"Do not Testify as a False Witness Against your Neighbor"

Our daughter, Cassie, just started day school last week. With a good bit of fanfare, Cassie went off to preschool last Monday. Everyone seems to be adjusting well. Cassie is fussing a bit less each day, and, my wife, Elizabeth is getting used to a few hours off from Mommy duty. All of these are steps in the right direction.

Elizabeth asked me what I wanted to know about the preschool before Cassie entered. I felt pretty safe with the choice because it is run within our synagogue. I still was curious about the curriculum. One of the things my daughter will be exposed to is the Ten Commandments. Cassie will learn the 9^th Commandment. Everyone knows the shortened version. Read it carefully “Thou shall not lie”.

George W. Bush came into office in 2001. Whether he was legitimately elected or not, he was reliant on very religious supporters. You can say a lot of things about the Religious Right, but we can all agree that they take religion seriously. Numerous people on the Right claim that President Clinton was impeached because he lied under oath. I don’t happen to agree, but let’s accept that as truth for a moment.

Whether people are trying to get testimony from Attorney General Gonzalez, former Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers , or Bush’s brain Karl Rove, none of them is willing to swear to tell the truth to Congress. If you believe that what you did was proper, good, and just then why can’t you agree to tell the truth about it?

This came through my email; it should provide a midweek laugh......

Heads Up for Pet Owners

Today's blog is not very in depth.... Those of you with pets the following cat and dog foods have been recalled:

Cats

Recalled Cat Product Information
Recall Information 1-866-895-2708

1. Americas Choice, Preferred Pets
2. Authority
3. Best Choice
4. Companion
5. Compliments
6. Demoulas Market Basket
7. Fine Feline Cat, Shep Dog
8. Food Lion
9. Foodtown
10. Giant Companion
11. Good n Meaty
12. Hannaford
13. Hill Country Fare
14. Hy-Vee
15. Key Food
16. Laura Lynn
17. Li'l Red
18. Loving Meals
19. Main Choice
20. Nutriplan
21. Nutro Max Gourmet Classics
22. Nutro Natural Choice
23. Paws
24. Presidents Choice
25. Price Chopper
26. Priority
27. Save-A-Lot
28. Schnucks
29. Sophistacat
30. Special Kitty
31. Springfield Pride
32. Sprout
33. Total Pet, My True Friend
34. Wegmans
35. Western Family
36. White Rose
37. Winn Dixie

Dogs

Recalled Dog Foods

Recalled Dog Product Information
Recall Information 1-866-895-2708

1. Americas Choice, Preferred Pets
2. Authority
3. Award
4. Best Choice
5. Big Bet
6. Big Red
7. Bloom
8. Bruiser
9. Cadillac
10. Companion
11. Demoulas Market Basket
12. Fine Feline Cat, Shep Dog
13. Food Lion
14. Giant Companion
15. Great Choice
16. Hannaford
17. Hill Country Fare
18. Hy-Vee
19. Key Food
20. Laura Lynn
21. Loving Meals
22. Main Choice
23. Mixables
24. Nutriplan
25. Nutro Max
26. Nutro Natural Choice
27. Nutro
28. Ol'Roy
29. Paws
30. Pet Essentials
31. Pet Pride
32. Presidents Choice
33. Price Chopper
34. Priority
35. Publix
36. Roche Bros
37. Save-A-Lot
38. Schnucks
39. Springsfield Pride
40. Sprout
41. Stater Bros
42. Total Pet, My True Friend
43. Western Family
44. White Rose
45. Winn Dixie
46. Your Pet

Hoope this helps...

More later

Letter from an exile

This comes from www.unifiedneworleansplan.com


March 13th, 2007

Monday, March 12, 2007

Re: “N.O. recovery plan called a muddle: Watchdog group urges fresh analysis,” Page 1, March 6.

Why does the Bureau for Governmental Research think that the leadership required to make difficult decisions should come from a planning group?

The Unified New Orleans Plan created a successful process for citizen input and priority-setting not achieved through any of the prior efforts. Perhaps citizens did not specifically prioritize infrastructure because they assumed government would at least undertake that responsibility.

Citizens focused, very reasonably, on the issues that affect their daily lives. To have to tell government to fix infrastructure is the saddest comment on the level of citizen expectations I’ve ever heard.

UNOP has created a body of information and thoughts of citizens, previously lacking, upon which elected officials and their staff (CPC) can make the tough choices they are charged to make; and do so with some degree of citizen input by which to support those hard decisions.

I am disappointed that a group charged to promote good government failed properly to place responsibility for leadership on government officials. I am equally disappointed that the BGR chose to undermine the most valuable process of citizen input to date rather than constructively help guide the next steps in the process.

Bill Mague

New Orleans

Now in Minneapolis

Has your love life made you want to go to the bathroom?

Last weekend, we were going to a party for my daughter Cassandra. One of my brothers in law threw a party as a combination housewarming/kids party. It is quite a house, and they know how to throw a party. Everyone of us were psyched for the upcoming events.
My daughter Cassie spilled a drink all over herself, as we were getting ready to leave. This caused us to be running late. Finally, we get going. Not surprisingly, there was a significant amount of traffic on I95 going down there. At one point, my wife Elizabeth responded to a bumper sticker she saw on one remarkably poorly driven car, saying " Jesus would cut you off, that's what he'd do.” Not surprisingly, that is exactly what she did.
We arrived at the party, already in full swing. There were about 10 toddlers and 25 adults. My brother-in-laws back yard is very large. It is also laid out to best accommodate children. Almost as if a team of 6 year olds came in and laid out the whole yard. It was a circus themed party. For the kids there was a clown, a magician and a cotton candy machine.
These were in addition to the permanent features in the yard. There is a beautiful deck for the adults, along with a great climbing tree, an arts and crafts area, and a slide/jungle gym combo for the kids. Suffice it to say, this place was decked out to be "the place" for the under 6 crowd. Everyone was enjoying himself or herself.
My daughter, Cassie was running around with some of the children, climbing around, painting, and sliding among other things. The things kids do to enjoy themselves. Well, after a bit of time, one of the mothers noted to Elizabeth and me that Max has taken a shine to Cassie. Elizabeth and I look for Cassie. There she is playing with a little boy, 18 months, who was hugging her, kissing her and being generally affectionate. As we are laughing amongst ourselves, we notice that everywhere she goes, Max follows. Can you believe that Max is already trying to get a girlfriend, and he's not even in a "big boy bed"? Does this mean that Cassie is robbing the cradle?
After the initial amusement factor wears off, my mind's eye starts to wander. If boys are already after her, what is her curfew going to be in nursery school? What exactly will I need to contend with when she gets to 1st grade? I might need that Valium drip sooner than high school if this keeps up.
Thankfully, everyone enjoyed the party. We say our goodbyes, and go home. Two days later, Cassie expresses to Elizabeth that she is ready to start potty training. This is welcome news for all of us. This however raises two questions. Does Cassie think that being potty trained will give her an edge in the toddler social scene? Or more likely, does she feel the need to get Max totally out of her system in the quickest fashion possible?

Faces Up Against the Window

Last Friday, we were given the opportunity to watch some students perform a variety of drama pieces. These young men and women gave a wonderful accounting for themselves. They performed numerous Broadway numbers as well as ballet and modern dance pieces.

As we sat on bleachers, enjoying the show, I happened to look toward the entrance of the auditorium. I noticed two students looking in from the outside. Each one had his respective face pressed against the window. These young men were recognizable to me. Where I work that’s never a good sign. I’m certain that they did things that warranted their exclusion from this activity.

How many of these students in my school go through life with their faces up against the window?