Friday, December 23, 2011
MUST. READ.
I wish every person in the world would read the blog entry that I'm about to post. It's so amazingly true and the answer to world peace. I don't for one moment believe that I am perfect. I needed this as much as ANYONE in the whole world. Please read it and pass it along.
I'm Christian, unless you're gay.
I hope that everyone can look past the title. I'm not homophobic, but I'm angry, judgmental, and a hater. I know this. I want to be better.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Tis the season
If you are a regular here at the Patch you know that every year I wax poetic on one of my favorite things in the world. My annual performance of Handel's Messiah. It's the 71st performance in Cedar City. Not one year have they skipped doing it. Christmas is so commercial and when the economy is troublesome (even if it isn't) there's so much materialistic stress. My favorite part of the season is singing in the Messiah. Our orchestra along with the Messiah chorale perform it as Handel intended it to be; free of charge. I never have the words to express how humbling it is to sing the words from the Bible that chronicle the events leading up to the birth, the ministry, the crucifixion, and the resurrection of Christ. Powerful words. Yet my ultimate amazement lies in the pure genius of Handel. He brings life to the words, he paints a picture. He uses every nuance of every instrument in the orchestra, every section of the chorale, and every soloist. I do this every year because it truly is the best part of the year for me, hands down.
In the past I've talked about Adrianne Tawa, our choir instructor. She's amazing and for the experience of learning from her, alone, makes it all the more worthwhile. Then we are handed over to Xun Sun (maestro AND doctor) who truly is astounding but the real show is watching him conduct us. Never have I seen such joy in a person. How can it NOT be the best experience ever??
Here's some of the music from last year's performance:
Isn't he amazing? How can you NOT feel pure joy performing with this man???
In the past I've talked about Adrianne Tawa, our choir instructor. She's amazing and for the experience of learning from her, alone, makes it all the more worthwhile. Then we are handed over to Xun Sun (maestro AND doctor) who truly is astounding but the real show is watching him conduct us. Never have I seen such joy in a person. How can it NOT be the best experience ever??
Here's some of the music from last year's performance:
Isn't he amazing? How can you NOT feel pure joy performing with this man???
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
TRADITION!!!!!!!
My little fam has traditions that we've built from the birth of my children. My oldest is 17 and amazingly is speaking of marriage. Her boyfriend brought it up very hypothetically but.. YIKES! She's enrolled in two colleges on top of high school and she's not that little girl who named her first doll Crunchy. My distance from my other family played out here in the Patch. I'm no longer angry at anyone and I actually see things more clearly. It's come as a shock that I won't be spending Christmas Eve at my mom's house. I'm not sure why because I thought I was clear. We all have families and I am looking at two young women who will be making THEIR own traditions too (you've experienced my youngest. She's my blog high jacker).
I've bought them an ornament for each year of their existence. When they marry they will take them for their own trees and hopefully tell their children the story behind each. Perhaps they will put a pickle ornament on THEIR tree for their kids to find to see who opens the extra gift. I believe they will kneel in prayer, thanking God for the gift of his son and that we not forget HIM as we take turns opening gifts. Will they read their kids "Yes Virginia, there IS a Santa." to keep the magic alive when someone else tries to take it away? Will they leave anonymous gifts on the porch for the 12 days of Christmas, knocking, running and hiding, and as they get older biffing it in the snow as THEIR children step over them and keep running? How many of our traditions will they take with them?
What I really wonder as I enter into the second decade of headache from hell is will I be here to find out? Time will tell.
I've bought them an ornament for each year of their existence. When they marry they will take them for their own trees and hopefully tell their children the story behind each. Perhaps they will put a pickle ornament on THEIR tree for their kids to find to see who opens the extra gift. I believe they will kneel in prayer, thanking God for the gift of his son and that we not forget HIM as we take turns opening gifts. Will they read their kids "Yes Virginia, there IS a Santa." to keep the magic alive when someone else tries to take it away? Will they leave anonymous gifts on the porch for the 12 days of Christmas, knocking, running and hiding, and as they get older biffing it in the snow as THEIR children step over them and keep running? How many of our traditions will they take with them?
What I really wonder as I enter into the second decade of headache from hell is will I be here to find out? Time will tell.
Friday, November 18, 2011
GOP insanity
Just going to share an exchange from Facebook. Names are hidden to protect the identity of the people who commented:
Female friend: We will disagree on this, but I think learning by experience is not flip flopping. I think some things are turned
into negatives when the are really positives. I am not speaking on actual events in some cases, but in general ones.
What I thought: YOU disagree because I'm talkingWhat I said: But he's behind in the polls... WHY??? O_o That's so insane :
What I said: But he's behind in the polls... WHY??? O_o That's so insane :
Male friend: the world unfortunately will not vote in a Mormon we are too weird in their view,but a balck man from africa is ok to be our president hmmmm
That's not possible. You have to be an American citizen to run for President of the US.Moi (note the sarcasm): That's not possible. You have to be an American citizen to run for President of the US.
Moi pretending I'm stupid so these people comprehend me.. Or do they???: Ohhhh you mean Obama!!! LOL! I've campaigned for him for years. Only weird racist birthers believe that old story.
So, according to the last commenter on my status, people think we're weird but we aren't. We are stupid and racist.. Yeah dude, don't help me!!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
OMG! STUPID STUPID STUPID PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just read this one Facebook:
Rob Young's Photos
Look at this lady - Let us never forget!
The world hasn't just become wicked...it's always been wicked. The
prize doesn't always go to the most deserving.
During WWII, Irena, got permission to work in the Warsaw ghetto, as a Plumbing/Sewer specialist. She had an 'ulterior motive'. She KNEW what the Nazi's plans were for the Jews (being German). Irena smuggled infants out in the bottom of the tool box she carried and she carried in the back of her truck a burlap sack, (for larger kids). She also had a dog in the back that she trained to bark when the Nazi soldiers let her in and out of the ghetto. The soldiers of course wanted nothing to do with the dog and the barking covered the kids/infants noises. During her time of doing this, she managed to smuggle out and save 2500 kids/infants. She was caught, and the Nazi's broke both her legs, arms and beat her severely. Irena kept a record of the names of all the kids she smuggled out and kept them in a glass jar, buried under a tree in her back yard. After the war, she tried to locate any parents that may have survived it and reunited the family. Most had been gassed. Those kids she helped got placed into foster family homes or adopted. Last year Irena was up for the Nobel Peace Prize. She was not selected. President Obama won one year before becoming President for his work as a community organizer for ACORN and Al Gore won also --- for a slide show on Global Warming. In MEMORIAM - 63 YEARS LATER I'm doing my small part by forwarding this message. I hope you'll consider doing the same.. It is now more than 60 years after the Second World War in Europe ended. This e-mail is being sent as a memorial chain, in memory of the six million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians and 1,900 Catholic priests who were murdered, massacred, raped, burned, starved and humiliated! Now, more than ever, with Iran , and others, claiming the HOLOCAUST to be 'a myth'. It's imperative to make sure the world never forgets, because there are others who would like to do it again.
The world hasn't just become wicked...it's always been wicked. The
prize doesn't always go to the most deserving.
During WWII, Irena, got permission to work in the Warsaw ghetto, as a Plumbing/Sewer specialist. She had an 'ulterior motive'. She KNEW what the Nazi's plans were for the Jews (being German). Irena smuggled infants out in the bottom of the tool box she carried and she carried in the back of her truck a burlap sack, (for larger kids). She also had a dog in the back that she trained to bark when the Nazi soldiers let her in and out of the ghetto. The soldiers of course wanted nothing to do with the dog and the barking covered the kids/infants noises. During her time of doing this, she managed to smuggle out and save 2500 kids/infants. She was caught, and the Nazi's broke both her legs, arms and beat her severely. Irena kept a record of the names of all the kids she smuggled out and kept them in a glass jar, buried under a tree in her back yard. After the war, she tried to locate any parents that may have survived it and reunited the family. Most had been gassed. Those kids she helped got placed into foster family homes or adopted. Last year Irena was up for the Nobel Peace Prize. She was not selected. President Obama won one year before becoming President for his work as a community organizer for ACORN and Al Gore won also --- for a slide show on Global Warming. In MEMORIAM - 63 YEARS LATER I'm doing my small part by forwarding this message. I hope you'll consider doing the same.. It is now more than 60 years after the Second World War in Europe ended. This e-mail is being sent as a memorial chain, in memory of the six million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians and 1,900 Catholic priests who were murdered, massacred, raped, burned, starved and humiliated! Now, more than ever, with Iran , and others, claiming the HOLOCAUST to be 'a myth'. It's imperative to make sure the world never forgets, because there are others who would like to do it again.
By: Rob Young
The story about Irena is true, however there ARE problems with it:
1. There is no way of knowing if she was nominated. The names of nominees are kept secret for 50 years.
2. Yes, this story came out originally to discredited Al Gore by saying that the prize was lost to him in 2007. Obama had nothing to do with it.
3. I'll just paste my response to this post here:
Update:
I followed up with this:
Okay, that one was sooo crazy I decided it was blog worthy which meant I had to know the facts. Research (and Wiki doesn't count) IF she was nominated, it was in 2007 according to the first appearance of the story and that would be before President Obama won but the same year the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change won. BUT there's no way to know if she lost to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and Al Gore or not. The names of the nominees are kept secret for 50 years. There's absolutely no way to prove she was even a nominee unless you torture one of the Nobel Prize Judges.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
The beginning of the end of normal childhood...
Kids are bored.. If there was no batteries, power cords, etc. whatever shall they do?? Even the finest thing ever invented is being phased slowly out.. The book.
But this is one of the things that really bugs me most. What has happened to our playground equipment??
There was a slide like this in my hometown and at my elementary school. I remember one accident. At recess, a boy who hadn't tied his shoes got the lace caught at the top of the slide and fell. I don't remember any other serious accidents in my time growing up with these slides.
This was called the Ocean Wave at our school. The pic I found called it the witches hat and we had one of those too. This isn't it. I don't recall bad accidents on this but I'm sure children doing stupid things got hurt.
THIS was the witches hat. I remember no accidents in my time playing there, in elementary school.
We had this in my hometown playground but the handles were smaller, like this:
The problem with the strider is that if someone let go, their chain would swing free and you could get beaned. It's bad form not to yell out letting others know there was a rogue chain.
See? Mind the rules, use common sense and you have fun equipment. OR stay in the house and play on the Wii. Wear the strap, though, because you can let the remote slip and injure someone in the room.
But this is one of the things that really bugs me most. What has happened to our playground equipment??
The problem with the strider is that if someone let go, their chain would swing free and you could get beaned. It's bad form not to yell out letting others know there was a rogue chain.
See? Mind the rules, use common sense and you have fun equipment. OR stay in the house and play on the Wii. Wear the strap, though, because you can let the remote slip and injure someone in the room.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
If the truth shall set you free, GW got an arm lose.
Last night was the BIG MOMENT. George W. Bush, sits down and talks about 9/11. I felt a bit nostalgic as I like the little whisker but dang! Just spill it!! President Obama hasn't brought charges and I'm kind of doubting he ever will but is this supposed to be cathartic for you or us??
It was great to see him fully disclose that they were warned over a month in advanced and did nothing to protect us. Spilled milk.
I was glad to hear that he was about to get his pets into a safe shelter with Laura because America's number one priority was the FIRST DOG AND CAT!! NOT!!! It was also a bit classless showing the footage of him talking to the first responders with his arm slung around the fireman's shoulder as if they'd be friends for life instead of 'dying of cancer from toxic fumes who?'. Him saying that when they kept saying they couldn't hear him he said but I will always hear you. History will record who made those promises then who came through with them. (Including Jon Stewarts MAJOR role in that). History will record who promised to never stop searching yet never STARTED searching. Not in the right place and he knew it, he lied to us. He lied to families of first responders who died then or from complications. He lied to the people in those buildings and in those planes. He lied to the men that fought for something they thought was worth dying for. He lied to all of us.
I'm proud of him for allowing for some of his lies. I believe deep down he is a good man but this came too late. He should have stood beside President Obama at Ground Zero when our troops risked everything to make good on Bush's promise. God Bless our troops!! THEY DID IT!
There will always be debates on who was the worst president in history. Tricky Dick? Clinton? They lied to us too. Maybe they all do. But the lives that were lost because of this man's lies... Such a waste. We've yet to recover and never will unless we unite. He could have helped with that too, last night. He chose not to.
I don't envy the task of being president. I don't envy the burden he must live with. I truly don't believe that he is a bad man. I believe he's human and tried to do right things. I wish him happiness now. I wish him peace.
National Geographic-George W. Bush: The 9/11 Interview
It was great to see him fully disclose that they were warned over a month in advanced and did nothing to protect us. Spilled milk.
I was glad to hear that he was about to get his pets into a safe shelter with Laura because America's number one priority was the FIRST DOG AND CAT!! NOT!!! It was also a bit classless showing the footage of him talking to the first responders with his arm slung around the fireman's shoulder as if they'd be friends for life instead of 'dying of cancer from toxic fumes who?'. Him saying that when they kept saying they couldn't hear him he said but I will always hear you. History will record who made those promises then who came through with them. (Including Jon Stewarts MAJOR role in that). History will record who promised to never stop searching yet never STARTED searching. Not in the right place and he knew it, he lied to us. He lied to families of first responders who died then or from complications. He lied to the people in those buildings and in those planes. He lied to the men that fought for something they thought was worth dying for. He lied to all of us.
I'm proud of him for allowing for some of his lies. I believe deep down he is a good man but this came too late. He should have stood beside President Obama at Ground Zero when our troops risked everything to make good on Bush's promise. God Bless our troops!! THEY DID IT!
There will always be debates on who was the worst president in history. Tricky Dick? Clinton? They lied to us too. Maybe they all do. But the lives that were lost because of this man's lies... Such a waste. We've yet to recover and never will unless we unite. He could have helped with that too, last night. He chose not to.
I don't envy the task of being president. I don't envy the burden he must live with. I truly don't believe that he is a bad man. I believe he's human and tried to do right things. I wish him happiness now. I wish him peace.
National Geographic-George W. Bush: The 9/11 Interview
Monday, August 22, 2011
Steve Powell you are so beyond sick and wrong I am astounded
Well, well, well... Perhaps Joshie ISN'T the only person of interest:
Examiner.com: Why Susan feared her father in law
ABC News
For your convenience I've brought the lyrics and bio to the Patch. All rights and insanity belongs to Steve (Chantrey) Powell. The author of the Patch has no legal or moral(less) rights or ownership to the body of work and links have been supplied.
Steve's Songs for Susan
Waiting For You
You did it your way,
While I awaited your
Appearance in my doorway.
I spent the whole day through
Waiting for you.
It didn't happen
If you had shown up,
I would have thought that our
Relationship was sewn up.
I spent the whole day through
Waiting for you.
I could be getting a mistaken impression,
Each time you seem to gaze at me.
You let me touch you softly. Why? is the question.
And the effect amazes me.
Had trouble sleeping.
Wasn't beside you.
I felt so lonely,
For a little bit I cried too.
I spent the whole night through
Waiting for you.
Repeat bridge
Now I am smitten
Doubt I'll recover
Only one cure and that's to
Have you as my lover.
I'll spend my whole life through
Waiting for you.
©2005-2011 Steve Chantrey
The Light of the City
Words and music by Steve Chantrey
A typical morning, with sky overcast,
If you were beside me, the gloom wouldn't last.
My thinking is clouded that's true:
But only because I need you.
It's dark out, it's raining, the skies are all grey.
I don't think the sun will be shining today,
But while I am thinking of you
The skies I am seeing are blue.
chorus:
The sun didn't shine in Seattle this morning.
What did you expect, hey, what's new?
But I saw a new light turn on in me, eternally,
The moment I laid eyes on you.
The Light of Seattle is you.
Seagulls are following ferries around,
I see planes and clouds floating over the Sound
I wish I were way up there too,
I'd like to be floating with you.
chorus:
The sun didn't shine in Seattle this morning.
What did you expect, hey, what's new?
But I saw a new light turn on in me, eternally,
In ways that I can't misconstrue.
The Light of Seattle is you.
I want you, I love you, I do!
The Light of Seattle is you.
I want to be with you.
The Light of Seattle is you.
©2005-2011 Steve Chantrey
And to know you love me dearly.
If it's only in my heart
It's refreshing, it's a start.
I'm missing you.
Make some room for me within you
For the moment I begin to
Smell the perfume in your hair
And caress you everywhere.
I'm missing you.
I can love you in a secret way.
I can love you each and every day.
There is nothing I can't see.
There is nothing you can't be.
It's not perfect, but I'm missing you!
There's a picture in my heart of you.
There's a place for every part of you.
I'm surviving without you.
Such a life will never do.
I'm missing you.
©2005-2011 Steve Chantrey
You're pretty as a little doll
And I would like to play with all
The things that make a little doll so nice.
And you could dance and you could sing,
And you could do most anything,
And I could taste your sugar and your spice.
Chorus:
Mi muñequita,
My beautiful doll.
Mi muñequita,
Es fundamentál
Que eres todo lo que necesito
Para hacerme tan completo.
You are my little doll, mi muñequita.
I'd like to hold you close to me
And that's how it's supposed to be:
I'd pick you up and hold you to my heart.
My little doll will be my friend,
I hope it's more than just pretend,
And you and I will never be apart.
Chorus:
Mi muñequita,
My beautiful doll.
Mi muñequita,
Es fundamentál
Que eres todo lo que necesito
Para hacerme tan completo.
Eres mi carina, mi muñequita.
And we could find a little place,
A doll house with a little space
To have some little dolls like you and me.
And we'd be together night and day
With lots of time to laugh and play.
And that's how we would live so happily.
Chorus:
Mi muñequita,
My beautiful doll.
Mi muñequita,
Es fundamentál
Que eres todo lo que necesito
Para hacerme tan completo.
Eres mi corazón, mi muñequita.
©2005-2011 Steve Chantrey
When you do Zumba
With its Mambo and Rhumba
You can heat up the room
And make a fool of me.
¡Santa caramba!
Do the Salsa and Samba
With your excellent body
Moving endlessly.
Chorus (after each verse):
¡I love it when you dance for me!
You really shake it, ¡and how!
You do it all so easily.
¡Do it again for me now!
They’ll never find a way to stop it.
Zumba, there’s no way to top it.
I love it when you dance for me.
Zumba there’s no way to top it.
Keep it going, never stop it.
I love it when you dance for me.
I love it when you Zumba me.
Make no mistake,
You get a license to shake,
And strike a pose like a chicken
Strutting to the block.
But there’s good news:
There are no chicken-house blues.
It’s more like dancing and prancing
To the jailhouse rock.
It could be cha cha,
Where the beat’s really gotcha,
Or another hot rhythm
We could dance all day.
Zumba stands ready
Like a swinging machete
As it cuts to the chase
To make us rock and sway.
©2005-2011 Steve Chantrey
I said, "I love you." Is that a sin?
I just might wanna say it once again:
I love you, like it or don't.
I said, "I love you." You should have kissed me.
I felt like giving up when you just dissed me.
I love you, so I guess I won't.
You think I'm crazy, but I insist,
It's simple, I can't resist.
The lips that I never kissed, but wanted
To plant my lips everywhere on you,
And count every hair on you,
And sit here and stare at what you flaunted.
I said, "I love you." Is that a crime?
And what if I say it to you one more time?
I love you, so put me in jail.
I said, "I love you." I couldn't help it.
And you were mistaken if you thought I'd shelf it.
I love you, so cough up my bail.
You made my eyes pop out of their sockets.
You could empty all my pockets.
This flirtation isn't rocket science.
You came along and really knocked my socks off.
Now you're all I think and talk of.
So much for my former self-reliance.
I said, "I love you." Can you forgive
If I can't find another way to live?
I love you, and that is my sin.
I said, "I love you." I think you knew it,
But I got hasty and I think I blew it.
I love you. Can we try again?
It seems like all I do is take a beating,
But giving up is self-defeating.
I only hope there'll be a meeting of minds
I've waited patiently and cried a lot for
Something that I've always sought for
I hope it is the same as what your heart finds.
I said, "I love you." Can you forgive
If I can't find another way to live?
I love you, and that is my sin.
I said, "I love you." I think you knew it,
But I got hasty and I think I blew it.
I love you. I'll say it again and again
Even if it's a sin.
I love you: I've said it
Again and again and again.
©2005-2011 Steve Chantrey
Close to my side, my Lydia,
Whisper into my ear
Softly, your voice I hear
Like ocean breezes
Washing over me
On a sultry summer day.
Soft in my ear, my Lydia,
Soft as I dream of you.
Your voice is like the dew
That quietly
Refreshes in the morn
When I wake to think of you.
Close to my heart
I feel you
Close, with no space
Between us
Shadows alone
Have seen us.
Nothing is real
But we two.
Softly inside, my Lydia.
Touch deep into my soul.
Touch me and I am whole.
With no beginning,
End, or in between,
Just this moment, close to you.
©2005-2011 Steve Chantrey
I Only Feel Love
Words and Music by Steve Chantrey
You can't really say it was love at first sight.
There was no impression that made it seem right.
I didn't feel haste
'Til I had a taste,
Now I see your face
And I only feel love.
I may have seemed clumsy, I didn't move fast.
A love that came slow is a love that will last.
It's plain to me too
That all that you do
Has made me love you.
I only feel love.
I only feel love
When I'm with or without you.
I only feel love
For that "something" about you.
I only feel love for you.
True love doesn't make itself known at the start.
The feelings just grow as they stir in your heart.
With someone so dear
Those feelings are clear.
Whenever you're near
I only feel love.
Instrumental Bridge
True love didn't make itself known at the start.
The feelings just grew and they grew!
I only feel love,
I only feel love,
I only feel love for you.
I only feel love,
I only feel love,
I only feel love for you.
©2005-2011 Steve Chantrey
You were waiting when I first awakened,
And although I must have felt forsaken,
You were there, My Dear Mother.
You were my first love.
I could hear your voice before I knew you,
Your heartbeat was calming to me through you.
I heard you, My Dear Mother,
You were my first love.
Your sweet lullaby,
My first music,
Swept away all darkness and all fear.
We would rock-a-bye,
You would soothe me,
And I knew I was your little dear.
Your eyes were the first that I looked into
Filled with love in spite of what you'd been through.
I felt loved, My Dear Mother.
You were my first love.
Other loves have lived within my heart,
Where they've shared my life and played a part.
It was you who loved me from the start:
You were my first love.
You were my first love.
©2005-2011 Steve Chantrey
There's an ache that grows within my heart,
You and you alone have played a part.
If aching were all I have to do,
I would suffer pain to find a way to be with you.
Can you feel my love and tender care,
Strong enough to reach you anywhere?
If loving were all I have to do,
You would feel my heart reach out for no one else but you.
If there were simple answers for a way to be with you
There isn't much I wouldn't try or much I wouldn't do.
Can true love be patient anymore?
It depends on who it's waiting for.
If waiting were all I have to do,
I would wait forever for a chance to be with you.
Instrumental Bridge
Can true love be patient anymore?
It depends on who it's waiting for.
If waiting were all I have to do,
I would wait forever for a chance to be with you.
©2005-2011 Steve Chantrey
I could be in heaven or in hell,
It doesn't matter, I'd be well
If I could only know that I'd be there with you.
I could fall below the lowest drop
Below the deepest ocean trough
And find a way to reach the top to be with you.
Chorus:
The mystery
Of what you mean to me
Makes every height or depth
Another step
Toward ecstasy.
No matter where
As long as you are there,
One mystery will vanish too:
You'll know how deeply I love you.
Cast upon an island far away
I'd have no reason not to stay
If you were with me and together we were lost.
Thrown into another dimension,
Another earth another sun,
I'd want to be with you wherever I were tossed.
Wandering alone in cold and dark
There will be light, there'll be a spark,
For just a thought of you will make the world bright.
When it's time to take my latest breath,
To walk the odyssey of death
There is no shadow that will take away your light.
©2005-2011 Steve Chantrey
I could be in heaven or in hell,
It doesn't matter, I'd be well
If I could only know that I'd be there with you.
I could fall below the lowest drop
Below the deepest ocean trough
And find a way to reach the top to be with you.
Chorus:
The mystery
Of what you mean to me
Makes every height or depth
Another step
Toward ecstasy.
No matter where
As long as you are there,
One mystery will vanish too:
You'll know how deeply I love you.
Cast upon an island far away
I'd have no reason not to stay
If you were with me and together we were lost.
Thrown into another dimension,
Another earth another sun,
I'd want to be with you wherever I were tossed.
Wandering alone in cold and dark
There will be light, there'll be a spark,
For just a thought of you will make the world bright.
When it's time to take my latest breath,
To walk the odyssey of death
There is no shadow that will take away your light.
©2005-2011 Steve Chantrey
One of my early memories about that time in Portland is the new bright green car (I'm sorry, I never actually knew the make of the car, only the color) our family came to own. A short time after that lovely car appeared in our family, my dad drove it to Southern California to look for work in the aerospace industry. When we followed him there I was devastated to find out that he had traded in our green car as the down payment on a little house in Redondo Beach. In its place in our driveway was an old turtleback from the 1940s. Oh well.
My grandparents had preceded us to California, and were living in Santa Monica. My dad and his parents all found work at Hughes Aircraft (and probably none of them knew any more about Howard Hughes than about the man in the moon). Grandma worked in the cafeteria, Grandpa worked in production, and my dad worked in the tool crib.
In only a matter of months my dad made a unilateral and secretive decision to separate from my mom. So on a given weekend he took us to visit his parents while my mom went to spend the weekend with her aunt in Burbank. Unbeknownst to her, my grandparents had, prior to that weekend visit, transported their trailer house to Northern California, and parked it in Weed.
When we headed over to see my grandparents, and kept going north on Highway 1, something seemed amiss to me, even at seven years old. "Where is momma?" I asked. Grandma curtly replied, "You're never going to see your mother again." Of course, that was more devastating than the disappearance of the green car. My older brother, my sister and I were inconsolable. My baby brother probably just wondered what the commotion was about.
We kept driving until we reached Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Grandma and Grandpa parked their trailer house at a trailer camp along the highway, where I-90 now runs. My dad moved to Yakima, Washington where he had found work as a district supervisor for a regional newspaper. The good news for me was that I did not have to finish the last few weeks of second grade, and the next year I started into third grade without missing a beat.
The trailer camp was surrounded by bull pines and terraced up the side of a hill. I would go up the hill and play with my friends and my brother. On one occasion I informed one of my buddies that my grandparents had kidnapped us. My brother, who overheard, reported the conversation back to my grandmother, who encouraged me to keep my mouth shut (I was lying, in her estimation) by pouring a liberal dose of cayenne pepper on my tongue and making me stand in the corner.
It was also up on that hill above the trailer terrace that I conceived my first melody and lyrics. The lyrics were truly inspired:
Cigars, cigars,
Someone stole my cigars,
So I called the cops
To get my cigars.
The cops finally came.
The darned thing happened again,
So I called the cops
To get my cigars.
I'm not sure where the inspiration came from, since no-one in my family ever smoked cigars. And I am not sure why I remember it after all these years, or why it seemed to have such significance to me. The words are nearly meaningless, and the melody is not exactly the theme for a symphony. Maybe my seven-year-old subconscious knew more about my future vocation than I even knew for many years as an adult.
Nowadays, when I write songs I do a bit of editing. The first words that offer themselves as partners for a given melody do not always make it to the final cut.
©2005-2011 Steve Chantrey
Over the years of performing, there were occasions when someone in the audience would ask if I had made any recordings. I had not. However digital multi-track recording technology, sequencing software and hard and soft digital music instruments have opened up opportunities that were not possible without enormous financial outlays in the old analog world. So I am now making amends, by making the music more widely available.
And now that I am finally putting some of my songs, arrangements and performances into a more or less permanent audio form, I occasionally think of what it will be like for my own grandchildren to put a disk into the player and know that "grandpa wrote that song."
©2005-2011 Steve Chantrey
Yeah "grandpa wrote that song about my mom while he was sniffing her panties".
Examiner.com: Why Susan feared her father in law
ABC News
For your convenience I've brought the lyrics and bio to the Patch. All rights and insanity belongs to Steve (Chantrey) Powell. The author of the Patch has no legal or moral(less) rights or ownership to the body of work and links have been supplied.
Steve's Songs for Susan
Waiting For You
Words and Music by Steve Chantrey
You did your own thing,You did it your way,
While I awaited your
Appearance in my doorway.
I spent the whole day through
Waiting for you.
It didn't happen
If you had shown up,
I would have thought that our
Relationship was sewn up.
I spent the whole day through
Waiting for you.
I could be getting a mistaken impression,
Each time you seem to gaze at me.
You let me touch you softly. Why? is the question.
And the effect amazes me.
Had trouble sleeping.
Wasn't beside you.
I felt so lonely,
For a little bit I cried too.
I spent the whole night through
Waiting for you.
Repeat bridge
Now I am smitten
Doubt I'll recover
Only one cure and that's to
Have you as my lover.
I'll spend my whole life through
Waiting for you.
©2005-2011 Steve Chantrey
The Light of the City
Words and music by Steve Chantrey
A typical morning, with sky overcast,
If you were beside me, the gloom wouldn't last.
My thinking is clouded that's true:
But only because I need you.
It's dark out, it's raining, the skies are all grey.
I don't think the sun will be shining today,
But while I am thinking of you
The skies I am seeing are blue.
chorus:
The sun didn't shine in Seattle this morning.
What did you expect, hey, what's new?
But I saw a new light turn on in me, eternally,
The moment I laid eyes on you.
The Light of Seattle is you.
Seagulls are following ferries around,
I see planes and clouds floating over the Sound
I wish I were way up there too,
I'd like to be floating with you.
chorus:
The sun didn't shine in Seattle this morning.
What did you expect, hey, what's new?
But I saw a new light turn on in me, eternally,
In ways that I can't misconstrue.
The Light of Seattle is you.
I want you, I love you, I do!
The Light of Seattle is you.
I want to be with you.
The Light of Seattle is you.
©2005-2011 Steve Chantrey
I'm Missing You
Words and Music by Steve Chantrey
There's a way to have you near me,And to know you love me dearly.
If it's only in my heart
It's refreshing, it's a start.
I'm missing you.
Make some room for me within you
For the moment I begin to
Smell the perfume in your hair
And caress you everywhere.
I'm missing you.
I can love you in a secret way.
I can love you each and every day.
There is nothing I can't see.
There is nothing you can't be.
It's not perfect, but I'm missing you!
There's a picture in my heart of you.
There's a place for every part of you.
I'm surviving without you.
Such a life will never do.
I'm missing you.
©2005-2011 Steve Chantrey
Mi Muñequita
Words and music by Steve ChantreyYou're pretty as a little doll
And I would like to play with all
The things that make a little doll so nice.
And you could dance and you could sing,
And you could do most anything,
And I could taste your sugar and your spice.
Chorus:
Mi muñequita,
My beautiful doll.
Mi muñequita,
Es fundamentál
Que eres todo lo que necesito
Para hacerme tan completo.
You are my little doll, mi muñequita.
I'd like to hold you close to me
And that's how it's supposed to be:
I'd pick you up and hold you to my heart.
My little doll will be my friend,
I hope it's more than just pretend,
And you and I will never be apart.
Chorus:
Mi muñequita,
My beautiful doll.
Mi muñequita,
Es fundamentál
Que eres todo lo que necesito
Para hacerme tan completo.
Eres mi carina, mi muñequita.
And we could find a little place,
A doll house with a little space
To have some little dolls like you and me.
And we'd be together night and day
With lots of time to laugh and play.
And that's how we would live so happily.
Chorus:
Mi muñequita,
My beautiful doll.
Mi muñequita,
Es fundamentál
Que eres todo lo que necesito
Para hacerme tan completo.
Eres mi corazón, mi muñequita.
©2005-2011 Steve Chantrey
I Love It When You Dance for Me
Words and Music by Steve ChantreyWhen you do Zumba
With its Mambo and Rhumba
You can heat up the room
And make a fool of me.
¡Santa caramba!
Do the Salsa and Samba
With your excellent body
Moving endlessly.
Chorus (after each verse):
¡I love it when you dance for me!
You really shake it, ¡and how!
You do it all so easily.
¡Do it again for me now!
They’ll never find a way to stop it.
Zumba, there’s no way to top it.
I love it when you dance for me.
Zumba there’s no way to top it.
Keep it going, never stop it.
I love it when you dance for me.
I love it when you Zumba me.
Make no mistake,
You get a license to shake,
And strike a pose like a chicken
Strutting to the block.
But there’s good news:
There are no chicken-house blues.
It’s more like dancing and prancing
To the jailhouse rock.
It could be cha cha,
Where the beat’s really gotcha,
Or another hot rhythm
We could dance all day.
Zumba stands ready
Like a swinging machete
As it cuts to the chase
To make us rock and sway.
©2005-2011 Steve Chantrey
I Said, I Love You
Words and Music by Steve ChantreyI said, "I love you." Is that a sin?
I just might wanna say it once again:
I love you, like it or don't.
I said, "I love you." You should have kissed me.
I felt like giving up when you just dissed me.
I love you, so I guess I won't.
You think I'm crazy, but I insist,
It's simple, I can't resist.
The lips that I never kissed, but wanted
To plant my lips everywhere on you,
And count every hair on you,
And sit here and stare at what you flaunted.
I said, "I love you." Is that a crime?
And what if I say it to you one more time?
I love you, so put me in jail.
I said, "I love you." I couldn't help it.
And you were mistaken if you thought I'd shelf it.
I love you, so cough up my bail.
You made my eyes pop out of their sockets.
You could empty all my pockets.
This flirtation isn't rocket science.
You came along and really knocked my socks off.
Now you're all I think and talk of.
So much for my former self-reliance.
I said, "I love you." Can you forgive
If I can't find another way to live?
I love you, and that is my sin.
I said, "I love you." I think you knew it,
But I got hasty and I think I blew it.
I love you. Can we try again?
It seems like all I do is take a beating,
But giving up is self-defeating.
I only hope there'll be a meeting of minds
I've waited patiently and cried a lot for
Something that I've always sought for
I hope it is the same as what your heart finds.
I said, "I love you." Can you forgive
If I can't find another way to live?
I love you, and that is my sin.
I said, "I love you." I think you knew it,
But I got hasty and I think I blew it.
I love you. I'll say it again and again
Even if it's a sin.
I love you: I've said it
Again and again and again.
©2005-2011 Steve Chantrey
My Lydia
Words and Music by Steve ChantreyClose to my side, my Lydia,
Whisper into my ear
Softly, your voice I hear
Like ocean breezes
Washing over me
On a sultry summer day.
Soft in my ear, my Lydia,
Soft as I dream of you.
Your voice is like the dew
That quietly
Refreshes in the morn
When I wake to think of you.
Close to my heart
I feel you
Close, with no space
Between us
Shadows alone
Have seen us.
Nothing is real
But we two.
Softly inside, my Lydia.
Touch deep into my soul.
Touch me and I am whole.
With no beginning,
End, or in between,
Just this moment, close to you.
©2005-2011 Steve Chantrey
Words and Music by Steve Chantrey
You can't really say it was love at first sight.
There was no impression that made it seem right.
I didn't feel haste
'Til I had a taste,
Now I see your face
And I only feel love.
I may have seemed clumsy, I didn't move fast.
A love that came slow is a love that will last.
It's plain to me too
That all that you do
Has made me love you.
I only feel love.
I only feel love
When I'm with or without you.
I only feel love
For that "something" about you.
I only feel love for you.
True love doesn't make itself known at the start.
The feelings just grow as they stir in your heart.
With someone so dear
Those feelings are clear.
Whenever you're near
I only feel love.
Instrumental Bridge
True love didn't make itself known at the start.
The feelings just grew and they grew!
I only feel love,
I only feel love,
I only feel love for you.
I only feel love,
I only feel love,
I only feel love for you.
©2005-2011 Steve Chantrey
You Were My First Love (or Simply Oedipus Complex in my opinion)
Words and Music by Steve ChantreyYou were waiting when I first awakened,
And although I must have felt forsaken,
You were there, My Dear Mother.
You were my first love.
I could hear your voice before I knew you,
Your heartbeat was calming to me through you.
I heard you, My Dear Mother,
You were my first love.
Your sweet lullaby,
My first music,
Swept away all darkness and all fear.
We would rock-a-bye,
You would soothe me,
And I knew I was your little dear.
Your eyes were the first that I looked into
Filled with love in spite of what you'd been through.
I felt loved, My Dear Mother.
You were my first love.
Other loves have lived within my heart,
Where they've shared my life and played a part.
It was you who loved me from the start:
You were my first love.
You were my first love.
©2005-2011 Steve Chantrey
To Be With You
Words and Music by Steve ChantreyThere's an ache that grows within my heart,
You and you alone have played a part.
If aching were all I have to do,
I would suffer pain to find a way to be with you.
Can you feel my love and tender care,
Strong enough to reach you anywhere?
If loving were all I have to do,
You would feel my heart reach out for no one else but you.
If there were simple answers for a way to be with you
There isn't much I wouldn't try or much I wouldn't do.
Can true love be patient anymore?
It depends on who it's waiting for.
If waiting were all I have to do,
I would wait forever for a chance to be with you.
Instrumental Bridge
Can true love be patient anymore?
It depends on who it's waiting for.
If waiting were all I have to do,
I would wait forever for a chance to be with you.
©2005-2011 Steve Chantrey
The Mystery Of What You Mean to Me
Words and Music by Steve ChantreyI could be in heaven or in hell,
It doesn't matter, I'd be well
If I could only know that I'd be there with you.
I could fall below the lowest drop
Below the deepest ocean trough
And find a way to reach the top to be with you.
Chorus:
The mystery
Of what you mean to me
Makes every height or depth
Another step
Toward ecstasy.
No matter where
As long as you are there,
One mystery will vanish too:
You'll know how deeply I love you.
Cast upon an island far away
I'd have no reason not to stay
If you were with me and together we were lost.
Thrown into another dimension,
Another earth another sun,
I'd want to be with you wherever I were tossed.
Wandering alone in cold and dark
There will be light, there'll be a spark,
For just a thought of you will make the world bright.
When it's time to take my latest breath,
To walk the odyssey of death
There is no shadow that will take away your light.
©2005-2011 Steve Chantrey
The Mystery Of What You Mean to Me
Words and Music by Steve ChantreyI could be in heaven or in hell,
It doesn't matter, I'd be well
If I could only know that I'd be there with you.
I could fall below the lowest drop
Below the deepest ocean trough
And find a way to reach the top to be with you.
Chorus:
The mystery
Of what you mean to me
Makes every height or depth
Another step
Toward ecstasy.
No matter where
As long as you are there,
One mystery will vanish too:
You'll know how deeply I love you.
Cast upon an island far away
I'd have no reason not to stay
If you were with me and together we were lost.
Thrown into another dimension,
Another earth another sun,
I'd want to be with you wherever I were tossed.
Wandering alone in cold and dark
There will be light, there'll be a spark,
For just a thought of you will make the world bright.
When it's time to take my latest breath,
To walk the odyssey of death
There is no shadow that will take away your light.
©2005-2011 Steve Chantrey
Meet Steve Chantrey
I was born in Portland, Oregon. At an early age my mother made a unilateral and secretive decision to separate from my dad, and moved with my brother, my sister and me to Chillicothe, Ohio. Pregnant at the time with my younger brother, she suffered through a miserable trip from Oregon to Ohio. My dad found us after a few months, and my parents reconciled. We returned to Portland for a while.One of my early memories about that time in Portland is the new bright green car (I'm sorry, I never actually knew the make of the car, only the color) our family came to own. A short time after that lovely car appeared in our family, my dad drove it to Southern California to look for work in the aerospace industry. When we followed him there I was devastated to find out that he had traded in our green car as the down payment on a little house in Redondo Beach. In its place in our driveway was an old turtleback from the 1940s. Oh well.
My grandparents had preceded us to California, and were living in Santa Monica. My dad and his parents all found work at Hughes Aircraft (and probably none of them knew any more about Howard Hughes than about the man in the moon). Grandma worked in the cafeteria, Grandpa worked in production, and my dad worked in the tool crib.
In only a matter of months my dad made a unilateral and secretive decision to separate from my mom. So on a given weekend he took us to visit his parents while my mom went to spend the weekend with her aunt in Burbank. Unbeknownst to her, my grandparents had, prior to that weekend visit, transported their trailer house to Northern California, and parked it in Weed.
When we headed over to see my grandparents, and kept going north on Highway 1, something seemed amiss to me, even at seven years old. "Where is momma?" I asked. Grandma curtly replied, "You're never going to see your mother again." Of course, that was more devastating than the disappearance of the green car. My older brother, my sister and I were inconsolable. My baby brother probably just wondered what the commotion was about.
We kept driving until we reached Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Grandma and Grandpa parked their trailer house at a trailer camp along the highway, where I-90 now runs. My dad moved to Yakima, Washington where he had found work as a district supervisor for a regional newspaper. The good news for me was that I did not have to finish the last few weeks of second grade, and the next year I started into third grade without missing a beat.
The trailer camp was surrounded by bull pines and terraced up the side of a hill. I would go up the hill and play with my friends and my brother. On one occasion I informed one of my buddies that my grandparents had kidnapped us. My brother, who overheard, reported the conversation back to my grandmother, who encouraged me to keep my mouth shut (I was lying, in her estimation) by pouring a liberal dose of cayenne pepper on my tongue and making me stand in the corner.
It was also up on that hill above the trailer terrace that I conceived my first melody and lyrics. The lyrics were truly inspired:
Cigars, cigars,
Someone stole my cigars,
So I called the cops
To get my cigars.
The cops finally came.
The darned thing happened again,
So I called the cops
To get my cigars.
I'm not sure where the inspiration came from, since no-one in my family ever smoked cigars. And I am not sure why I remember it after all these years, or why it seemed to have such significance to me. The words are nearly meaningless, and the melody is not exactly the theme for a symphony. Maybe my seven-year-old subconscious knew more about my future vocation than I even knew for many years as an adult.
Nowadays, when I write songs I do a bit of editing. The first words that offer themselves as partners for a given melody do not always make it to the final cut.
©2005-2011 Steve Chantrey
It Dawns On Me That I Am a Singer-Songwriter
Until recently I was still doing mostly other people's music, the standards, occasionally throwing in one of my own songs. But in recent years I have reversed the proportion, so that now I perform mostly my own songs.Over the years of performing, there were occasions when someone in the audience would ask if I had made any recordings. I had not. However digital multi-track recording technology, sequencing software and hard and soft digital music instruments have opened up opportunities that were not possible without enormous financial outlays in the old analog world. So I am now making amends, by making the music more widely available.
And now that I am finally putting some of my songs, arrangements and performances into a more or less permanent audio form, I occasionally think of what it will be like for my own grandchildren to put a disk into the player and know that "grandpa wrote that song."
©2005-2011 Steve Chantrey
Yeah "grandpa wrote that song about my mom while he was sniffing her panties".
Monday, August 8, 2011
Bible: Literal or Figurative??
As a Mormon, I'm often asked if I find the Joseph Smith story a bit unbelievable. People who don't understand us well don't realize how important the Bible is to us so the things that Joseph Smith encountered aren't considered to be more important than the things that happen in the Bible. They just happened more recently. I especially have wondered about the Old Testament and the stories of Noah, Moses, and Jonah, etc. I've wondered if they are literal or allegorical. I came across an article on HuffPo that is on that very topic.
[URL="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-lose/4-good-reasons-not-to-read-bible-literally_b_919345.html"]4 Reasons Not to Read the Bible Literally[/URL]
I like that the author, David Lose, points out that the vessels God chose were men who were fallible and made mistakes. Also that the Bible was written by several people and in the New Testament you get a few different accounts of the same events and they don't always match up exactly. Of course they don't. That is how it always is. When we record an experience we record it according to how it happened as WE experienced it. That's completely natural. Also the Bible was written by men, re-translated by men throughout the ages. THAT would have a bearing on how things are written.
My question is: IS the Bible literal? Or are parts of it metaphoric?
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Children... WTH???
So, I really try not to feel regret over stupid life choices I've made. I think of them as OH ISH lessons. Many of you may recall my aversion at attending Hell Hole High and the part of the year where I earned my best education: Upward Bound. I was a timid child, lazy, but freakishly intelligent. By the time I got the hang of things when I moved away from my small and beloved hometown, I'd taken on too much credit hours that I burned out on college way to soon. Stupid unfortuate but you know what I should have done? Taken off in my car across the country. Why not, Trayci?? THAT would have been the coolest life experience ever. NOMADS!!! Alas we did not. We lacked courage or at least I did. we should have adventured.
But I overcame my need to hide behind someone. I'll never do that again. My beloved hometown is changing so much. I don't see myself ever living there as is the golden goal as so many of my high school acquaintances do. I feel I was born in the wrong place at the wrong time. I was meant to live near the ocean.
Enough of where I failed myself and my father lets discuss what I DID do right. I married a man that I deeply respect and we have 2 beautiful daughters that show any sign of the timidity or self loathing I carried in my high school. They are confident in themselves and they're ability to develop REAL friendships. Friends that last a life time. I love seeing my girls have good fun in my hometown and I'm happy to see them navigate the streets of San Francisco. Haggle for things in Mexico, and feel little fear in life. I don't want them to settle for small town safety. Challenge yourselves, girls!! I want no talk of settling for the same rut.
But I overcame my need to hide behind someone. I'll never do that again. My beloved hometown is changing so much. I don't see myself ever living there as is the golden goal as so many of my high school acquaintances do. I feel I was born in the wrong place at the wrong time. I was meant to live near the ocean.
Enough of where I failed myself and my father lets discuss what I DID do right. I married a man that I deeply respect and we have 2 beautiful daughters that show any sign of the timidity or self loathing I carried in my high school. They are confident in themselves and they're ability to develop REAL friendships. Friends that last a life time. I love seeing my girls have good fun in my hometown and I'm happy to see them navigate the streets of San Francisco. Haggle for things in Mexico, and feel little fear in life. I don't want them to settle for small town safety. Challenge yourselves, girls!! I want no talk of settling for the same rut.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Hijacked by my youngest daughter
the youngest daughter in this family is the greatest daughter that ever lived. she does laundry and cooks and cleans! she is just amazing!! (: you should nominate her daughter of the year! yesss. that sounds grand. yay! this was a great day! and look, i'm a poet and i didn't even know it! LOL! hahah Ooo! Bonus! she is hilarious too! who knew! aha. there we go again. (: rhyme rhyme rhyme with me.. i should be a poet.. i would be fantastic.. just like i am going to Seattle when i grow up, to work at Seattle Grace and be a surgeon.. i would be a fantastic surgeon also.. i would just be fantastic at anything. yes. the only jobs i shouldn't have is, the person who has to take the road kill off the road, the garbage woman, mail lady, exterminator, and or work in a factory.. they scare me. yeahh. all those big machines and such.. it's like one wrong move and CRUNCH! oww. that would be unfortunate.. like that poor elf on Harry Potter in Gringotts. yeah. cause of that fantastic dragon that they were soo mean to.. sad sad. i hate animal abuse.. or any kind of abuse.. it's just a sad, sad situation. well this is grand, i love typing that is why i am typing this novel on my mom's blog situator. ha! and my family is insane just to let y'all know.. but i love them.. wow! i should start a blog! i would be fantastic at this! okay well i'm getting tired of typing soo yeah. bye! have a nice day.. or night.. and remember, it's 5 'o clock somewhere!! and we all know what that means.. whoo! (: hmm this should be posted.. yes? i think yes! (: if this gets posted, everyone will love it! it will just be a big hit!
- love, youngest daughter! (:
- love, youngest daughter! (:
Thursday, July 7, 2011
We are the champions. Casey Anthony's Defense Team.
Jose Baez head of Casey Anthony's defense team scored big in this case:
Okay that's not what I meant by scoring, but while I'm on the topic...
Then there's Cheney Mason, who I like to call Foghorn Leghorn. He's a southern gentleman with all the class and polish one would expect from a man of his age and experience.
Mr Mason was apparently asked to demonstrate his IQ score while at a celebratory party for the acquittal of lying slut (Baez's words) and baby killer, Casey Anthony, right across the street from the courthouse.
And yes, that is Dorothy Simms jumping up and down as they pop bottles of champagne and toast each other for the biggest miscarriage of justice since the OJ trial. She's also the fool taking pics of the camera man.
Okay that's not what I meant by scoring, but while I'm on the topic...
Jose Baez Repeatedly Told To Stop Touching Casey During Jail Visits
In the past two weeks Casey Anthony’s attorney Jose Baez has visited her at the jail, seven out of 14 days.
Eyewitness News has discovered that on at least two occasions jail staff had to step in and Baez was warned repeatedly about hugging Casey during their visits.
A jail report states: “The inmate’s attorney was observed hugging inmate and was advised that physical contact was prohibited.”
Then a week later another report stated: “Baez again observed hugging his client.”
The room Baez and Anthony meet in is very small and typically there is a desk and two chairs.
Sources told Eyewitness News that on one occasion, Anthony was sitting and Baez was very close to her face. A corrections officer had to go into the room to separate them.
Eyewitness News confronted Jose Baez about the situation.
“I have no comment,” he said.
Eyewitness news’ legal analyst Bill Schaeffer said it’s unusual that an attorney would ever touch a client.
“The more experience you are in handling these type of clients or situation, the less likely you are to place yourself in a situation that could be regarded as a compromising situation,” said Schaeffer.
When Casey was out on bond, there were several times that she would spend six hours a day at Baez’s office including Saturdays. There’s nothing criminal about having a relationship with a client, but Schaeffer said there are ethical issues.
“The appellate court could find that relationship overstepped the bounds of attorney client relationship and affected that performance and order a new trial,” he said.
There was no evidence that Baez and Casey were actually having a relationship.
The reason touching isn’t allowed at the jail is because contraband items could be passed. Baez told jail officials that he didn’t know the rules, and wouldn’t do it again.
WFTV.com News Friday, October 31, 2008 – updated: 8:43 am EDT October 31, 2008
In the past two weeks Casey Anthony’s attorney Jose Baez has visited her at the jail, seven out of 14 days.Eyewitness News has discovered that on at least two occasions jail staff had to step in and Baez was warned repeatedly about hugging Casey during their visits.
A jail report states: “The inmate’s attorney was observed hugging inmate and was advised that physical contact was prohibited.”
Then a week later another report stated: “Baez again observed hugging his client.”
The room Baez and Anthony meet in is very small and typically there is a desk and two chairs.
Sources told Eyewitness News that on one occasion, Anthony was sitting and Baez was very close to her face. A corrections officer had to go into the room to separate them.
Eyewitness News confronted Jose Baez about the situation.
“I have no comment,” he said.
Eyewitness news’ legal analyst Bill Schaeffer said it’s unusual that an attorney would ever touch a client.
“The more experience you are in handling these type of clients or situation, the less likely you are to place yourself in a situation that could be regarded as a compromising situation,” said Schaeffer.
When Casey was out on bond, there were several times that she would spend six hours a day at Baez’s office including Saturdays. There’s nothing criminal about having a relationship with a client, but Schaeffer said there are ethical issues.
“The appellate court could find that relationship overstepped the bounds of attorney client relationship and affected that performance and order a new trial,” he said.
There was no evidence that Baez and Casey were actually having a relationship.
The reason touching isn’t allowed at the jail is because contraband items could be passed. Baez told jail officials that he didn’t know the rules, and wouldn’t do it again.
WFTV.com News Friday, October 31, 2008 – updated: 8:43 am EDT October 31, 2008
Then there's Cheney Mason, who I like to call Foghorn Leghorn. He's a southern gentleman with all the class and polish one would expect from a man of his age and experience.
Mr Mason was apparently asked to demonstrate his IQ score while at a celebratory party for the acquittal of lying slut (Baez's words) and baby killer, Casey Anthony, right across the street from the courthouse.
And yes, that is Dorothy Simms jumping up and down as they pop bottles of champagne and toast each other for the biggest miscarriage of justice since the OJ trial. She's also the fool taking pics of the camera man.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Where's Briar??
I've been to San Francisco and glued to the Casey Anthony trial. I haven't felt the urge to blog on the latter but will get back to the former when the verdict is in.
BTW I had a visitor from Buckingham England.
BTW I had a visitor from Buckingham England.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Suck on THAT Glenn Beck!!!
Jon Stewart accidentally cut himself during a segment about Wienergate. That's real blood, none of that fake-o crap that exudes from Glenn Beck's fat, lying, black-hole-for-a-soul body.
Stewart's ratings have soared above Faux News and he's taking flak for taking it easy on his good friend Anthony Weiner. Personally I haven't had the stomach for his jokes on the matter, but it's not been enough for man other news outlets. Wait... OTHER news outlets?? The Daily Show isn't a news show and Jon Stewart is nothing but a stand up comedian with a degree in psychology!! He's not even on a decent news channel unless your news comes from the Blue Collar Comedy Tour (which is where Sarah Palin got HER degree :P
Stewart's ratings have soared above Faux News and he's taking flak for taking it easy on his good friend Anthony Weiner. Personally I haven't had the stomach for his jokes on the matter, but it's not been enough for man other news outlets. Wait... OTHER news outlets?? The Daily Show isn't a news show and Jon Stewart is nothing but a stand up comedian with a degree in psychology!! He's not even on a decent news channel unless your news comes from the Blue Collar Comedy Tour (which is where Sarah Palin got HER degree :P
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Weinergate
This pains me, it really does. It's so hard on me to see a member of the party of mostly honest and virtuous politicians take a hit like this. I know gentle reader, you are probably a feverish Republican holding onto the idea that Bush wasn't as responsible for the enormous loss of life since 9/11 as bin Laden was. Or that Sarah Palin really can see Russia and you've probably plugged your ears when everyone tries to tell the TRUE account of Paul Revere and said "lalalala I can't hear you!" You think "What? Why is the Queen of the Patch so twisted on who the party of skank really is?? It's because in the last several years the Republicans have gained ground on the pervymeter. I'm not forgetting Bill Clinton. Actually he is one of the worst in history not because he was a hopeless horndog but because HE LIED ABOUT IT!!! I don't know why the country persists on holding the government employees up to some virtue scale that most of the voters don't obey themselves. So you're a cheating ho-bag.. I DON'T CARE! But don't do it on taxpayer's time or money. And in the name of all that is good and holy if you are asked if you are a ho-bag, you say "That would really be none of your business, is it now?" UNLESS you've violated some law or done something at MY personal expense. Then you say "Yes.. I'm sorry, I'm a ho-bag who did bad things on your dime and I am going to step down and not cost you another cent by fighting this."
John Edwards (Dem ho-bag) should go to prison. I saw that one coming before I chose my candidate for 2008. His poor wife deserves a special place in heaven for dealing with him.
Mark Sanford (Rep ho-bag) should go to prison too but perhaps in Argentina because he was just the most stupid ho-bag on the planet.
Eliot Spitzer (Dem ho-bag)"Client #9 is just sad with his prostitution scandal. He couldn't find a freebie?? Okay he's really not cute... n/m
Bob Barr (Rep ho-bag) Defense of Marriage Act: 'to protect marriage from homosexuals who seek to destroy it by, um, getting married.' Licking whipped cream off of strippers at his inaugural party. He was on his 3rd wife (really defense of marriage?). Not sure what his position was on dead-beat dads (he didn't pay child support) or abortion (he DID pay for a wife's abortion).
IF you are pushing a bill to send gay people directly to hell for immorality, you don't get to be immoral at all. Soliciting sex from an undercover cop in an airport bathroom is pretty ironic, dontcha think??? I mean come on, really? You are the poster man of Gay People R Going 2 Hell Club. Right Larry Craig (Rep ho-bag)?? He resigned, to his credit, until he unresigned... And there were just so many others that had rode the hypocrite express.
Mark Foley (Rep ho-bag) Chairman of the House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children, he introduced legislation targeting online sexual predators. As he explained to an NPR interviewer in 2002, "Where I have to draw the line is using children for the excitement of those more mature people who should know the difference and know better." I won't post the completely disgusting and horrifying messages he sent his 16 y/o male page, but let's just say EWWWWWW! (Google if you don't believe me but I warn you it's graphic)
John Ensign (Rep ho-bag) Used influence to get the husband of his mistress a job. He resigned.
Chris Lee (Rep. ho-bag)(What is it with the New York Repugs??? Sent nasty pics to a chick he found on Craig's list?? WTH?? Hasn't enough horror came from Craig's list? CRAIG should be serving time!!!! He resigned.
David Vitter (Rep ho-bag) Prostitute junky and stop sign murderer. Didn't resign.
Mark Souder (Rep ho-bag) Souder and his aide also filmed a PSA advocating abstinence. The aide he had an affair with... Resigned.
Now you see I tried to be fair by alternating parties, but Republicans HAVE taken the lead lately. Sure I've missed a few, I could go back in time and shock you some more. But my point is this: If your name is Weiner, people are just WAITING for you to do something stupid, but nasty pics on Twitter??? DUDE? Are you stupid?? Oh yeah, yeah you are. You didn't even make it umm.. Difficult to find now did you? Resign. For the love of the Democrat party, RESIGN!!!
And let this be a lesson Rick Santorum. You're last name has people all a twitter (heh) so you better mind your P's and Q's. I'll let Google solve that one for my readers too, but again I warn you. It will scar you for life!
John Edwards (Dem ho-bag) should go to prison. I saw that one coming before I chose my candidate for 2008. His poor wife deserves a special place in heaven for dealing with him.
Mark Sanford (Rep ho-bag) should go to prison too but perhaps in Argentina because he was just the most stupid ho-bag on the planet.
Eliot Spitzer (Dem ho-bag)"Client #9 is just sad with his prostitution scandal. He couldn't find a freebie?? Okay he's really not cute... n/m
Bob Barr (Rep ho-bag) Defense of Marriage Act: 'to protect marriage from homosexuals who seek to destroy it by, um, getting married.' Licking whipped cream off of strippers at his inaugural party. He was on his 3rd wife (really defense of marriage?). Not sure what his position was on dead-beat dads (he didn't pay child support) or abortion (he DID pay for a wife's abortion).
IF you are pushing a bill to send gay people directly to hell for immorality, you don't get to be immoral at all. Soliciting sex from an undercover cop in an airport bathroom is pretty ironic, dontcha think??? I mean come on, really? You are the poster man of Gay People R Going 2 Hell Club. Right Larry Craig (Rep ho-bag)?? He resigned, to his credit, until he unresigned... And there were just so many others that had rode the hypocrite express.
Mark Foley (Rep ho-bag) Chairman of the House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children, he introduced legislation targeting online sexual predators. As he explained to an NPR interviewer in 2002, "Where I have to draw the line is using children for the excitement of those more mature people who should know the difference and know better." I won't post the completely disgusting and horrifying messages he sent his 16 y/o male page, but let's just say EWWWWWW! (Google if you don't believe me but I warn you it's graphic)
John Ensign (Rep ho-bag) Used influence to get the husband of his mistress a job. He resigned.
Chris Lee (Rep. ho-bag)(What is it with the New York Repugs??? Sent nasty pics to a chick he found on Craig's list?? WTH?? Hasn't enough horror came from Craig's list? CRAIG should be serving time!!!! He resigned.
David Vitter (Rep ho-bag) Prostitute junky and stop sign murderer. Didn't resign.
Mark Souder (Rep ho-bag) Souder and his aide also filmed a PSA advocating abstinence. The aide he had an affair with... Resigned.
Now you see I tried to be fair by alternating parties, but Republicans HAVE taken the lead lately. Sure I've missed a few, I could go back in time and shock you some more. But my point is this: If your name is Weiner, people are just WAITING for you to do something stupid, but nasty pics on Twitter??? DUDE? Are you stupid?? Oh yeah, yeah you are. You didn't even make it umm.. Difficult to find now did you? Resign. For the love of the Democrat party, RESIGN!!!
And let this be a lesson Rick Santorum. You're last name has people all a twitter (heh) so you better mind your P's and Q's. I'll let Google solve that one for my readers too, but again I warn you. It will scar you for life!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
The Hunger Games books and movie
I'm on my second time through The Hunger Games Trilogy (book 2 as we speak). And the movie is being shot. There are grumblings about some of the casting choices.
Back with more later on.
Back with more later on.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Politics and Religious Intolerance
Poor Jon Huntsman he's found himself the target of many Mormons thanks to his answer about his membership in the Mormon church asked by Melinda Henneberger. This is the part of the interview that has members in an uproar.
I've been more sympathetic than most (of course, I'm liberal)and I live in Utah. Idaho, parts of Arizona and Nevada are the same. I think our rural areas fall into a twisted dogma that can be a caricature of what the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ truly is intended to be as restored by Joseph Smith. There was a question that made it's way to facebook "How would YOU answer the question in Huntsman's position?" This was my answer:
Some LDS Conservatives Worship Political Dogma
The real question is, have you always been so comfortable with your actions that you are okay with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints to be judged by YOUR actions?
And as for whether or not Huntsman still belongs to the Church of Latter-day Saints, I know less than I did before I asked him. ("I'm a very spiritual person," as opposed to a religious one, he says, "and proud of my Mormon roots." Roots? That makes it sound as if you're not a member anymore. Are you? "That's tough to define," he says. "There are varying degrees. I come from a long line of saloon keepers and proselytizers, and I draw from both sides.")
I've been more sympathetic than most (of course, I'm liberal)and I live in Utah. Idaho, parts of Arizona and Nevada are the same. I think our rural areas fall into a twisted dogma that can be a caricature of what the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ truly is intended to be as restored by Joseph Smith. There was a question that made it's way to facebook "How would YOU answer the question in Huntsman's position?" This was my answer:
I think he did answer it well. Now days being Mormon IS hard to define. All around me I see people who find things in shade of black and white and I'm not just talking about racists. I'm often surprised that people don't stumble in testimony meeting and say that they know that Glenn Beck is the true prophet. I see little tolerance and a lot of judgement. More people in my area identify with the Tea Party. THAT'S religious to them. It's not an easy question and honestly it's practically political suicide.Then a guy posted the most EXCELLENT OP ED:
Some LDS Conservatives Worship Political Dogma
The real question is, have you always been so comfortable with your actions that you are okay with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints to be judged by YOUR actions?
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Affirmation (Savage Garden)
Always loved these lyrics:
Affirmation lyrics
I believe the sun should never set upon an argument
I believe we place our happiness in other people's hands
I believe that junk food tastes so good because it's bad for you
I believe your parents did the best job they knew how to do
I believe that beauty magazines promote low self esteem
I believe I'm loved when I'm completely by myself alone
I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned
I believe you can't appreciate real love until you've been burned
I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side
I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye
I believe you can't control or choose your sexuality
I believe that trust is more important than monogamy
I believe your most attractive features are your heart and soul
I believe that family is worth more than money or gold
I believe the struggle for financial freedom is unfair
I believe the only ones who disagree are millionaires
I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned
I believe you can't appreciate real love until you've been burned
I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side
I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye
I believe forgiveness is the key to your own happiness
I believe that wedded bliss negates the need to be undressed
I believe that God does not endorse TV evangelists
I believe in love surviving death into eternity
I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned
I believe you can't appreciate real love until you've been burned
I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side
I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye
Affirmation lyrics
I believe the sun should never set upon an argument
I believe we place our happiness in other people's hands
I believe that junk food tastes so good because it's bad for you
I believe your parents did the best job they knew how to do
I believe that beauty magazines promote low self esteem
I believe I'm loved when I'm completely by myself alone
I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned
I believe you can't appreciate real love until you've been burned
I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side
I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye
I believe you can't control or choose your sexuality
I believe that trust is more important than monogamy
I believe your most attractive features are your heart and soul
I believe that family is worth more than money or gold
I believe the struggle for financial freedom is unfair
I believe the only ones who disagree are millionaires
I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned
I believe you can't appreciate real love until you've been burned
I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side
I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye
I believe forgiveness is the key to your own happiness
I believe that wedded bliss negates the need to be undressed
I believe that God does not endorse TV evangelists
I believe in love surviving death into eternity
I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned
I believe you can't appreciate real love until you've been burned
I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side
I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye
Monday, May 9, 2011
President Obama's 60 Minutes Interview
Great interview after the operation that took out Osama bin Laden. Now knowing how long the president knew this was going down it explains his release of the long form birth certificate. I thought that it would be a good way to sweep the legs out beneath the more insane candidates running for president in 2012 but it turns out that a little reverse psychology on the media goes a looooong way. It definitely sent them on a wild goose chase while the top secret mission was going down and I'm sure he knew that it would. I can't help but laugh at the fact that the breaking news announcement interrupting Celebrity Apprentice.
Anyway, Here's the interview:
Full Transcript
Anyway, Here's the interview:
Full Transcript
Terrorist Intel Motherlode
It's been a week since Osama Bin Laden was killed and apparently his Pakistani hideout contained a wealth of information described as the size of "a small college library". From what I've seen we know the following:
We took bin Laden out mid mid-life crisis. He dyed his beard dark brown and could sit for hours watching himself on TV. Did he WATCH the videos he took of himself watching himself on TV??? And why didn't anyone tell him that yellow didn't flatter him?
His plans for attack were on big US cities on holidays where crowds gathered in public places.
He planned to recruit minorities to divide the nation. To encourage mistrust of anyone different. Didn't he watch FOX News?? The GOP and Tea Party has been doing that for over four years!!!!
He documented the names, addresses, and phone numbers of other players within the Taliban network. I'm guessing they will quickly move to make sure they are not easily tracked down.
Now we're left wondering who we can trust. Are we providing aid to a country that knowingly hid bin Laden from us? All eyes are on Pakistan now to see if they are with us or against us.
And from the people who brought you "101 reasons why waterboarding isn't torture" we have "Was killing Osama bin Laden illegal?" Whose campaign slogan will THAT be? I'm betting Palin.
We took bin Laden out mid mid-life crisis. He dyed his beard dark brown and could sit for hours watching himself on TV. Did he WATCH the videos he took of himself watching himself on TV??? And why didn't anyone tell him that yellow didn't flatter him?
His plans for attack were on big US cities on holidays where crowds gathered in public places.
He planned to recruit minorities to divide the nation. To encourage mistrust of anyone different. Didn't he watch FOX News?? The GOP and Tea Party has been doing that for over four years!!!!
He documented the names, addresses, and phone numbers of other players within the Taliban network. I'm guessing they will quickly move to make sure they are not easily tracked down.
Now we're left wondering who we can trust. Are we providing aid to a country that knowingly hid bin Laden from us? All eyes are on Pakistan now to see if they are with us or against us.
And from the people who brought you "101 reasons why waterboarding isn't torture" we have "Was killing Osama bin Laden illegal?" Whose campaign slogan will THAT be? I'm betting Palin.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Happy Mother's Day
It's nice to be reminded what you've done RIGHT!! This year for Mother's day my child count is up to 6. Two that I birthed my very own self and 4 have adopted me. I love them all and appreciate their appreciation!!
I couldn't ask for better people in my life. My daughters are my best friends and so thoughtful. I'm grateful for my husband too. I'm blessed to have such a wonderful family. I love them so very much :)
I couldn't ask for better people in my life. My daughters are my best friends and so thoughtful. I'm grateful for my husband too. I'm blessed to have such a wonderful family. I love them so very much :)
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Osama bin Laden is dead
It's been a long time coming and sooooo many unnecessary deaths. The following is a compilation on the search for the devil himself:
Clinton administration
Capturing Osama bin Laden had been an objective of the United States government since the presidency of Bill Clinton. Shortly after the September 11 attacks it was revealed that President Clinton had signed a directive authorizing the CIA (and specifically their elite Special Activities Division) to apprehend bin Laden and bring him to the United States to stand trial after the 1998 United States embassy bombings in Africa; if taking bin Laden alive was deemed impossible, then deadly force was authorized. On August 20, 1998, 66 cruise missiles launched by United States Navy ships in the Arabian Sea struck bin Laden's training camps near Khost in Afghanistan, narrowly missing him by a few hours. In 1999 the CIA, together with Pakistani military intelligence, had prepared a team of approximately 60 Pakistani commandos to infiltrate Afghanistan to capture or kill bin Laden, but the plan was aborted by the 1999 Pakistani coup d'état; in 2000, foreign operatives working on behalf of the CIA had fired a rocket-propelled grenade at a convoy of vehicles in which bin Laden was traveling through the mountains of Afghanistan, hitting one of the vehicles but not the one in which bin Laden was riding.
In 2000, prior to the September 11 attacks, Paul Bremer characterized the Clinton administration as "correctly focused on bin Laden", while Robert Oakley criticized their "obsession with Osama".
Bush administration
According to The Washington Post, the US government concluded that Osama bin Laden was present during the Battle of Tora Bora, Afghanistan in late 2001, and according to civilian and military officials with first-hand knowledge, failure by the US to commit enough US ground troops to hunt him led to his escape and was the gravest failure by the US in the war against al Qaeda. Intelligence officials have assembled what they believe to be decisive evidence, from contemporary and subsequent interrogations and intercepted communications, that bin Laden began the battle of Tora Bora inside the cave complex along Afghanistan's mountainous eastern border.
The Washington Post also reported that the CIA unit composed of their special operations paramilitary forces dedicated to capturing Osama was shut down in late 2005.
US and Afghanistan forces raided the mountain caves in Tora Bora between August 14–16, 2007. The military was drawn to the area after receiving intelligence of a pre-Ramadan meeting held by al Qaeda members. After killing dozens of al Qaeda and Taliban members, they did not find either Osama bin Laden or Ayman al-Zawahiri.
Immediately after the 9/11 attacks, US government officials named bin Laden and the Al-Qaeda organization as the prime suspects and offered a reward of $25 million for information leading to his capture or death. On July 13, 2007, this figure was doubled to $50 million.
The Airline Pilots Association and the Air Transport Association had offered an additional $2 million reward.
Obama administration
Members of the Obama administration track the mission that killed bin Laden
U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said in December 2009 that officials had had no reliable information on Bin Laden's whereabouts for years. One week later, General Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan said in December 2009 that al-Qaeda will not be defeated unless its leader, Osama Bin Laden, is captured or killed. Testifying to the U.S. Congress, he said bin Laden had become an "iconic figure, whose survival emboldens al-Qaeda as a franchising organization across the world", and that Obama's deployment of 30,000 extra troops to Afghanistan meant that success would be possible. "I don't think that we can finally defeat al-Qaeda until he's captured or killed", McChrystal said of Bin Laden. "Killing or capturing bin Laden would not spell the end of al-Qaeda, but the movement could not be eradicated while he remained at large."
In April 2011, Obama approved an operation to capture bin Laden. On May 1, 2011 (23:30 EDT), Obama released a statement saying that American forces had killed bin Laden.
During the Bush administration:
...As the months and years went by after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks -- and Bush’s initial bluster about capturing the al Qaeda leader “dead or alive” became a source of embarrassment -- Bush began to insist that bin Laden himself wasn’t so very important.
"I truly am not that concerned about him," Bush said at a White House press conference on March 13, 2002. And of course the following March, he shifted America’s focus to Iraq, which proved to be a gigantic diversion.
The intelligence on WOM was invented to justify the war in Iraq. Intelligence that was invented and GW Bush admitted it. The intelligence from the CIA and Pakistani government proved to be real and Obama acted quickly. Our country and every other country who lived in terror should be thanking President Obama and the brave troops, foreign and domestic. The former presidents have.
George W. Bush:
"Earlier this evening, President Obama called to inform me that American forces killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of the al Qaeda network that attacked America on September 11, 2001. I congratulated him and the men and women of our military and intelligence communities who devoted their lives to this mission. They have our everlasting gratitude. This momentous achievement marks a victory for America, for people who seek peace around the world, and for all those who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001. The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done."
Bill Clinton:
"This is a profoundly important moment not just for the families of those who lost their lives on 9/11 and in al-Qaida's other attacks but for people all over the world who want to build a common future of peace, freedom, and cooperation for our children.
I congratulate the President, the National Security team and the members of our armed forces on bringing Osama bin Laden to justice after more than a decade of murderous al-Qaida attacks."
Even John McCain:
"I am overjoyed that we finally got the world's top terrorist. The world is a better and more just place now that Osama bin Laden is no longer in it. I hope the families of the victims of the September 11th attacks will sleep easier tonight and every night hence knowing that justice has been done. I commend the President and his team, as well as our men and women in uniform and our intelligence professionals, for this superb achievement.
"But while we take heart in the news that Osama bin Laden is dead, we must be mindful that al-Qaeda and its terrorist allies are still lethal and determined enemies, and we must remain vigilant to defeat them."
Clinton administration
Capturing Osama bin Laden had been an objective of the United States government since the presidency of Bill Clinton. Shortly after the September 11 attacks it was revealed that President Clinton had signed a directive authorizing the CIA (and specifically their elite Special Activities Division) to apprehend bin Laden and bring him to the United States to stand trial after the 1998 United States embassy bombings in Africa; if taking bin Laden alive was deemed impossible, then deadly force was authorized. On August 20, 1998, 66 cruise missiles launched by United States Navy ships in the Arabian Sea struck bin Laden's training camps near Khost in Afghanistan, narrowly missing him by a few hours. In 1999 the CIA, together with Pakistani military intelligence, had prepared a team of approximately 60 Pakistani commandos to infiltrate Afghanistan to capture or kill bin Laden, but the plan was aborted by the 1999 Pakistani coup d'état; in 2000, foreign operatives working on behalf of the CIA had fired a rocket-propelled grenade at a convoy of vehicles in which bin Laden was traveling through the mountains of Afghanistan, hitting one of the vehicles but not the one in which bin Laden was riding.
In 2000, prior to the September 11 attacks, Paul Bremer characterized the Clinton administration as "correctly focused on bin Laden", while Robert Oakley criticized their "obsession with Osama".
Bush administration
According to The Washington Post, the US government concluded that Osama bin Laden was present during the Battle of Tora Bora, Afghanistan in late 2001, and according to civilian and military officials with first-hand knowledge, failure by the US to commit enough US ground troops to hunt him led to his escape and was the gravest failure by the US in the war against al Qaeda. Intelligence officials have assembled what they believe to be decisive evidence, from contemporary and subsequent interrogations and intercepted communications, that bin Laden began the battle of Tora Bora inside the cave complex along Afghanistan's mountainous eastern border.
The Washington Post also reported that the CIA unit composed of their special operations paramilitary forces dedicated to capturing Osama was shut down in late 2005.
US and Afghanistan forces raided the mountain caves in Tora Bora between August 14–16, 2007. The military was drawn to the area after receiving intelligence of a pre-Ramadan meeting held by al Qaeda members. After killing dozens of al Qaeda and Taliban members, they did not find either Osama bin Laden or Ayman al-Zawahiri.
Immediately after the 9/11 attacks, US government officials named bin Laden and the Al-Qaeda organization as the prime suspects and offered a reward of $25 million for information leading to his capture or death. On July 13, 2007, this figure was doubled to $50 million.
The Airline Pilots Association and the Air Transport Association had offered an additional $2 million reward.
Obama administration
Members of the Obama administration track the mission that killed bin Laden
U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said in December 2009 that officials had had no reliable information on Bin Laden's whereabouts for years. One week later, General Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan said in December 2009 that al-Qaeda will not be defeated unless its leader, Osama Bin Laden, is captured or killed. Testifying to the U.S. Congress, he said bin Laden had become an "iconic figure, whose survival emboldens al-Qaeda as a franchising organization across the world", and that Obama's deployment of 30,000 extra troops to Afghanistan meant that success would be possible. "I don't think that we can finally defeat al-Qaeda until he's captured or killed", McChrystal said of Bin Laden. "Killing or capturing bin Laden would not spell the end of al-Qaeda, but the movement could not be eradicated while he remained at large."
In April 2011, Obama approved an operation to capture bin Laden. On May 1, 2011 (23:30 EDT), Obama released a statement saying that American forces had killed bin Laden.
During the Bush administration:
...As the months and years went by after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks -- and Bush’s initial bluster about capturing the al Qaeda leader “dead or alive” became a source of embarrassment -- Bush began to insist that bin Laden himself wasn’t so very important.
"I truly am not that concerned about him," Bush said at a White House press conference on March 13, 2002. And of course the following March, he shifted America’s focus to Iraq, which proved to be a gigantic diversion.
The intelligence on WOM was invented to justify the war in Iraq. Intelligence that was invented and GW Bush admitted it. The intelligence from the CIA and Pakistani government proved to be real and Obama acted quickly. Our country and every other country who lived in terror should be thanking President Obama and the brave troops, foreign and domestic. The former presidents have.
George W. Bush:
"Earlier this evening, President Obama called to inform me that American forces killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of the al Qaeda network that attacked America on September 11, 2001. I congratulated him and the men and women of our military and intelligence communities who devoted their lives to this mission. They have our everlasting gratitude. This momentous achievement marks a victory for America, for people who seek peace around the world, and for all those who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001. The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done."
Bill Clinton:
"This is a profoundly important moment not just for the families of those who lost their lives on 9/11 and in al-Qaida's other attacks but for people all over the world who want to build a common future of peace, freedom, and cooperation for our children.
I congratulate the President, the National Security team and the members of our armed forces on bringing Osama bin Laden to justice after more than a decade of murderous al-Qaida attacks."
Even John McCain:
"I am overjoyed that we finally got the world's top terrorist. The world is a better and more just place now that Osama bin Laden is no longer in it. I hope the families of the victims of the September 11th attacks will sleep easier tonight and every night hence knowing that justice has been done. I commend the President and his team, as well as our men and women in uniform and our intelligence professionals, for this superb achievement.
"But while we take heart in the news that Osama bin Laden is dead, we must be mindful that al-Qaeda and its terrorist allies are still lethal and determined enemies, and we must remain vigilant to defeat them."
Sunday, May 1, 2011
So seriously unfair.
When I was 15 a very wild boy moved to my town. He was 17 and frankly he was hell on wheels. Maybe that was why I found him irresistible from day one. He gave me my very first kiss. He drove like a mad man but to this day I've never seen one better to this day. He taught me something much more important and I've never forgotten it. I watched him be judged and treated so unfairly that he didn't stand a chance at being accepted. No one took the time to see the good in him but me. I knew it was in him, I watched him try to make amends but a town full of people had found him guilty at first sight. I certainly wouldn't want my beliefs to be judged by that.
Anyway I've talked to him on and off throughout the years. He has three kids and two of them are the same age as my kids. His oldest, his only daughter, was in a car accident and had to have brain surgery. She nearly died and to this day she's not regained full brain activity. Now his 16 y/o son has cancer. They fought it and thought it was gone but it's back and it's in his bones. I don't know what that means and my friend can only talk about it in small doses. I can't see how this boy can fight it. My friend thinks it's some sort of karma for the things he did as a teen. I think if that's how that worked the whole town that judged him would be sick.
I'm at a crossroads with my headache. I find no relief and so I've sat down and refuse to choose a path. No surgery, but no stronger meds. It's not going away and honestly death would be kinder for everyone. I would take my old boyfriend's son's cancer. I mean that. it's not empty words. I would take it gladly.
Anyway I've talked to him on and off throughout the years. He has three kids and two of them are the same age as my kids. His oldest, his only daughter, was in a car accident and had to have brain surgery. She nearly died and to this day she's not regained full brain activity. Now his 16 y/o son has cancer. They fought it and thought it was gone but it's back and it's in his bones. I don't know what that means and my friend can only talk about it in small doses. I can't see how this boy can fight it. My friend thinks it's some sort of karma for the things he did as a teen. I think if that's how that worked the whole town that judged him would be sick.
I'm at a crossroads with my headache. I find no relief and so I've sat down and refuse to choose a path. No surgery, but no stronger meds. It's not going away and honestly death would be kinder for everyone. I would take my old boyfriend's son's cancer. I mean that. it's not empty words. I would take it gladly.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Notice how polite I can be...
After being TRASHED about my religion I had to do something I didn't want or expect to do. I called someone out. I appreciate the fact he's kept his distance and so I've hidden the post. Clearly I'm not bluffing when I say that I know who visits my blog. I will give him this: He had the semi-courage to confront me. I'll keep it down unless I'm provoked further.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Donald Trump vs....
Donald Trump gets into these feuds with various celebrities and it's just going to get worse now. I think we shall keep up with them here. He's so elementary school!!
Trump vs. Rosie O'Donnell
Trump vs. Rihanna
Trump vs. Jerry Seinfeld
Trump vs. Robert DeNiro
Trump vs. Cher
Trump vs. Rosie O'Donnell
Trump vs. Rihanna
Trump vs. Jerry Seinfeld
Trump vs. Robert DeNiro
Trump vs. Cher
White House releases birth certificate
What do you do when you're a birther and no longer have a legitimate cause (not that it was ever legitimate)? My guess? They won't accept the long form birth certificate that they've been demanding for years now. Donald Trump is taking full credit for the White Houses decision to release the document making him look more ridiculous than ever. President Obama said in a press conference concerning the release: "I am speaking for the vast majority of the American people as well as for the press," he said. "We do not have time for this kind of silliness. We have better stuff to do. I have got better stuff to do. We have got big problems to solve." I've supported several groups on many issues over the past few years and I was sent a petition yesterday on the matter of the birth certificate. Specifically the GOP leaders and representatives of states that were supporting bills in keeping with the birther issues. Do we have the time and money to waste on something that is so ridiculous as this is? Shouldn't we look at our Governors, and state representatives and ask them what is it they are using our tax dollars to accomplish? This was asinine and it makes the people who long supported it look asinine too. Some people enjoy looking like a fool and will continue to do so. I wonder if they know who they are...
Update: Reactions are pouring in on the issue of the birth certificate. This is going to be a fun issue to blog about because some of these people are SOOOO INCREDIBLY STUPID!!!!
Also I'm posting video of the President's press conference. You know that accusation that he comes off elitist and superior?? Oh yeah, this is a prime example and you know why? BECAUSE HE IS!!!!!
Update: Reactions are pouring in on the issue of the birth certificate. This is going to be a fun issue to blog about because some of these people are SOOOO INCREDIBLY STUPID!!!!
House Majority Leader John Boehner's spokesman, Michael Steel said in a statement, according to CNN, "This has long been a settled issue. The Speaker’s focus is on cutting spending, lowering gas prices, and creating American jobs.”(This from the man who said this: [Obama's stimulus programs is]one of the biggest peacetime spending binges in American history." Romney, Romney, Romney... Shhhhh! We're at war with Iraq and Afghanistan, not to mention our involvement in Libya. Perhaps you should fly under the radar for awhile. I doubt that our servicemen and their families forget ever that it isn't peacetime.)
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, who has reacted less than enthusiastically to the prospect of a Trump 2012 campaign, reacted to the release during an appearance on Fox News. Mediate reports the the GOP leader said, “I have criticized members of my own party for making this some kind of an issue and so I am really surprised that the White House is doing the same.”
Sarah Palin wrote in a tweet, "Media: admit it, Trump forced the issue. Now, don't let the WH distract you w/the birth crt from what Bernanke says today. Stay focused, eh?"
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich exclusively told Talking Points Memo that he sees the birth certificate ordeal as "strange." He said, "All I would say is, why did it take so long?"
Former Governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney wrote in a tweet, "What President Obama should really be releasing is a jobs plan."
Also I'm posting video of the President's press conference. You know that accusation that he comes off elitist and superior?? Oh yeah, this is a prime example and you know why? BECAUSE HE IS!!!!!
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Liberal Mormon. Yes we exist :)
Not every issue is black and white. It's important to concentrate on the gray areas sometimes. I've found links to the LDS church's position on some issues that venture into morality vs. legal. The information I will be posting is quotes by President Obama previous to his election. I realize that his positions on some of these issues may have changed or run deeper than a sound bite allows.
Abortion:
That is my position as well.
Same sex marriage:
I think everyone is aware of the LDS church's view on same sex marriage.
President Obama's position as President has had to be rethought as Prop 8 was overturned as unconstitutional.
Yup, I agree with that. I support civil unions and all of the rights afforded to a heterosexual couple. I support all civil rights of LGBT Americans, including the overturning of Don't Ask Don't Tell.
Basically I believe it's futile to fight some things like marijuana, prostitution, etc. Instead of fighting these things at great cost to taxpayers, legalize it, government regulate it, and tax the heck out of it :)
Pro choice=Free agency=Free country= What I believe. There is no judge in America that can deal with bad choices like God will. In the meantime, live life as positively as possible.
Abortion:
The Church allows for possible exceptions for its members when:Of course this choice can't be made without a great deal of council. Spiritual AND temporal.
* Pregnancy results from rape or incest, or
* A competent physician determines that the life or health of the mother is in serious jeopardy, or
* A competent physician determines that the fetus has severe defects that will not allow the baby to survive beyond birth.
Preventing Unintended Pregnancy:He opposes mid-late term abortion.
Barack Obama is an original co-sponsor of legislation to expand access to contraception, health information and preventive services to help reduce unintended pregnancies. Introduced in January 2007, the Prevention First Act will increase funding for family planning and comprehensive sex education that teaches both abstinence and safe sex methods. The Act will also end insurance discrimination against contraception, improve awareness about emergency contraception, and provide compassionate assistance to rape victims.
That is my position as well.
Same sex marriage:
I think everyone is aware of the LDS church's view on same sex marriage.
President Obama's position as President has had to be rethought as Prop 8 was overturned as unconstitutional.
"I think that marriage, in the minds of a lot of voters, has a religious connotation," Obama said, according to the article. "I know that's true in the African American community, for example." Instead, he endorsed civil unions, a designation that did not exist in 1996.
Obama takes the same stance today - yes on equal rights and civil unions, no on same-sex marriage - but attributes the distinction to his religious convictions.
As he put it in an August 2008 presidential candidates' forum, "I believe that marriage is the union between a man and a woman. Now, for me as a Christian ... it is also a sacred union. God's in the mix."
Yup, I agree with that. I support civil unions and all of the rights afforded to a heterosexual couple. I support all civil rights of LGBT Americans, including the overturning of Don't Ask Don't Tell.
Basically I believe it's futile to fight some things like marijuana, prostitution, etc. Instead of fighting these things at great cost to taxpayers, legalize it, government regulate it, and tax the heck out of it :)
Pro choice=Free agency=Free country= What I believe. There is no judge in America that can deal with bad choices like God will. In the meantime, live life as positively as possible.
Easter Sunday
I taught Sunday School today and it was such a great lesson. But my friend left this link for me.
How moving and beautiful.
How moving and beautiful.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Happy Easter
The greatest man in history, named Jesus Christ. He had no servants, yet they called Him Master. He had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher. He had no medicines, yet they called Him healer. He had no army, yet kings feared Him. He won no military battles, yet he conquered the world. He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him. He was buried in a tomb...
Yet He lives today.
Yet He lives today.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Comments
Here's the policy on comments in Briarland:
I am ALLLL about Freedom of Speech and not a huge fan of censorship but I have comments set to moderate. I can take differing opinions on politics and such. I can take differing opinions on religion. I WILL NOT allow disrespect for my religious beliefs or anyone else's. I can also take insults but I'm not publishing a comment filled with vulgarity ESPECIALLY for some gutless idiot posting under "Anonymous". Not only does it reinforce my understanding of your position in the stupid people brigade but it shows a complete lack of class.
I understand your frustration because I have little patience for stupid people. I recognized immediately that you were no match for me intellectually, weeks ago. I don't mean to come off as an elitist but let's face facts, you didn't even spell your profanity correctly. I'm sorry. I recognize how embarrassed you must be to fail to understand my superior repartee. I suggested that you run along, but perhaps you should stay. You have much to learn. I suggest you keep a dictionary on hand. Clearly your vocabulary is stunted.
Happy Easter to you, as well :)
I am ALLLL about Freedom of Speech and not a huge fan of censorship but I have comments set to moderate. I can take differing opinions on politics and such. I can take differing opinions on religion. I WILL NOT allow disrespect for my religious beliefs or anyone else's. I can also take insults but I'm not publishing a comment filled with vulgarity ESPECIALLY for some gutless idiot posting under "Anonymous". Not only does it reinforce my understanding of your position in the stupid people brigade but it shows a complete lack of class.
I understand your frustration because I have little patience for stupid people. I recognized immediately that you were no match for me intellectually, weeks ago. I don't mean to come off as an elitist but let's face facts, you didn't even spell your profanity correctly. I'm sorry. I recognize how embarrassed you must be to fail to understand my superior repartee. I suggested that you run along, but perhaps you should stay. You have much to learn. I suggest you keep a dictionary on hand. Clearly your vocabulary is stunted.
Happy Easter to you, as well :)
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
IDOL
I'm so bad at picking favorites... Pia was the obvious Idol from the first moment she stepped onstage. But now she's gone :(
Scotty. I love the little Mad Magazine boy. More George Strait, some Garth Brooks and maybe a Forever and Ever, Amen!!! I'm not a hillbilly fan but I like him. Ahh the memories he invokes, right?
Jacob.. It hurts to even watch his face. Go HOME!
Haley. Hated her from day one but loved her tonight. Judges didn't. What do I know?
Paul. I love Paul. In spite of the corneal damage I suffer from his teeth I really love this weird boy. The spastic dance, the crazy clothes and the voice.. It's all so odd but in a good way.
Casey. OH EM GEE!! GO HOME, YOU SUSAN BOYLE ON THE BUTT OF ALL THAT IS GOOD AND HOLY IN THIS WORLD!!!
Lauren. I like her but I forget her in five...Ooo!! Squirrel!!!!
Stephano. The boy is responsible for the demise of Pia. He's one canolli away from cement shoes. What does that even mean? I said it and I have no idea what it means.
I don't even know if I've got them all but can I just finish up with this: I love a boy who begs America to bring back the Heavy Metal as he tells Iovine and Will.i.am to respectfully mind their own beezwax as he out-ozzies OZZY!! YES!!! This boy is the love child of Sammy Hagar and lots of other scary hairy dudes from the 70s-80s!! GO DURBIN!!! I'd be banging my head if it didn't hurt so much!! I didn't even head bang when it DIDN'T hurt!!
Would it be weird to scan pics of my ex-boyfriend who is my Facebook friend and suggest he make one of them his profile pic because he's SOOOO much cuter than the one he has up? Oh random huh?
You know I write some good stuff. I crack myself up. It's really sad no one reads these unless the fam has their panties in a twist!
Scotty. I love the little Mad Magazine boy. More George Strait, some Garth Brooks and maybe a Forever and Ever, Amen!!! I'm not a hillbilly fan but I like him. Ahh the memories he invokes, right?
Jacob.. It hurts to even watch his face. Go HOME!
Haley. Hated her from day one but loved her tonight. Judges didn't. What do I know?
Paul. I love Paul. In spite of the corneal damage I suffer from his teeth I really love this weird boy. The spastic dance, the crazy clothes and the voice.. It's all so odd but in a good way.
Casey. OH EM GEE!! GO HOME, YOU SUSAN BOYLE ON THE BUTT OF ALL THAT IS GOOD AND HOLY IN THIS WORLD!!!
Lauren. I like her but I forget her in five...Ooo!! Squirrel!!!!
Stephano. The boy is responsible for the demise of Pia. He's one canolli away from cement shoes. What does that even mean? I said it and I have no idea what it means.
I don't even know if I've got them all but can I just finish up with this: I love a boy who begs America to bring back the Heavy Metal as he tells Iovine and Will.i.am to respectfully mind their own beezwax as he out-ozzies OZZY!! YES!!! This boy is the love child of Sammy Hagar and lots of other scary hairy dudes from the 70s-80s!! GO DURBIN!!! I'd be banging my head if it didn't hurt so much!! I didn't even head bang when it DIDN'T hurt!!
Would it be weird to scan pics of my ex-boyfriend who is my Facebook friend and suggest he make one of them his profile pic because he's SOOOO much cuter than the one he has up? Oh random huh?
You know I write some good stuff. I crack myself up. It's really sad no one reads these unless the fam has their panties in a twist!
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