More Articles & Teasers

I've got some brand-spankin'-new Suite101 articles & teasers for y'all!
Articles & Teasers:
1.) "Lincoln's A House Divided Speech: Words That Roused a Nation"-- Abraham Lincoln had already established himself as a powerful public speaker by 1854. In 1858, he delivered a speech that sealed this reputation and moved the nation...
2.) "Abe Lincoln in Vandalia: Small Illinois Town Was Launch Pad for Lincoln's Political Career"-- In 1834, 25-year-old Abe Lincoln traveled to Vandalia, Illinois. Here, he was elected to the state legislature. This was the beginning of a legendary political career...
As always, if you're intrigued by these lil' snippets, check out the full-text articles @ http://www.suite101.com/writer_articles.cfm/obamagirl08.

Lines from Lysistrata

Here are some lines, spoken by the eponymous character and heroine of Aristophanes' Classical Greek anti-war comedy. Sometimes I read them during open-mic nights at the JAC in my real (read: Southern-accented*) voice. Always a crowd pleaser! Anywho, I often fantasized about saying something to this effect to Bush, Cheney, & Co. in regards to Iraq. I know the current prez wants to send troops to Afghanistan, and I would call the current administration out if need be. Of course, I hope I don't have to.

'You fool!

Right ideas were quite out of the question,

When your reckless policies failed, and yet

We never could make a suggestion.

And lately we heard you say so yourselves:

In the streets there'd be someone lamenting:

"There's not one man in the country now!"

-- and we heard many others assenting.

After that, we conferred through our deputies

And agreed, having briefly debated,

To act in common to save all Greece

At once-- for why should we have waited?

So now, when we women are talking sense,

If you'll only agree to be quiet

And to listen to us as we did to you,

You'll be very much edified by it.'

*The translation of the play I read in my Backgrounds in Western Literature class at EIU compares the female characters to women in the Civil War-era American South.

Oh, and speaking of politics, I guess y'all heard the big news. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) is now a Democrat! President Obama and Vice President Biden welcomed him into the Democratic Party earlier today. Score one for the good guys/gals! Also, today marks Obama's first 100 days in office. According to most of the polls, the majority of Americans feel that the country is now on the right track. Take that, neocons!

Grad School Registration Update

Last week, I mentioned that I am embarking upon the grad school registration process. In yesterday's post, I mentioned taking a class on Thursdays in the fall. Well, that class is called ENG 5004: Studies in Restoration and Eighteenth-Century British Literature, and I'm really excited about it. Eighteenth-century Brit. lit. is a prerequisite to nineteenth-century Am. lit. in that the Founding Fathers were inspired by eighteenth-century British and French philosophers when they crafted documents such as the Constitution. This period is often referred to as the "Era of Enlightenment." It's also the time of the French Revolution, which, in a sense, inspired the American Revolution. In the nineteenth century, writers, such as Walt Whitman, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Mark Twain, Frederick Douglass, Louisa May Alcott, Harriet Beecher Stowe, among so many others, adapted the Founding Fathers' ideals to speak out against various social injustices, especially the institution of slavery. This literary tradition was continued in the twentieth century by the likes of the Beat poets, including my fave-- Allen Ginsberg-- as a means of protest against war, racism, gender-based oppression, religious hypocrisy, etc. It lives on in post-9/11 America and led to the creation of the Obamanation. (I used that term in a positive way here, of course!) Remember, class: America was founded through dissent!

A "Vintage" Poem & New "Experimental" Material Announcement

The following is a poem I wrote last summer. It commemorates now-President Obama's DNC acceptance speech. I allude to the parallels between the prez and Ole Abe. I also get in a jab or two at McCain and his lack of empathy toward the American populace. Most importantly, this speech was delivered on Aug. 28, 2008-- the 45th anniversary of MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech. So, read, enjoy, and reflect.

"The Dream: Still Unfulfilled"

By Lysistrata*

Forty-five years ago, a great man gave a great speech

Five years later, his life was ended by a bullet

But his legacy lives on

But what about the Dream?

Are we really living it?

Today another great man is giving great speeches, hoping to become this nation's next leader

On the steps of the building in which another great man decided to try to change America, this man chastises his competitor for having seven kitchen tables, when so many can't afford to put food on one

So, are we really living the Dream?

You decide...

*Lysistrata is my stage name. This is in honor of the title character of the Greek anti-war play by Aristophanes.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

Since I will be resuming my studies at my alma mater this summer, I will also be resuming my unofficial career as a spoken-word artist. My fall class is on Thursday afternoons/evenings; therefore, I will be able to perform at Jackson Avenue Coffee (the JAC to patrons) on a weekly basis. Because our side won the November election (yay!), I feel that I can afford to vary my subject matter from political commentary to more, um, experimental stuff. Incidentally, in the Ashleyverse, "experimental" is basically code for "non-political" and/or "personal." Think really edgy love poetry. I will preview my new material right here on this blog as soon as it's written (or perhaps whenever it first enters my stream of consciousness-- which is always interesting). I hope y'all enjoyed this literary retrospective.

Peace, Love, & Happiness,

Ashley (a.k.a. "Lysistrata")

The Sound of Silence

I mentioned yesterday that I had been temporarily rendered speechless. Well, I've come to a realization: I don't always have to be talking, going 100 miles/per hour, and "on" for people. Shocking, I know. Sometimes we need to step back and listen to our intuition. Doing so allows us to be better attuned to not only our own needs, but to those of others as well. I've finally "gotten it" that it's alright to be quiet. As long as you're always moving forward in life, you'll sort of be okay. (That's a paraphrasing of a Bobby D quote.)

Breaking News: I have nothing to say.

Yes, that's right! I'm speechless. You read it here first, folks. Actually, I'm really tired because I've spent the last six hours engineering a double-header high school (Olney Tigers vs. Charleston Trojans) baseball game. Chucktown won both games. They were the slowest-moving sporting events ever. Anywho, my mind is totally numb. I think I'm gonna order some Chinese food and zone out and watch M*A*S*H and Saturday Night Live. I'm done.

Update on My Foray into Graduate Studies

I took a step toward the future today. I registered for grad school classes. On Monday and Wednesday evenings this summer, beginning June 15, I'm taking a class called ENG 5005: Studies in Nineteenth-Century British Literature. This class is commonly referred to as "Romanticism." According to the EIU course catalog, I'll be reading, along with a couple other classic novels, Mary Shelley's cautionary tale of what happens when we tamper with Mother Nature-- Frankenstein (1818 (pub. anonymously); 1831). I think this book is quite timely, given all the current debates over the ethics of genetic engineering and human cloning. As an undergrad, I took a world lit. class and read Aldous Huxley's sci-fi classic A Brave New World (1913). Freaky! I think sci-fi writers are brilliant visionaries. Anywho, I'm really excited about starting grad school. Ultimately, I want to become a full-fledged English professor and specialize in teaching nineteenth-century American literature.

Brand-New Suite101 Articles and Teasers

Below are my latest Suite101 article titles and corresponding Website teasers (introductory paragraphs).
1.) " A Brief History of the Lincoln Family: A Journey from Virginia Aristocracy to Kentucky Poverty"-- Much has been written about Abraham Lincoln's humble beginnings. In actuality, his English ancestors came from relatively aristocratic origins...
2.) "A Powerful Nineteenth-Century Voting Bloc: How the Eastern Intelligentsia Helped Lincoln Win the White House"-- In 1860, New England academics and radicals supported a largely unknown Westerner for president. That year, this voting bloc helped Abraham Lincoln win the White House...
Enticed? Well, then, read the full articles at: http://www.suite101.com/writer_articles.cfm/obamagirl08.

What's going on in the Ashleyverse today?

Well, for starters, it's Earth Day, which was first celebrated in 1970. Secondly, I think it's finally officially spring in my lil' neck of the woods. In addition, I'm writing yet another Lincoln article on Suite101 and continuing my book research. Also, according to blogarama.com, this is now a three-and-a-half- (out of five) star blog. Finally, I'm in the process of registering for grad school at EIU and plan to start coursework for my M.A. this fall. So, that's what's happening in the Ashleyverse today!

Miss USA Controversy

I watched the Miss USA 2009 pageant Sunday night. Miss North Carolina, Kristen Dalton, won. She's alright, but I don't think she was the most interesting of the contestants. Personally, I liked Miss Delaware-- who didn't place-- and Miss Kentucky (a Top-5 finalist). Anyway, first runner-up Carrie Prejean, Miss California, caused a stir with her answer to a rather serious interview question regarding same-sex marriage. She took a decidedly conservative stance. I don't think that's what cost Miss California the crown, though. (In fact, Prejean's sister is a gay rights activist.) I think she just came off as being none too bright. That seems to be happening a lot lately in the pageant world.

Columbine-- Ten Years Later

Today marks the 10th anniversary of the shooting at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. On April 20, 1999, 18-year-old Eric Harris and 17-year-old Dylan Klebold killed 13 classmates and then turned their guns on themselves. A decade later, new information is coming out that could change the way the public views this tragic murder/suicide. For example, a new book, A Tragedy Reconsidered: Columbine, has recently been published. In it, author Dave Cullen argues that the idea of Harris and Klebold being Goth outcasts and members of a so-called "Trenchcoat Mafia" is a complete misconception. Cullen goes on to explain that the two boys were smart and-- surprise!-- popular and not bullied by jocks, as the media has led the public to believe. According to Cullen, who bases his argument on videos, journals, 25,000 pages of evidence, and interviews with families of victims and the perpetrators, Harris and Klebold were a little "weird" but basically well liked by peers. Cullen's main thesis is that Harris was a psychopath (most likely an inborn, not environmentally manufactured, mental illness). Harris was filled with rage and wanted to annihilate the human race. Klebold was a depressed, suicidal tagalong, plagued by romantic problems. Cullen also claims that police fumbled the case, which led to the media's spin of the massacre that the public has come to accept as the truth. I remember where I was when I heard about the Columbine shooting. I was getting ready for my creative writing class at Olney Central College and was watching the evening news. I became intensely tuned in, since I have relatives who live in the Denver area. I must admit that I automatically believed everything I heard about this heinous act, but I now view it through very different (read: more mature) eyes. I guess the moral of the story is that just because someone seems to fit into a certain arbitrary, ascribed category, he or she might have some serious issues. The mainstream media seems to think that people don't want to accept that a "popular" kid could be capable of "pulling a Columbine." Wrong! Bottom line: Violence is not the answer. Popular people can have problems, too.

More History's Mysteries: Would Abraham Lincoln Have Died Prematurely Anyway?

I read an interesting article this weekend. A scientist named John G. Sotos has proposed a theory that Abe Lincoln may be the earliest recorded case of a rare genetic disease called MEN 2B (short for "multiple neoplasia type 2B"), which could explain Lincoln's height (6'4"-- very unusual in the 19th century) and overall unique physical appearance. MEN 2B is the result of a mutation of a gene called RET on chromosome 10. Sotos argues that Lincoln's mother, who died at age 34, may have had the disease and that one of Lincoln's four sons-- three of whom died before age 20-- may have inherited it. What's more, Sotos claims that it's highly likely that the 16th president was dying of cancer caused by MEN 2B when he was assassinated and would not have lived more than another year anyway. In addition to cancer, Lincoln is believed to have suffered from Marfan's syndrome, a cardiovascular disorder characterized by extreme height, prominent facial features, and a clumsy gait-- all of which Lincoln possessed. Interestingly, Lincoln had frequent, vivid premonitions of his own death. In one well-documented dream, Lincoln was at a funeral in the White House. Everyone in the room was overcome with grief, and Union soldiers in full dress uniform were guarding a flag-draped casket. Realizing the importance of the deceased, Lincoln approached one soldier and asked,"Excuse me, sir, who has passed away?" The soldier replied, "The president." Lincoln was assassinated shortly thereafter. Perhaps Lincoln was hyper-aware of his mortality due to his health issues. Sotos' theory can be further explored in his Web-based book, The Physical Lincoln.

Earthquake Memories and Other Minutia

One year ago today, Central and Southern Illinois were hit by a string of rather massive earthquakes. The first one hit in the wee hours of the morning of April 18, 2008. I had been partying up in Charleston the previous evening. The last song I heard on the radio while driving back down to Olney was, oddly enough, Carole King's "I Feel the Earth Move"! At around 2 a.m., I'm lying in bed in a twilight state and that tune starts going through my head. (Clarification: I only had one beer at the club on the evening of April 17 and did not ingest any other substances.) Suddenly, the earth really did start moving. I realized that I was indeed experiencing an earthquake-- a big one. I don't know what it registered on the Richter Scale, but it was pretty dang serious. Throughout the following week, there were a series of smaller aftershocks.
In other news, today is the third anniversary of the birth of Suri Cruise and Grier Henchy, daughters of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes (a.k.a. TomKat) and Brooke Shields and Chris Henchy, respectively. TomKitten and Pretty Baby were born in the same L.A. hospital within a very short amount of time of one another on April 18, 2006. Of course, Cruise and Shields were in a war of words over devout Scientologist Cruise's very public ridicule of Shields' use of drugs to combat post-partum depression after the birth of older daughter Rowan. Hmmm... so that's why they call it Hollyweird!!!
Last night, I stayed up super late and watched "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen (1983)," the big M*A*S*H (1972-83) series finale on TVLand. Good stuff! I especially enjoyed the parts where Klinger proposes to his Korean girlfriend and Hawkeye and B.J. say goodbye by reminiscing about their antics and hijinks in the 4077th. So funny and cute!
Finally, the First Puppy has been officially confirmed. He's a Portuguese water dog, a gift from Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA). The Obama Girls have named the presidential pooch "Bo," in honor of their cousins' cat and maternal grandfather, who was often called "Bo Diddley," after the great blues artist.

Very disturbing things invading the Ashleyverse

Not surprisingly, I'm a bit disturbed by the actions of my fellow countrypeople. I was watching The Daily Show this morning, and Jon Stewart was ranting about the T.E.A. (Taxed Enough Already) Party Movement. All these wing-nuts, including the esteemed Sean Hannity, the honorable Glenn Beck, and assorted FAUX News sycophants, were pissin' 'n' moanin' about the supposed tyranny that is the Obama administration. Stewart shouted, "You people don't know (insert naughty word of choice here) about tyranny!" Couldn't have said it better myself, Jon. Secondly, I read a news story about the growth of white supremacist groups. Honestly, that doesn't surprise me, but it's no less disturbing. I seriously doubt a KKK/Neo-Nazi/militia group resurgence will really take hold, though. As I've said before, our nation is fundamentally progressive, and most Americans are too smart and decent to ever fall for these organizations' deceptions and transparent disguises-- both physical and ideological-- again. Lastly, I've had it with living in Southern Illinois. I do declare that I need a change of scenery! I'm confident I will achieve this goal, for I'm much more of a Scarlett than a Melanie.

A Suite 16th, Part Deux

As promised, I've written a couple timely Suite101 articles. The following is a list, complete with commentary.
Article List, Complete with Commentary:
1.) "The Lincoln Assassination: A Timeline of Events Leading Up to a National Tragedy"-- Yes, I'm a conspiracy theorist. Don't even get me started on the Kennedy assassination! Anyway, Lincoln was not the only one targeted by John Wilkes Booth and his cohorts on the night of April 14, 1865.
2.) "Mary Todd Lincoln: Misunderstood First Lady"-- History just does not give this poor woman a fair shake. Sure, Mrs. Lincoln had a strong personality, but cut her some slack already. She had so much tragedy in her life. Besides, what gal raised south of the Mason-Dixon Line couldn't be accused of being a bit of a drama queen?! (Note: Mary's birthplace, Kentucky, was geographically, technically a "border state," but it's extremely Southern in terms of culture and mores. Hence, Mary was indeed a quintessential Southern Belle. Okay, you get the point.)
Direct Link: http://www.suite101.com/writer_articles.cfm/obamagirl08.
P.S. I'm thinking of writing a book based on my findings for the latter article. Who knows what could come out of it! A Daily Show appearance or two, perhaps? lol! I'll keep y'all posted as my research progresses.

Gone with the Wind-sday

I watched Gone with the Wind yesterday. Every self-respecting Southern Belle must do so at least once a year. This epic romance, starring Clark Gable as Rhett Butler and Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara, is also a before-and-after portrait of the Old South. I love romance and anything from the Civil War era. Speaking of which, today is the anniversary of the Lincoln assassination. Actually, he was shot on the night of April 14, 1865, and died the following morning. I'm planning on writing a Suite101 article about this subject tonight. I'll have more details in tomorrow's post. BTW, it's also tax day. I submitted my returns to the IRS a couple weeks ago. How 'bout y'all? Finally, the Titanic sank in the Atlantic Ocean on April 15, 1912, after hitting an iceberg.

Tuesday Night: A "Special" Time in the Ashleyverse

Well, it's Tuesday, which is a "special" day in the Ashleyverse. Tonight is Toddlers and Tiaras night. Toddlers and Tiaras is a reality TV series on TLC-- and my latest guilty pleasure. The show is about families who live life on the child beauty pageant circuit. I think part of the show's appeal for me is that I grew up in the Deep South, which is kiddie pageant central. I was never in pageants (thank God!), but they're huge down there. I don't think that the pageants are necessarily bad, but I do find that creatures known as "pageant moms," who subject their daughters to "glitz pageants," to be highly disturbing(ed) individuals.

Easter Recap

Easter was quite enjoyable for me. The weather could've been nicer, though. Anyway, I got to spend time with my family. (Fun! Fun!) I got to see my brother, Austin, who's in town from Pennsylvania. He's four years younger than I am, so I have this image of him in my head as a little boy. When I saw him yesterday, I realized that he's a young man. My, how time flies! Of course, I ate way too much, particularly mass quantities of chocolate. As usual, the cheese ball was a big ole hit.

My Easter Sunday Plans, Plus a Festive Recipe for Y'all

To celebrate Easter Sunday, I'm going over to my mom's to-- you guessed it-- eat! (There's just no gettin' 'round the food thing on holidays when you're a Southern gal.) Anywho, I'm making a cheese ball. Accordingly, I'm gonna share the recipe with y'all. It's a Better Homes & Gardens "Favorite" recipe. My entire family, especially my brother, loves it. It's perfect for any occasion.
Smoky Cheese Ball:
Ingredients:
2 8-oz. packages cream cheese
2 c. finely shredded smoked cheddar, Swiss, or Gouda cheese
1/2 c. butter or margarine
2 tblsps. milk
2 tsps. steak sauce (I prefer to substitute liquid smoke.)
1 c. finely chopped nuts (Being from the Lone Star State, I'm partial to pecans.)
Assorted crackers
Preparation:
1. In a mixing bowl let cream cheese, shredded cheese, and butter stand at room temperature for 30 mins. Add milk and steak sauce (or liquid smoke); beat until fluffy. Cover and chill for 4-24 hrs.
2. Shape mixture into a ball; roll in nuts. Let stand for 15 mins. Serve with crackers.
Enjoy!
(Note: I recommend doing Step 1 the night before the big event.)
Source: Better Homes & Gardens New Cook Book, Limited Edition, p. 67. Des Moines, Iowa: Meredith Books, 2007.
As for that other Southern passion, Jesus, reference Matthew 5:9 for how to celebrate this sacred day.

Most Recent Suite Endeavors

I've got two brand-new articles on Suite101. Titles, along with commentary, are as follows.
Titles & Commentary:
1.) "The Rise of the Republican Party and Lincoln: Lincoln's Journey from Whig to Republican to the Presidency"-- After studying the GOP's original platform and ideology, I've concluded that Ole Abe would definitely be a Dem today.
2.) "The Passage of the Nineteenth Amendment: How American Women Finally Won the Right to Vote"-- I learned some very surprising facts while doing research for this article. For example, Wyoming granted women the right to vote in local elections in 1869, but it was just to get women to move out West so that they could marry the lonely men. (The Nineteenth Amendment did not pass until 1920.)
In case you missed it the first several times, here's the link to my articles: http://www.suite101.com/writer_articles.cfm/obamagirl08.

Good Friday Reminder

Today is Good Friday. We should use this day as a time of reflection and to work on bettering ourselves and humanity. More importantly, we should work together in order to solve the problems facing society. After all, isn't that what Christ taught? Regardless of personal beliefs, this is excellent advice for anyone to follow. Peace!

Review of Another PBS Frontline Documentary

Last week, I reviewed Country Boys, a PBS Frontline documentary by David Sutherland. Well, this week I've been watching another Sutherland film. It's also a Frontline special, and it's called The Farmer's Wife (1998, David sutherland Productions, Inc.). I first saw this on TV when it aired a decade ago. I was intrigued then and am completely gripped now.
This three-part series chronicles the struggles of Darrell and Juanita Buschkoetter, a Nebraska farm couple, and their three young daughters over the course of three years (1995-97). Tom Pantera of The Forum (Fargo, North Dakota) calls this film: "Norman Rockwell's America interpreted by John Steinbeck... it's a truly amazing piece of filmmaking." According to Tom Walter of The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tennessee), The Farmer's Wife is: "Extraordinary... As heartwrenching and real a documentary as you'll ever see." Both Pantera and Walter are completely correct in their assessments. This film is totally raw and does not glamorize or sugarcoat the farm lifestyle in any way, shape, or form.
There were many things I liked about this documentary. For one thing, I loved its aforementioned grittiness. Secondly, nothing is staged, and the film is not edited to be blatantly biased for or against the Buschkoetters. The best thing about the movie, however, is Juanita. Juggling motherhood, the duties that accompany being a farm wife, a menial job cleaning rich peoples' houses, and college, she is the film's undeniable heroine. Juanita is not only devoted to her family and making her troubled marriage work, but she is also strong-willed and intelligent and does not pull punches or mince words about her situation. For example, she always stands up to Darrell, who has trouble standing up to his domineering parents and is consequently upset and frustrated most of the time.
Now, for what I didn't like. For starters, I wish viewers could see more interaction between Darrell, Juanita, and Darrell's parents. At one point, for example, there is going to a be family mediation session about the fate of the family farm, but the elder Buschkoetters refuse to allow the camera crew in on it. Also, Darrell and his family are just plain terrible to Juanita at times. I hate it when Darrell gets angry and jealous at her for going to work and school in order to better herself and the girls. Finally, I was disappointed in the DVD's special features. For instance, I was looking forward to seeing the "new" interviews with the family, but these interviews were conducted right after the documentary was made. (I recently read an update on the PBS website that Darrell and Juanita are now divorced and remarried to other people.)
Despite these relatively minor flaws, The Farmer's Wife is well worth the six hours it takes to watch it. This is a haunting portrait of a way of life that many believe no longer exists.

Humble Beginnings

Okay, I got a bit narcissistic last night and Googled myself. (Who doesn't do that occasionally, right?) I actually found links to archived articles I wrote eight years ago for the DEN (Daily Eastern News) as a journalism student. One article is about an academic scholarship the university was offering that was published on April 9, 2001-- almost exactly eight years ago! The other is about a dating workshop that was offered by the campus counseling center and was published on March 8, 2001. (Too bad I didn't actually attend it!) The respective links are as follows:
http://www.dennews.com/news/2001/04/09/City/Scholarship.Nominations.Sought-65153.shtml & http://www.dennews.com/news/2001/03/08/campus/Dating.Workshop.Tonight-53536.shtml.
Kick back and enjoy some vintage Ashleyism!
(Note: http://www.dennews.com/ may redirect you to issue archives.)

My Views on the President's European Tour

Yes, the president has been in Europe the past couple weeks. He was in Strasbourg, France, last week. I watched the coverage on C-SPAN and was very impressed. It's like, 'Finally, we Americans have a semi-positive image on the world stage!' Anyway, the prez addressed an international crowd. One major point he emphasized is that Strasbourg's history was marked by wars and is now a peaceful city. This is evidence that diplomacy does indeed work.
This week, Obama is in Turkey. He's correct in that Turkey needs to be included in the EU (European Union). He also stressed the importance of a two-state solution in regards to the Israel-Palestine situation. (You can read my editorial, entitled "Talks with Middle Eastern countries are the answer", which is about Turkey's cultural, political, and religious issues in the September archives on this blog.) I was glad that Obama mentioned Turkey's Kurdish population. This issue is so overlooked in the international dialogue. (Again, read the aforementioned editorial for more details.) Most importantly, he specifically said that all U.S. combat troops will be out of Iraq by 2010. (You can read "All Americans should take these steps"-- my editorial from the November archives-- for more of my views on that topic.) Speaking of which, Obama made a surprise visit to our troops in Iraq. Good move!
Finally, I think a lot of good will come out of the G-20 Summit, especially in regards to economic and environmental issues. Overall, I believe the president's European tour has been a resounding success.

A Discussion of Flicks I Watched This Weekend

Well, I rented a couple DVDs this weekend, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist and Swing Vote. I liked the former and disliked the latter. Below is a discussion of why. (Note: I'm not in the mood to write full-on reviews for these films, so the following is just commentary.)
Commentary on Aforementioned Flicks:
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist: Starring Michael Cera (Superbad, Juno) and Kat Dennings (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, The House Bunny), this is a great unconventional love story with a rockin' indie music soundtrack. Cera is adorable in his endearing geekiness. As for Dennings, she is gloriously quirky and riotously sarcastic. (I don't know anyone else who fits that description. lol!) BTW, where is Fluffy?
Swing Vote: This was a total disappointment. Kevin Costner, whom I had a massive schoolgirl crush on during his Field of Dreams (1988)/Dances with Wolves (1990) heyday, plays a Joe the Plumber-esque loser with the requisite absent wife, portrayed all too briefly by Mare Winningham, whose character is a wannabe country singer, and overly precocious school-age daughter. The main issue I had with this movie is that the plot is so far-fetched: Bud (Costner) is a deadbeat suddenly thrust into the national spotlight after he is forced to recast his vote for the next president. The outcome of the election and the fate of the nation rest in Bud's hands. Gimme a break! And what else was bad? For starters, the candidates, a Republican incumbent and a Democratic challenger, played by Kelsey Grammer and Dennis Hopper, respectively, are flat characters. What's worse is that the talents of supporting cast members, including Nathan Lane, Stanley Tucci, and George Lopez, are totally wasted here. In other words, don't waste your time or money on Swing Vote.

Thoughts on Christianity in America on Palm Sunday, 2009

Today is Palm Sunday, the day that Christ rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. Below is a list of quotes and some of my own random thoughts about Christianity in America.
Quotes & Commentary:
1.) "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."-- Gandhi: How sad but true! Personally, I think this situation is improving a bit.
2.) "When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross."-- Sinclair Lewis: Again, I believe the danger of this happening has fortunately lessened.
3.) "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall inherit the kingdom of God."-- Jesus Christ (exerpted from "The Sermon on the Mount") (Matthew 5:9 NIV): This is the reason why we're here.
4.) "Most importantly, love one another. People will know you are my followers if you love one another."-- Christ, speaking to his disciples (John 13:34 & 35 NIV): Heeding this commandment is the true essence of living a Christian or any type of moral life.
5.) "JESUS DIDN'T RIDE AN ELEPHANT!"-- an interesting bumper sticker I found on http://www.cafepress.com/. Needless to say, I found it amusing.

"I've been to the mountaintop."

Today is a very sad anniversary. At 6:01 p.m. on April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King was assasssinated by a single bullet from a rifle in Memphis, Tennessee, while standing on the second-floor balcony of the Lorraine Motel. King was participating in a strike by African-American sanitation workers, who were protesting their low wages, which were far below those of white city sanitation workers. King was staying in Room 306 of the motel, which was nicknamed the "King-Abernathy Suite" because he and friend and fellow minister/activist Ralph Abernathy had stayed there so many times. James Earl Ray was eventually convicted of the assassination.
On April 3, 1968, King addressed a crowd at the Mason Temple (Headquarters of Church of God in Christ) following a bomb threat against King's plane. Here, he delivered his "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech, which became his final sermon and is now regarded as eerily prophetic.
Below is an excerpt of the speech. It is as follows:
"And then I got to Memphis. And some began to say the threats... or talk about the threats that were out. What would happen to me from some of our sick white brothers? Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter to me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. [applause] And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to know God's will. And he's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over and I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land! [applause] And I'm so happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!"
Wow!
I suppose one positive way to look at this is to examine a quote from Elizabethtown. In one of the road-trip scenes, Claire (Kirsten Dunst) says to Drew (Orlando Bloom), when she instucts him to visit the Lorraine Motel via CD, "His [Dr. King's] death was only the beginning of his victory." Yeah, that's how I like to look at it.

Article & Editorial Info & Links

Here are my latest Suite101 articles and the direct site link to them:
1.) "Abraham Lincoln's Opposition to the Mexican War: A Future President's Unpopular Views on a Popular Conflict"
2.) "Prolific First Families: Presidents and First Ladies Who Had Many Children"
http://www.suite101.com/writer_articles.cfm/obamagirl08

--AND--

You can read my latest newspaper editorial online at http://www.olneydailymail.com/opinions/letters_to_the_editor/x1931057082/Obama-s-policies-toward-Middle-East-will-be-interesting.

(Many of you probably already read this here, but if you click on the link above, you can see readers' comments about the editorial.)

BTW, you can also check out my winter editorial, along with corresponding comments, in the ODM (Olney Daily Mail) archives. The link for that is: http://www.olneydailymail.com/archive/x1017433246/Warren-is-a-good-choice.

Spring Editorial Preview

The Obama Presidency Quarterly, Spring 2009 Issue*:

On Tuesday, March 24, 2009, President Barack Obama gave his second post-inaugural press conference. He answered questions from the media regarding various issues, including the economic stimulus package, the AIG bonus scandal, stem cell research, and the wars. One question, however, really piqued my interest. It pertained to the president's views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

So, how will the commander-in-chief handle this situation, and what is the best solution to the problem? For starters, Obama enthusiastically supports diplomacy and open dialogue with Palestine. In addition, he believes in a two-state solution, an arrangement that will ensure Palestinian sovereignty (self-governance), abolish illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine, restore the region's pre-Six Day War (1967) borders, enfranchise Palestine in peace talks, and decrease overall violence in the Gaza Strip. Finally, Obama has appointed former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell (D-ME)-- an experienced negotiator who once successfully brokered peace with war-torn Northern Ireland-- to be a U.S. special envoy to the Middle East in order to promote a pro-peace agenda. (In 1995, then-President Bill Clinton appointed Sen. Mitchell to be a U.S. special envoy to Northern Ireland. Mitchell's success in chairing the all-party Irish peace negotiations led to the signing of the Belfast Peace Agreement, also known as the Good Friday Agreement, which occurred on Good Friday, 1998.)

Of course, the president's pro-Palestine stance is not without its critics. Domestically speaking, Obama must contend with a powerful pro-Israel lobby, comprised largely of Republicans and conservatives. On an international level, he will face the obstacle of Israel's extremely far-right-leaning, anti-peace government leaders, especially recently re-elected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Accordingly, Obama has appointed a staunchly pro-Israel chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, who will oversee Obama's Middle East policies. More importantly, the president has sent $20 million in aid to the Gaza Strip, and his first foreign policy gesture was calling Palestine's president, Mahmoud Abbas. Therefore, the mood amongst the U.S. president's supporters concerning Middle East peace is cautiously optimistic. During the press conference, President Obama warned that the Middle East peace process will take time and persistence. Thus, now is the time to be persistent.

*The Obama Presidency Quarterly, Summer 2009 Issue, will be published sometime in July.

April Fools'!

Guess what? I met a billionaire, we're getting married, and we're moving to an island paradise far, far away.

--APRIL FOOL'S!!!--

What is for real, though, is that I'm working on some new Suite101 material, and my spring editorial will be published soon.