Starry Nite, Opp! Thank you for spotting my BLUNDER. CORRECTION: What I meant to write is: Senator Boxer is not the only one ‘in the know’ who is UPSET with those who opposed the Stimulus Package. I wrote hurriedly and didn’t check for error prior posting. I went off line to watch the PBS special, LOOKING FOR LINCOLN, hosted by Louis Gates with Doris Kearns Goodwin. I hope you get to see it in a later showing. As far at the website I mentioned, I read many conservative websites, including my favorite, THE NATIONAL REVIEW. (And, yes occasionally, I read THE DRUDGE REPORT.) It’s habit. I was raised in Philadelphia, and there were two major newspaper which my parents subscribed to: THE PHILADELPHIA BULLETIN, and THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRE. The former conservative, the latter more moderate. Also, like most major cities there was a ‘daily’ - THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, which was more ‘tabloid’ than substance, which my father bought at the news stand. We were taught to read all points of view, especially in local news journals. And I continued this as an adult. The last being, THE WASHINGTON POST, and THE WASHINGTON TIMES (the latter conservative) when I lived in suburban Maryland. (Although I also subscribed to non-local journals including the NY TIMES, THE WSJ, and THE BOSTON HERALD.) Yet, where I now live there is no ‘real’ competing major newspapers to subscribe to. Therefore, I do most of my reading online at the website I subscribe to - conservative, moderate, and liberal. And, yes. I’ve always been a registered INDEPENDENT. I admit that I was among the undecided during the Presidential campaign. However, I finally made up my mind about Obama when Hilary took too long to concede at the DNC. More importantly, I felt he was, and STILL IS what this country needs for change. Hopefully, the Senate will come together and agree on whatever issues need to be hammered out, and present President Obama with a compromise stimulus package he deems appropriate to sign into law.

Senator Boxer is not the only one ‘in the know’ who is opposed to the Stimulus Package. Perhaps I’m dim witted, but there is so much to absorb respective to the pros and cons of this package, I find it difficult to fully understand all the particulars such that I can write an intelligent opinion. I’m following the discussions, yet all is overwhelming. I reason that if the brilliant minds who were trained at Americas prestigious elite Ivy League institutions of academic excellence [with degrees in economic, political, and financial policy] have failed to come to a plausible consensus on what will or won’t work, I wonder if anyone can speak with accuracy and authority when expressing points of view about the massive Stimulus Package, or on Treasury Secretary, Tim Geithner’s models for the huge banking bail out plan. For now, I’m holding back my comments, because there remains a tremendous amount of information, which is not only daunting, but difficult to digest and comprehend in order to emerge with concrete conclusions. Meanwhile, I’m spending a lot of time researching information about what might ‘fix’ America’s urgent economic woes. Most of us read follow the headlines in Americas top news journal websites. But there are others websites, which are equally informative. One is: The Heritage Foundation’s website where you can find a wealth of information. The other is: The Hoover Institution– Stanford University, which has an excellent website. The following links have articles which re-examined the pros and cons of a FLAT TAX. Could a FLAT TAX be our silver Bullet? If interested, click on the following links. http://www.heritage.org/Research/Taxes/bg1866.cfm http://www.hoover.org/publications/books/3602666.html

WOWOWOW QUESTION OF THE DAY: January 16, 2009 In 1986, Seema Boesky didn’t know. Could Ruth Madoff not know? My Post then, and Now: ____________________________________________ Shame on me for suggesting this, but …. I think if the FULL truth is ever revealed, Patricia Blagojevich will appear malevolent compared to Ruth Madoff’s knowledge of her husband’s crimes, and certainly her participation in sheltering, squandering/plundering, and outright stealing the ‘rewards’. By Maizie James on 01/17/2009 2:06 am I told you so.

Great post. Thanks for sharing.

Frank, I’ve always wondered about MARTYRS, beginning with STEPHAN in the BIBLE (which I learned in Bible School as a child). From the ‘religious’ point of view, martyrdom seemed the most noble (morally) of all commitments - the ‘ultimate’ sacrifice for one’s beliefs. I was taught that martyrdom was both honorable and the most sacred act respective to test of faith. And in fact, I began to wonder if there was a cause or belief that I felt strongly about, which I’d be willing to die for. Then, during the sixties when I saw filmage of priest setting themselves on fire in protest of the Vietnam War, I began to question whether martyrdom was ethical. (Odd. Before that filmage, I actually ADMIRED the Japanese Kamikaze suicide bombers who were willing to die for their country during WWII.) Yet, it seems to me that religious fervor is highly unethical when it stirs martyrs to fanaticism and innocent victims are killed. What’s happening in the Middle East and India is sad. However, there has always been ‘Holy Wars’. Yet, there is nothing ‘honorable’ when fanatics kill others because of their beliefs. These people are not martyrs, they are murderers.

Phyllis, Wow! What a great post! You often are able to convey power messages in concise language, which directly addresses the core of issues. Thank you.

I watched the Katie Couric interview on 60 MINUTES featuring Captain Sully and the crew of 1549. Captain Sully is truly a hero; a man who showed his extraordinary humility through his honorable demeanor. I also enjoyed watching the footage in the interview of his family reading some of the mail from grateful families and others expressing their deep praise for Sully’s exemplary heroism. What a wonderful story of heroism, professionalism, and survival!!!

Maurine, I enjoyed reading your sensible (and straightforward) comments. In particular, in the midst of recent political controversies in Obama’s administration, I am doing exactly as you are. Specifically, “…. even though I supported him during the campaign, I’m giving President Obama’s administration some serious scrutiny.” Because, as you stated, ” … I consider it my job to do that.” All the best to you.

I purchased the book, THE READER after seeing an interview featuring, Bernard Schlink on CHARLIE ROSE. The book was excellent, and I wonder how well the book was adapted to film. It must have been an awesome task to write the screenplay. I will probably wait until the movie is released on DVD, because, as is often the case, BOOKs are far better than film adaptations. For example, when I first saw the movie classic, THE GOOD EARTH, starring Paul Muni and Luise Rainer, I was so disappointed because I’d read Pearl S. Buck’s book at an age when my mind was VERY imaginative - same with CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS.

Diana, As always, you’ve spoken words of wisdom. Thanks!!

You echoed much of what I wanted to say in your first post. I can only add, that no matter how long it takes to recognize that a marriage is broken, once you emerge from denial, life is a whole lot better. And yes. A CHEATER doesn’t change.

Amelie, Your are truly a remarkable woman. It is individuals like you who ‘temper’ my rage about the many nations who have raped and plundered Mother Africa of precious gems, ivory, furs, and every natural resource imaginable (for the past four centuries). Entire species of wild life were killed off, and villages of people were wiped from the face of this earth; forced to labor and die because of European, Asian, and Arab greed for gold, diamonds, aphrodisiacs, and FEATHERS!!! for women’s hats. Africa was once the richest continent on earth in wild life, vegetation, and natural resources. But, it is now utterly ruined by the insatiable greed of other nations, and its peoples have been left in utter poverty, sickness, squalor, and social/cultural turmoil. I try to avoid commenting on these threads, which wowOwow has featured (respective to 21 century conditions in Africa’s poorest countries - Rwanda, Dufar, Sudan, and Sierra Leone) because my feelings are violently militant. Yet, I had to acknowledge the work you and others are doing, which helps bring attention to Africa’s innocent victims. You ARE spreading the word, and many are listening. I’m especially interested in Sierra Leone, because I had a live-in nanny who was born there, and the stories she shared about life in many of that country’s villages were heart-wrenching. Firsthand accounts are always more accurate. The nanny before her was from Somalia, and she also spoke of the negative impact of foreign greed. I have always contributed to organizations which fund support for Africa’ poor countries. And, I’d like to pass along the following website information because it is a site where anyone can contribute to world hunger by simply doing an online quiz. The categories include grammar, vocabulary, geography, art, languages, math, and science. If you have children, it is a great alternative to video games because it is both educational AND, with each correct answer 20 or more grains of rice go to feed the hungry. The site was launched in October 2007. www.freerice.com

Sam VULTURES … swarming overhead to strip the victims! No wonder you are disgusted. You have mY deepest sympathy. All the best to you and your family

PS: This is ‘off subject’, but after reading the other thread about Sierra Leone, I want to mention that my son’s Nanny was from Sierra Leone, and the story she told about how her family escaped poverty, and fled to London where she and her brother were educated was a remarkable story of courage and determination. She was devoted to me and my children.

The 27 year old divorced mother of three who thinks she’s found Mr. Wonderful … a man who happens to talk incessantly about current events and such … and a man she has known for only three months … and who sings and makes little noises … and he has to have the television on all the time … and she’s CRAZY????? What? Oh! She’s crazy about him. Know I get it. I always referred to my housekeeper, nanny, yard man, the pool guy, and the maintenance man by their first names …. Ha! That is, when I was married and could afford to employ them. Although, the nanny who watched my third son INSISTED on wearing a starched uniform, which I detested. Yet, I allowed it because I knew she wanted to make a ‘statement’ in our predominantly WASP neighborhood by ‘showing off’ her ‘brown skin’ charge to the other neighborhood nannies.