Posted By Kathleen David on August 4, 2010
We were watching the Daily Show last night like we usual do. I was half listening to what was being said when I felt a chill go through my spine. I had Peter run it back to make sure I heard what I thought I heard. There is a movement, which I really hope gets quashed very quickly, to repeal the 14th amendment which says that if you are born in the USA you are an American Citizen. The reasoning is that people run to the US and have an anchor baby so that child is their ticket to citizenship since if the child is born in the US then it is a US citizen.
I have to agree with John Stewart that the mother is probably thinking more about the miracle of life that she has brought into the world then, Yippie, I can become a citizen now.
Now I am the child of two American Citizens. My parents were the children of immigrants from various places in Europe. Peter’s parents immigrated to the US. He is an American Citizen because he was born here. His parents became citizens. I do know people who are here because their parents got work visas to the US and used that to become citizens. I know people who were born here but their parents weren’t but they went through the whole naturalization process. I can remember going to a friend’s family party when her father swore his oath of citizenship. I know people who came here as children and technically never went home but they were small children and infants and they haven’t known any other country but this one. And, yes, I do know people who slipped in the country and are living with their heads down hoping that no one notices them.
The problem is once automatic citizenship is revoked, how far back do you go? Anyone whose parents came in illegally has to leave? Anyone whose grandparents walked across the border (any border) has to leave? How many Senators and Congressmen would have to leave the country because they can’t produce the papers to prove that their ancestors were here legally? Who is here legally really? Those who can prove their ancestors were here when the Constitution was signed? How many people have copies of their ancestor’s immigration paperwork?
And when Lou Dobbs says that you are off the rails, you might want to rethink your position because Lou Dobbs thinks you have gone too far.
I am grateful that I am a US citizen and have the passport to prove it even if I do disagree with some of my fellow citizens.
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Posted By Kathleen David on August 3, 2010
I am shelving one of the big projects until Farpoint. It just makes it possible for me to get everything else I need to have done. I have one thing I am sorting out for someone else that I think I have an idea how I am going to do it.
I need to get some of Pete’s books ready to ship down to Atlanta along with some other stuff.
I am also thinking about a few other things that need to be sorted out before we go to Atlanta. Which probably involves some cleaning because I can clear my head better when I clean my environment. Yeah, I know I am strange at times.
Another DragonCon thing (there are probably going to be a bunch this month) I have agreed to judge the Friday Night Workmanship contest. We’re working on getting a better handle on this contest and making it more enjoyable for all. The head of the costuming track and I have been working together so I feel good about judging it.
I am grateful that my schedule for DragonCon is coming into focus.
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Posted By Kathleen David on August 2, 2010
I may have to shelve one of my big ideas for DragonCon. Peter was asked to participate in something which will make Sunday Evening difficult especially if we are doing our usual get together which has been tradition for a couple of years now. I know I could do it and do a good job but I am second guessing myself on everything right now. So today I either go for it or table it forever. Caroline’s feelings do come into this.
I haven’t seen the Blind Banker yet. I am hoping for later today but maybe not.
I bet the Diamondbacks would love to play the Mets the rest of the season. That was a painful game to watch right before they go on a road trip against Atlanta and the Phillies.
Good day for Camp for Caroline. Temperature is very nice. She is still wigged out about the goose poop but they were going to clear the field this morning before the kids got there.
Everyone seems to be getting up early this morning. I can hear Ariel lurking around from upstairs and now she is downstairs. It is amazing how leftover sushi can get your teenager out of bed.
There is an interesting article in the New York Times today about students, the Internet, and plagiarism. The way that people see the information on the internet and how it can be used and what constitutes plagiarism is changing and the question is whether we lets these students slip down this slope or do we stop them and point out what they are doing is not right when they can’t wrap their brains around the concept. There is a mindset that if it is on the Internet then it is free for the taking and reuse that is rather disturbing to me both personally and professionally. I have to agree with the sentiments of Ms. Brookover that part of it maybe that the Internet is more ethereal. When you go into a library and pull a physical book, then you tend to site the source because you have a physical representation of the information you are using. I also agree that we need to teach the proper way to write papers in High School not the first year of college. It is sad how much has to be taught in the first year of college that was just expected of the student when they enter college.
Ok the coffee has kicked in so I am going to end this and work on something else.
I am grateful for my high school English teachers who made sure I could write a decent paper BEFORE I went to college.
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Posted By Kathleen David on July 31, 2010
Well Moffat, you magnificent bášŧárd, you got me again. I decided to watch your version of Sherlock Holmes after I got tired of having to skip over the nattering of so many people on the Internet so I could stay spoiler free. And I am going to ask for no spoilers in the comments please.
So I watched the first installment last night. Wow. That’s how you update Sherlock Holmes and keep it real to the cannon. All the dialogue that was pulled from the books and inserted into the show was masterful(it should say additional dialogue by Sir Arthur). And putting modern sensibilities like cell phones and the Internet so seamlessly was brilliant.
The casting was top notch all across the board. You had me from the first shot to the end and I’ll follow this series wherever you want to take it.
I am grateful that we sat down and watched this show.
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Posted By Kathleen David on July 30, 2010
I love onions especially Vidalia onions which are grown in Vidalia Georgia. Onions rings made with Vidalia onions are wonderfully sweet and, done in the right batter, very crunchy. Yesterday our local brew pub had real Vidalia Onion Rings on their menu as a special appetizer. Ariel and I order them. We ate them. And my stomach hated me for it. So I have struck onions off my list along with radishes (which I also loved). I am a little better this morning but I can feel the discomfort working its way through my colon.
I don’t mind growing old. It sure beats the alternative. However I wish I had been kinder to my body when I was young. Ate a few more veggie, did a little more exercise, avoid some of the situations that have screwed up parts of my skeletal structure. But what I have is what I have to live with so I make the best of what I have and try to be nicer to it as I age.
Caroline has a very nice day for camp. The humidity is low for a change and the temperature is comfortable. I have slathered her up with sunscreen and bug proofed her. We had to have a long conversation about the field and the goose poop that litters the field and how no matter which field they went to down by the water, there are going to be geese and…well…leavings.
So today is about set up and sorting out. I am going to take pictures to get me motivated. I need to get a couple of things cut out and started. I need to get past the thinking stage and into the practical stage. I have hard things to do, new things to do and comfortable things to do. I just have to divide it up and not just go for the easy to the hard nor the hard to the easy to avoid frustration.
I am grateful for lovely summer days for Caroline to play in.
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