed graphic?

I get it. Most Americans don't generally follow Pakistani news, but this is WORLD news. This was the first female Prime Minister of a Muslim country. Was she perfect? No. Was she corrupt?...She was a leader in a third-world country. Get real here. Bottom line, I, like so many others don't know much about her, or the situation.

I am not saying you have to understand all the after-shock effects (I dont), or even the future implications of what this means to America, to you, to your families. (Because it does). I am just suggesting maybe you TUNE IN and acquire an opinion for yourself. Let me propose a few questions to ponder...

1.) Where will the 50 billion (or so) of funds the US provides to Pakistan go? Will it go? Who will manage that?
2.) Who is this Musharraf guy? What does he stand for? Or better...with whom?
3.) Who might have planned this? If it was more than a random isolated suicide bomber, is it the first step of some multi-level plan?
4.) What is the PPP?

Just asking. I wont spout a political stance. I don't know enough. I know that. But it doesn't mean I wont pay attention...

Media panders to the "Dumb factor"

I think if there were a line to cross between slightly filtering news with little small-thinking side bars, and gross assumption that we are stupid, Its been catapulted over!

I was watching the NBC news two days ago, and the anchor said: "British troops hand over power to the northen territory of Iraq. This momentous day was met with celebration and parade" A small video box appeared in the left hand corner of marching soldiers, and cheering women in full Islamic garb. (no guns in the air, or burning flags this time. Phew).

The clip ran for about....twenty seconds. The anchor shuffled some papers and said something like: "In other news...Is that glass of wine helpful or hurtful?" Who lined that up?! I paid attention for a second, thought about how my daily wine intake has increased, and how I am gaining weight and maybe it's from the wine. (record scratch) WHO FECKING CARES? DID ENGLAND JUST PULL OUT OF WAR IN IRAQ? I don't know? The news isn't saying? What? I jumped on my computer and found headlines. "British Hands over Basra to Iraq Control" I find several more online articles, and fulfill my obsessive need to be informed.

Here's my problem. (Yes, Im assuming you care) There are plenty American people ( I live in a town full of them) that are educated, concerned and raising their children. I can almost bet my yearly fuel budget, that they were watching this, and it was passed over as quickly as you can say: "Jamie Lynn is pregnant?!" How does this happen? If we don't demand real news, we wont get it.

That, to me, Is not only reason enough for the world to shake their head with disdain, but it is down-right scary. I'm the first to admit it: I am good at looking away, obsessing about other people's (not so really bad) problems. It makes me feel better about myself to look at Britney or sensationlize toy recalls, and obesity, and minor medical snippets that have quotable statistics.

Pay attention people. It may not change your immediate world. You may not realize that our dependence on oil IS affecting you. Our wars, presidents,SUV's, diapers, plastic bags, use of electricity, lack of interest in anything non-American is going to create the world in which our precious children will be stuck with. It is proving to be far less romantic than the idea we cling to as "The Great American Dream."

Take a minute to think about what YOU are talking about. Maybe you can broaden the scope a little? Even if its uncomfortable, even if it scares you. Put down the People Magazine and humor your children, your friends, your parents, your dog....talk about something that actually will matter 20 years from now. We owe it to ourselves.