Category: In the News

It’s election day – did you do your duty and go out and vote? When you vote, do you vote straight party ticket or do you carefully select your candidates? Do you vote based on social issues? Taxes? Economy related items? What’s your trigger point? What makes you vote?

I don’t vote a straight party ticket – I vote based on who I feel will represent me the best when in office. However, I haven’t paid a lot of attention to that this year – I fell victim to the “my vote won’t matter much” scenario, which is a terrible thing. I know better. So I didn’t go to vote today. If I had gone to vote I would have done nothing more than picked names I liked or voted against people I know I don’t care too much for. That and I would have written in Jack Cluth for state governor.

I can not complain for at least the next two years. I didn’t go and vote today, so when we end up in a war that I can’t fully support thanks to the fact that my cousin and my ex-husband would be on the front lines, I can’t bitch and moan about it. I vote in the presidential elections, but these off years throw me. So I’ll try not to whimper too much when I’m unhappy with the Senate, Congress, and the Texas government, and I’ll be sure to vote in 2004.

So, what’s your story? Did you go and vote?

In order to combat the worst drought in the century, Australians told to take a friend into the shower. Yes, the friends that bathe together stay together!

I actually remember when Pope John Paul II became the Pope. I was in 4th grade, and Pope John Paul I had died right around my birthday at the end of September. Before going to school, I remember watching the color of the smoke coming from the room at the Vatican change – symbolizing a new Pope had been selected. 24 years ago today – 5th longest time a pope has served in history.

I have a lot of admiration for Pope John Paul II. There are things that he hasn’t changed over the years that I feel as a Catholic he should have, but meanwhile he has implemented many, many changes – results of Vatican II which he participated in years ago. But … changing the rosary? That just doesn’t seem right. Come on – it’s been the way it is for 900 years – leave well enough alone. Uh, not that I am an expert, as I’ve said the Rosary maybe 5 times in my lifetime of being Catholic. But it just seems wrong. (You can read more about it here too; free subscription required. [via Kymberlie])

By the way – if you’re not Catholic, please realize that how Hollywood portrays the Catholic Church is far from reality. Just thought I would let you know… And the Rosary? It’s a “prayer tradition, as opposed to a piece of fundamental church doctrine.”

Remember the movie “Alive”, about the soccer team that was flying through the Andes to go to a game and hit a mountain back in 1972? Well, the Andes crash survivors reunited to play the soccer match they never got to play 30 years ago. Their story has always fascinated me and it’s amazing that they survived given what all they had to go through – so it made me cry when I saw they finally got to play the game with the best soccer equipment available that everybody bought for them.

I am so proud. Texas has 50 hate groups in the state. Yes, 50. One of 3 states with more than 40 listed. [via Silfray Hraka]

Did I ever mention that I had a blind date in High School with a Neo-Nazi? Yes, and it freaked me out too. My friend David set me up with one of his friends. Nice guy when I talked to him, cute when I first met him. Then we start talking… and he tells me that while he had reservations about going out with me because I am Catholic, he decided it was ok because I had blonde hair, blue eyes, and I was definitely part of the Aryan race. Whathuh??? Yes. I met his Aryan race criteria. However, he was disappointed when I told him that he was insane and that I felt that his beliefs were off the scale as far as being wrong. Simply insane.

The date ended shortly after that and I refused to ever speak to him again. I yelled at David because there was no way he didn’t know how the guy felt, and he should have known better than to set me up with him. Yes, my one fledgling encounter with a Neo-Nazi. Thankfully, it was my last.