I am definitely not politically savvy. In fact, it is embarrassing how I stumble all over myself everytime I try to have a political conversation. Last week in my Just Words Post I refered to the fifth ammendment as the same thing as the right to freedom of speech. Three days later, while stuck in the car I realized the silly blunder I had made. I told my husband of my mistake and lucky him he earned brownie points for not making me feel stupid. This is not the first time he has earned brownie points by ignoring my political idiocy. Maybe someday we will discuss brownie points on this post. My husband seems to think they have a very short shelf life. I'm here to prove that is not always the case. He still retains brownie points for his response to my blunder before we got married.
I was working on the BYU newspaper when a fellow journalist in training invited me to go with him to a press luncheon with Tipper. (Tom and I were currently separated by a state and had agreed to see other people for a short time.)"Sure." I responded. "Who is Tipper?" Well, Tipper Gore was obviously the United States Vice President's wife at the time as the completely shocked boy told me and then responded, "Never Mind." I said something like. "Well that is why you are working the political beat and I am working the religious beat." Still, I am a journalist and I should have known the name of the V.P's wife and how often does a college student get a chance to ask a question of the V.P's wife. Sweet Tom, responded to this blunder with "Who cares about Tipper Gore anway?" Oh yeah! He is still getting brownie points for that one.
Well, in response to my fifth ammendment blunder I realized how confused a lot of people are about our government. Tell the truth. Who noticed I had actually made this mistake? In response to this I would like to give a little Are you smarter than Rachelle Hughes? quiz. See how many you know without cheating or googling or looking at the bottom of the post for the answers.
1. What is the fifth ammendment?
2. Which ammendment talks about free speech?
3. How many ammendments are in the Bill of Rights?
4. What are the three branches of our government?
5. What do the stars on our flag mean?
6. Bonus question:What is the United States Vice President's wife's name? Wait I have to go google the answer to this one.
Answers:
1. The fifth ammendment is the right to remain silent or to not incriminate yourself.
2. The First Ammendment deals with Freedom of Speech.
3. There are 10 ammendments in the Bill of Rights
4. The three branches of our government are Executive, Judiciary and Legislative.
5. The 50 states
6. Lynne V. Cheney
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Talkative Tuesday
I have to say that as much as I love summer, I am so ready for school to begin again. My kids can't go five minutes without a fight, a temper tantrum or a tattle tale. Due to hateful words and hateful actions my children are all grounded from TV and friends today. Their only recourse is to play with each other. I know this sounds like a crazy solution but they are actually playing together and having fun.
I bought a plastic pool yesterday. I have been searching for one everywhere all summer. When Wal-Mart runs out of something for the summer there is a little chance of finding it the rest of the summer. Well, I finally tracked one down, stuffed it into the back of my very versatile new Honda Pilot and brought it home. It is already worth the hours of peace it brings me. All three of my kids are out there playing go fish for the Littlest Pet Shop animals right now.
It is always a miracle when all three kids find something they want to play together. They are such totally different personalities. The only thing that is the same about them is their big age gaps.
Lia is three and probably my most stubborn child. All my children are stubborn, they have a stubborn mother, but she is by far the worst. I have learned that you just have to outstubborn her if you are going to win any battles. My SIL Camille watched all three kids on Friday and Saturday when Tom and I made a trip to Salt Lake. I have to give Kudos to Camille for her ability to not give in to Lia. Lia told Camilled she wanted to wear her yellow dress. I had not packed the yellow dress. There was no yellow dress. But for Lia it was the yellow dress or nothing. Fine with Camille. She told Lia she could wear the clothes available or go naked. Lia decided to go with the naked option. She wanted to wear underwear but Camille said "Nope its get dressed or go all the way naked." Lia ran around buck naked for awhile until she finally realized she was actually not going to get her way. I would not have had the courage to let her run naked due to the fact that she is still not all the way potty trained. Kudos for Camille for following through on this risky venture.
Rebecca's personality can be seen in this latest incident. We were out shoe shopping at one of the two department stores in Cedar. One of the male sales associate had on a very vibrant outfit of tight lavendar pants, a white shirt and a lavendar tie. As he walked past us Rebecca said very loudly and very snidely. "Is he really wearing purple?" I responded with a suppressed giggle, "Did you really have to say that out loud." A few minutes later she asked me this very astute question. "If they call girls who like boy things 'Tomboys' what do they call guys who like girl things?" I could only respond, "Good question."
Rebecca always says whatever she thinks. It doesn't matter how rude or crazy or inappropriate. She is also extremely smart and sees things so clearly for a six-year-old.
Isaac is all silliness. If only he would stop teasing for five seconds the daily dose of girl screams would be cut in half. At the recent 24th of July celebration Isaac kept getting in line again and again for the dunking booth, not the throwing part, the dunking part. After a couple of hours he was close to growing fins.
I do so love my kids and most days, navigating their differences is a humorous and joyful experience but on other days I am grateful that next year our summer break will only be six weeks. I am sooo excited about the year-round school at the charter school my kids will be attending this year.
I bought a plastic pool yesterday. I have been searching for one everywhere all summer. When Wal-Mart runs out of something for the summer there is a little chance of finding it the rest of the summer. Well, I finally tracked one down, stuffed it into the back of my very versatile new Honda Pilot and brought it home. It is already worth the hours of peace it brings me. All three of my kids are out there playing go fish for the Littlest Pet Shop animals right now.
It is always a miracle when all three kids find something they want to play together. They are such totally different personalities. The only thing that is the same about them is their big age gaps.
Lia is three and probably my most stubborn child. All my children are stubborn, they have a stubborn mother, but she is by far the worst. I have learned that you just have to outstubborn her if you are going to win any battles. My SIL Camille watched all three kids on Friday and Saturday when Tom and I made a trip to Salt Lake. I have to give Kudos to Camille for her ability to not give in to Lia. Lia told Camilled she wanted to wear her yellow dress. I had not packed the yellow dress. There was no yellow dress. But for Lia it was the yellow dress or nothing. Fine with Camille. She told Lia she could wear the clothes available or go naked. Lia decided to go with the naked option. She wanted to wear underwear but Camille said "Nope its get dressed or go all the way naked." Lia ran around buck naked for awhile until she finally realized she was actually not going to get her way. I would not have had the courage to let her run naked due to the fact that she is still not all the way potty trained. Kudos for Camille for following through on this risky venture.
Rebecca's personality can be seen in this latest incident. We were out shoe shopping at one of the two department stores in Cedar. One of the male sales associate had on a very vibrant outfit of tight lavendar pants, a white shirt and a lavendar tie. As he walked past us Rebecca said very loudly and very snidely. "Is he really wearing purple?" I responded with a suppressed giggle, "Did you really have to say that out loud." A few minutes later she asked me this very astute question. "If they call girls who like boy things 'Tomboys' what do they call guys who like girl things?" I could only respond, "Good question."
Rebecca always says whatever she thinks. It doesn't matter how rude or crazy or inappropriate. She is also extremely smart and sees things so clearly for a six-year-old.
Isaac is all silliness. If only he would stop teasing for five seconds the daily dose of girl screams would be cut in half. At the recent 24th of July celebration Isaac kept getting in line again and again for the dunking booth, not the throwing part, the dunking part. After a couple of hours he was close to growing fins.
I do so love my kids and most days, navigating their differences is a humorous and joyful experience but on other days I am grateful that next year our summer break will only be six weeks. I am sooo excited about the year-round school at the charter school my kids will be attending this year.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Inspirational Thought
This Sunday I have so many thoughts jumping around in my mind, begging to receive attention. My husband taught a great lesson on faith this week and a dear friend gave a talk on restoring faith in marriage. Earlier this week I had been thinking of these two subjects. After 13 years of marriage, I realize what an amazing leap of faith I made the day I married Tom. I really had no idea what life had or has in store for us. Now that faith has grown to something beautiful and strong. Tom and I have walked to Hell and back a few times. I think we may have actually walked through Hell at least once. Somehow we managed to hold onto our marriage through difficult times. Our life is far from perfect but I do believe that when we both actively spend time nourishing the faith we have in our marriage we grow together towards a greater goal. We agree better on disciplining children, we communicate better and we laugh more often. We certainly forgive more easily. How awesome it is to say (and mean it) I am grateful I made that leap of faith; to look forward to spending forever with a person. I am grateful for a belief in eternal marriages.
I remember once when a co-worker gave me her version of heaven. There are no families, no husband and wives. We are just friends and strangers living in heaven, she told me. How dismal a heaven this would be for me. How could you not want to be tied to those you loved on earth. How lonely and miserable to not be with family. The LDS belief in eternal families is truly one its greatest and most beautiful truths.
I remember once when a co-worker gave me her version of heaven. There are no families, no husband and wives. We are just friends and strangers living in heaven, she told me. How dismal a heaven this would be for me. How could you not want to be tied to those you loved on earth. How lonely and miserable to not be with family. The LDS belief in eternal families is truly one its greatest and most beautiful truths.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Favorite Finds
I got behind a little on my blog but I wanted to post the link for the Utah Kids registry. http://www.kidsregistry.utah.gov So this is how it works. If you are a Utah resident (sorry non-Utah people) you sign up any of your cell phone or e-mails that you or a minor might have access to at the above link. This is a free Utah government program designed to help protect kids from inappropriate messages. Within 30 days any business that sends out adult-oriented advertising to cell phones or e-mails is required to scrub your contacts from their list. Of course this is not a fail safe plan to keep all those inappropriate junk mails out of your e-mail box. Not every business in the world is law abiding. Still, I signed up because I think every little bit helps. I'm also writing an article on the registry for Wasatch Woman magazine.
My second favorite find this week has to do with the Crocs shoes. Many of you probably already know this little tidbit. You can recycle those Crocs at the store you bought them from. For example if they break, as mine did recently, you just take them back to the store. They send them to the manufacturer who melts them down and remakes the shoes to be sent to people in Africa.
My third favorite find this week happens to be our new Honda Pilot. OK its actually used. I thought the Pilot would be too small for our family but it turns out that it works great. I love my new leather seats (no more melted crayons permanently melded to the seat cushions). I love my sun roof and my seats that fold into the floor. I often need extra room for things like plastic swimming pools and scooters. I love that it has four-wheel drive. I am really tired of getting stuck in the driveway after a snowstorm on school mornings. But I especially love that it is not a Dodge and that Honda's have such a good track record for quality. Our van finally bit the dust a few weeks ago and we were able to arrange a trade-in with the dealer we bought the van from 10 years ago. It was a small trade-in amount. That's what happens when the engine breaks.
My second favorite find this week has to do with the Crocs shoes. Many of you probably already know this little tidbit. You can recycle those Crocs at the store you bought them from. For example if they break, as mine did recently, you just take them back to the store. They send them to the manufacturer who melts them down and remakes the shoes to be sent to people in Africa.
My third favorite find this week happens to be our new Honda Pilot. OK its actually used. I thought the Pilot would be too small for our family but it turns out that it works great. I love my new leather seats (no more melted crayons permanently melded to the seat cushions). I love my sun roof and my seats that fold into the floor. I often need extra room for things like plastic swimming pools and scooters. I love that it has four-wheel drive. I am really tired of getting stuck in the driveway after a snowstorm on school mornings. But I especially love that it is not a Dodge and that Honda's have such a good track record for quality. Our van finally bit the dust a few weeks ago and we were able to arrange a trade-in with the dealer we bought the van from 10 years ago. It was a small trade-in amount. That's what happens when the engine breaks.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Tom's Band
Isn't he great. Many of you know Tom was in bands in high school and college. After 13 years of marriage he and some of his coworkers decided it was time to start another band. If this is a midlife crisis, I'll take it. They really do sound good. This was their debut performance and you can't tell but there were at least 100 people at the Enoch City 24th of July celebration.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Just Words Wednesday
On Wednesdays I want to open up a discussion. Basically, I want to rant and rave a little on some of our current events or other items where we all have opinions. I want to hear your opinions, open up the floodgates a little and start a converstion.
This week I am caught up in thoughts on free speech. Yesterday, radio personality Mike Savage made some seriously hateful comments about autistic children. Basically he said autism was a racket and autistic children are all fakers and spoiled brats. I'm not sure what he thought he was going to accomplish with such ridiculous comments. Many people think he should have the microphone pulled out from in front of his big mouth. So here is where I think things can get politically dicey.
I totally support free speech. I think the guy is an arrogant moron, but I also believe he has the right to voice his opinion in his personal venue. If his boss wants to take away his job because he doesn't appreciate the backlash of anti-Savage pressure he is receiving, that is his bosses right. I don't think that is going to happen this little incident has generated way too much attention, albeit negative. So should the guy be censured by the world, absolutely. But I still believe he gets his freedom of speech.
On the other end of the spectrum, I have been researching the Utah kids registry, a program that allows parents, teachers, caregivers to block adult-oriented advertising that is sent to their e-mail or cell phones. Utah law (one of only two states to have this statute) requires all businesses that send advertisements on alcohol, tobacco, gambling, drugs or pornography to scrub their lists of email or cell phones contacts that have registered for the kids registry. It's a pretty great tool that gives families a choice about what kind of messages are allowed to enter their homes and lives. Of course so called free-speech orginizations are fighting the law. They believe it is their fifth ammendment right to send advertisements to whomever they wish or phish for.
I could not disagree more. They can write their advertisements but I should be able to choose what types of advertisements come into my home. I should have the right to protect the minors in my sphere of influence. I believe an e-mail address and a cell phone is a private place, not a venue for someone's self-serving free speech.
Well I have said my peace. Where do you stand on free speech? I will post a link and more information on the registry on my Friday Finds post.
This week I am caught up in thoughts on free speech. Yesterday, radio personality Mike Savage made some seriously hateful comments about autistic children. Basically he said autism was a racket and autistic children are all fakers and spoiled brats. I'm not sure what he thought he was going to accomplish with such ridiculous comments. Many people think he should have the microphone pulled out from in front of his big mouth. So here is where I think things can get politically dicey.
I totally support free speech. I think the guy is an arrogant moron, but I also believe he has the right to voice his opinion in his personal venue. If his boss wants to take away his job because he doesn't appreciate the backlash of anti-Savage pressure he is receiving, that is his bosses right. I don't think that is going to happen this little incident has generated way too much attention, albeit negative. So should the guy be censured by the world, absolutely. But I still believe he gets his freedom of speech.
On the other end of the spectrum, I have been researching the Utah kids registry, a program that allows parents, teachers, caregivers to block adult-oriented advertising that is sent to their e-mail or cell phones. Utah law (one of only two states to have this statute) requires all businesses that send advertisements on alcohol, tobacco, gambling, drugs or pornography to scrub their lists of email or cell phones contacts that have registered for the kids registry. It's a pretty great tool that gives families a choice about what kind of messages are allowed to enter their homes and lives. Of course so called free-speech orginizations are fighting the law. They believe it is their fifth ammendment right to send advertisements to whomever they wish or phish for.
I could not disagree more. They can write their advertisements but I should be able to choose what types of advertisements come into my home. I should have the right to protect the minors in my sphere of influence. I believe an e-mail address and a cell phone is a private place, not a venue for someone's self-serving free speech.
Well I have said my peace. Where do you stand on free speech? I will post a link and more information on the registry on my Friday Finds post.
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