Karmen and the World

Newly retired Sandra Day O'Connor voiced what many of us have been thinking recently -- the actions of the Bush administration and our weak-kneed buddies in Congress are moving in the direction of yes, she actually said this word, "dictatorship." Referring to the rhetorical attacks on an independent judiciary by such ethically-challenged congressmen as Tom DeLay and John Cornyn, she laid it out but was anyone listening? Not in any major media outlets. Slate's Jack Shafer refers to the bloggers as"setting themselves on fire" over thie speech but notes the absence of any coverage by the mainstream media. Nina Tottenberg covered the speech for NPR and that's all we get.

I would refer anyone who happens on this to scroll way down to the entry from 1watt1 in WAPO's "White House Briefing" column by Dan Froomkin.

Naturally, the common people don’t want war, but after all it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag people along...
Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. This is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and for exposing the country to danger. It works the same in every country.
–Reich-Marshall Hermann Goering at the Nuremberg Trials

The birth of the twins to Michael and Heidi is the most beautiful thing to happen in our family in a long time. Although they were born December 29th I have had an extremely difficult time putting anything here about it because I can't describe in words the beauty and wonder of it all. This is indeed what life and love is all about.

Now two months old, Marcus and Ian are sleeping much longer at night, are active and interactive, and are the joys of our lives! It is wonderful to me to have them living with us right now. Yes, the time will come when they move out, but for now they are here and I am thrilled.

Not that I had any doubt, but once again, a higher power has come through for us. Check it out: http://www.nhl.com/news/2006/03/263098.html Maybe even Pierre Lacroix couldn't stand allowing 11 goals in 3 games! Now if we could just get the commentators to get off the "Aebischer is so great, see how he's turned his game around" bit and acknowledge that he very little to do with the Swiss Olympic successes -- they were lucky to have a real goalie (Martin Gerber) to play for them. Too bad Pierre wasn't able to con the Hurricanes into trading one Swiss for another!

Have I mentioned that I love this country? Well, actually I'm in a different country right now and love it, too! We are in Scotland, leaving today. My first experience in a hostel has turned out to be very nice. We couldn't afford anything else so found one that is outside the city but runs a shuttle in every hour so it has worked out just fine.

Edinburgh is a fascinating city-- taller, darker and more mysterious than any of the cities we saw in England. The history goes as far back but the buildings aren't quite as old. The oldest structure we've seen only dates to the 1100's!

There is no way to upload pictures here so I'll stick them in later. We are off to Shrewsbury today and Wales tomorrow. There is just not enough time to see it all, gotta come back!!!