Oh, What a Find!

My wonderful friend over at Laiebeachcombers linked readers to The Black Snob. I've been reading it this morning and it is so good. Just cruise around the blog and click away! Every post is a good find.

I've also been remiss . . . .

Ian Lind is a retired investigative reporter for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, a Veteran, a political blogger, and "online daily from Ka'a'awa, HI." I go to his blog everyday and not once have I mentioned it here! He was invited to the Democratic National Convention, has been featured in The New York Times, and is just an excellent person with a most brilliant mind. For local Hawaii and National politics, give it a go.

A Lifestyle To Consider

On Lazy Days Like Today . . .

I like to refer to good posts instead of attempting to write one myself. I'm so tired right now that I may inadvertently write some awful, dirty rotten falsehoods which would have me waking up screaming in the middle of the night, wondering if it was all a bad dream, only to realize that no, I really did write something akin to "Sarah Palin is brilliant" or "That McCain fellar is sharp as a tack" on this, my precious family blog. Yes, Friends, I'm that tired.

Laiebeachcombers has a really really good post tonight. Exciting, alternative potential ideas to help get ourselves out of the current financial mess. A mess that has got me wondering if the mattress might not actually be the safest place to store the precious 80 bones in my checking account.

McCain is Desperate, Dishonest, and Just Plain Ridiculous

I am too overwhelmed to condense all the facts, figures, timelines, and outright lies by McCain that I've been reading about into one single post.

I used to respect McCain because he was a respectable human being; a politician that valued ethics over corruption and one that had friends on both side of the aisle. He was even going to become a Democrat back in 2004 because of all the corruption in his own party. And even though he decided to remain a Republican in hopes of changing that party from the inside, I still respected him.

Now, he's gone 'round the bend.

I know there are people that may read this and take offense. So I'm gonna have faith that by virtue of living in America, I have the right to express my views and hope that they are respected.

The reality is that McCain is behind Obama in all the polls. WAAAAAY behind in some polls. So the day after these polls come out, he decides to "suspend" his campaign to "focus on the economic crisis" and states that he won't participate in the PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE if there is no solution by Friday.

Besides that fact that he has acknowledged on many occasions that he knows nothing about the economy, um . . . . aren't Presidents suppose to know how to multi-task? Can McCain not do more than one thing at a time?

Oh also, University Of Mississippi just told ABC news that canceling the debate would cost the state 5.5 MILLION dollars. Way to look after the people's money, McCain.

But wait, he will participate in a presidential debate if it can take the place of the Biden/Palin VP debate. So yeah, as long as his incompetent VP pick can get out of answering questions and displaying her lack of knowledge, he'll do a presidential debate.

Why is he treating Americans like we're idiots?? What's he going to attempt to do next, "suspend" the election?

Again, this is the man who admits to not knowing ANYTHING about the economy, his campaign manager was getting paid for 4 years by Freddie Mac, and right smack in the middle of the Wall St. disaster, McCain stated that "the fundamental of the economy are strong!" Oops! After Paulson said otherwise, McCain said, "I meant the workers are strong."

I share Bob Cesca's very blunt sentiment backed by a gob of evidence that independent voters are discovering quite rapidly that McCain is actually, "McLiar. McPanderer. McIncompentent. McBush."

Confession . . .

In the face of the LDS North Shore community, I took a pass on voting for Mufi Hannemann and voted for Ann Kobayashi for Mayor of Honolulu.

I really really really like Mufi. A lot. I was a groupie for a long while.

But about 3 days before I went to the polls (raise the proverbial roof for early voting here in Hawaii; less crowds, better energy), I spoke with someone from Ann's campaign.

And WOW!

Without going into too much detail, I agree with Ann about the rail system on O'ahu. So she won my vote.

PLUS, I hope to see Mufi as the next Senator or Governor of Hawaii. He had said that he couldn't promise Honolulu more than 2 years as mayor, which probably means he'll be running for another office. I'm glad about that. Homeboy's got what it takes to make some substantial political waves in the US.

After I left the polls I immediately called Tevita and left a message "confessing" my "indiscretion". When I got home I found an email from him which ended with this:

"I love you...even though you voted for the enemy...hahahaha. Ti"

I feel like such a maverick. Who knows, maybe someday I'll get up the nerve to wear a Utes sweatshirt in the Aloha Center.

Barack Obama '08

Note To Self . . .

Make these easy things at Christmas time.


Christmas Smores

You'll need a clean 1 quart mason jar, 1 sleeve graham crackers, 1 package holiday marshmallow peeps, one bag of holiday M&Ms candies (regular ones, not the peanut kind), 1/3 cup of brown sugar, a circle of fabric or paper, and ribbon or raffia to decorate the lid. Card stock or paper for tag.

1. Reduce 1 sleeve graham crackers to crumbs.

2. Layer 2/3 of the crumbs in a 1 qt jar. Pack down the crumbs a bit.

3. Place about 1/4 cup of M&Ms candies on top of the graham crackers.

4. Arrange 8 to 12 marshmallow holiday peeps standing up, facing out around the inside of the jar. Press them up against the glass, but don't squash them. Depending on the type of peeps available you might use either one row (like christmas trees or bunnies) or 2 rows (like pumpkins or hearts).

5. Carefully spoon remaining cracker crumbs in the center of the jar to support the peeps, pressing down to keep it snug.

6. On top of this pour 1-1/4 cup M&M's (holiday colors to suit).

7. Spoon 1/3 cup brown sugar into center of M&M's, gently pressing with a spoon. If you have any room left over, then fill the jar to the top with M&Ms.

Print or handwrite a tag to attach to the jar:

Holiday S'MORES
1. Empty the jar contents into a bowl. Snip the peeps into bits with kitchen shears or cut up with a knife. Return the bits to the mixture. Mix well.
2. Melt 1/2 cup butter; add 1 teaspoon vanilla. Pour this over the dry ingredients, mixing well. Pat into a greased 8" or 9" square pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes. Cool and cut into bars.

Source: DesignsWithHeart

My Favorite Snack

I've been eating bags and bags of edamame lately. I love 'em. I would explain how to make them scrumptious, but Dooce does a far better job than I. Except for the two dogs she puts in hers, I follow her step-by-step directions and they turn out yummy every time.

Random Cute Stuff

Fun Blog I Just Found

I See Brown People is a blog I just found written by Richard Wolfgram. He started the first Tongan newspaper in Salt Lake City called 'AnoMasima and now has gone on to other things. The blog looks like it just started so there's only a couple of posts but it is a hoot as he comments on the contemporary experience of urban Pasifik Islander communities and as he links us to poignant articles, one of which is from my favorite commentator, Tim Wise. Have fun reading it! Oh, and hold on for the ride of your life if you've never been challenged with the concept of "white privilege"!! Don't worry, it will scare you first and then you'll love that you learned about it.

Plan For Change

To air this is going to be expensive. Best to see it here and then donate to the campaign so that as many people as possible can see for themselves the wisdom and intellect that is the future President, Barack Obama.

Dinner and My Favorite Thing

Today I got to participate in my most favorite of favorite activities. I voted. I love living in America! Even if we didn't have fireworks and malasadas and The Huffington Post, I would still love being an American if for no other reason then we get to make a decision about who leads us. I actually get emotional when I think about how much I love to vote.

After I finished filling in the bubbles on my ballot, I was in a sassy mood and felt like making something a little Southwesternie. And usually, I fill that hankerin' with a special Costco salad mix. But since there was no Costco close by, I did what Sara Palin does when talking about foreign policy, and I improvised. Except I did it good.

First, I boiled boneless chicken tenderloins.

Then, I shredded the chicken in a bowl and added a gob of bar-b-cue sauce. Also, good to make a ton of this kind of chicken and keep it in the fridge for other uses (sandwiches, pitas, heated up with side of cucumber, etc).

I put a couple of tablespoons of this stuff in the bowl that I planned on eating out of:

In hindsight, it's disgusting, I know. But it was the only thing labeled "Southwestern" in all of Foodland. Yes, I see also, it says "Dip" but I had to ignore that use in the name of fulfilling my craving!

So I microwaved it for about 20 seconds (I microwaved dip to use as salad dressing. Don't judge!).

And then I added romaine lettuce, mixed it in with the Southwestern Ranch (still trying to ignore "the dip" part).

Topped it with the bar-b-cue chicken and ate.

It was delicious! Would also be good had a I added black beans and some corn too. But no time for that nonsense when my stomach was growling!

Try it. You won't be sorry! If the salad part doesn't work for you, I believe flour tortilla chips will!

p.s. Don't forget to Vote!!!

You Know Me . . .

I'm no cook. Not even close. I can follow a recipe. I'm dang good at that. But I don't use lots of fresh ingredients that I just harvested from my garden. Because I don't have a garden. Not yet anyway. But that's another post.

Anyhow, I followed a recipe to make beans (pinto, kidney, black) and couldn't figure out what to do with 'em once they were cooked.

That's when I discovered the happiness that is Embasa:

Spicy. No sugar added. Tons of flavor. I mashed it with the beans and had a delightful dance in my mouth. So so tasty.

I loved it so much I started adding it to lots of things!! To mashed avocado. To baked chicken. To vegetables. And even to my eggs this morning. All yummy.

Now I just have to figure out how to use this magical ingredient to make Sara Palin go away.

Simple Recipe Alert

It has been CRAZY hot here in Laie the last few days. So humid and muggy and voggy . . . voggy? I actually don't know if that's a word yet. But the UH School of Medicine just got a grant to study the effects of Vog so I'm sure "voggy" will be a word soon.

Anyhow, it's been hot. So the other day while in town, I walked past that gross Hot Dog on a Stick place and saw the lemons. Lots and lots of lemons. Yum. I ordered a giant sugar-free lemonade and watched how they made it.
I made it at home the other day and it tasted exactly the same. So thirst quenching and yummy!

Here's what I saw and did:

Fill a tall glass or cup with ice
Put two packets of sugar substitute in glass
Squeeze every last ounce of juice out of 1-2 lemons into glass (start with one. you can add more later)
Fill with ice cold water
Stir
Pour from the cup into another cup the same size
Pour it back into the original cup (we're mixing here)
Drink.
So delightful.

Informed About America?

I took the Pew News Quiz and got 11/12 correct . I actually expected 100% since I consider myself a pretty well-informed person, my obsession with Gilmore Girls notwithstanding. But alas, I did not answer the question about the Dow Jones Industrial Average correctly.

At the end of the quiz, along with your score, it says the average of others who took the quiz. The results were underwhelming, to say the least. Political junkie or not, we should all have some basic knowledge of the goings on of our country. The unjustified war and the current financial crisis this country is experiencing is some of what happens when we are not informed about our country and the candidates that are running to lead it.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Barack Obama is the only candidate that has the capability to unite the people of this country and lead us to peace and prosperity! If you are considering another candidate, please consider looking at Barack's platform, his record for getting things done, his knowledge about the ecomony, and his decisions in choosing ethical and knowledgable advisors. 12 Generals have endorsed him.

Anyway, take the quiz and let me know how it goes!

U.S. Global Leadership Dwindling

10 Billion a month and 4155 dead

Record unemployment at 6.1%

Historical foreclosures

47 million without health insurance

Military Suicides at record level

September 11, 2008 and still the terrorist has not been found.

It's time for Barack Obama.

Dear Camille

Today your turned 12 years old. That's 144 months but hey, whose counting? Well, me actually. Because those months went by so fast! It seems like just yesterday you were a little baby! (How's that for original writing?) I remember that day with so much clarity actually.

And not to be about me, on this your most wonderful birthday, but I was kind of a hot mess back then. I was too skinny, so insecure, and really just biding my time before grad school. Remember what I got you for your baby shower? I bet you're rolling your eyes right now thinking, "a burp cloth, and now Lizzie will follow that declaration with a heinous childhood story that she's told me a thousand times." Well actually no, it wasn't a burp cloth. It was a CD. Called "Jagged Little Pill" by Alanis Morissette. "Who the heck is she?" You're probably asking, being careful to say "heck" even in your mind, because you've grown up all pure and kind and unlike the rest of the family, curse-free. Well, I'll tell you who she was. She was too skinny, so insecure, and really just biding her time before . . . before . . . before . . . well, I don't know the end of that phrase because I don't think Alanis was biding her time, Camille, I think she had already achieved her dream by the time I laid my hands on that screeching CD. From what I understood, she had gone through a lot of pain and grief and she came out the other end just fine. In fact, fine enough to put out a top selling, award winning CD.

And I desire those same things for you.

Not the pain and the grief part. And not even the award winning CD part. Although, I know you actually could produce an award winning anything if you wanted to. In fact, you already have, haven't you? After moving to a new town and skipping the first grade, you were one of the top four award winning scholars at your school by the end of the sixth grade. You have always enjoyed reading, writing, and arithmetic (joking about arithmetic, we all know you're a Rago at heart, hence no way, now how, no math) and you've always worked hard in school. So hard. "I know I know, Liz, you've told me all this a gazillion times!" I can see you saying. Well, I want to say this one last thing, this one last time (today), for old times sake:

Camille, I'm so proud of you.

It's September, you have just started junior high, and I hope you enjoy every moment of this part of your life. 12 years old is the beginning of adolescence and I'm sure if growing up with Raven, Lizzie McGuire, and HM, has taught you nothing else, it's that high school is full of comedy. Lots and lots and lots of comedy. It's also full of disappointments. And that's where the pain and the grief part may come into play. I actually believe that you won't experience too much distress in high school though. I think you're smarter than to sneak into the school pool during finals week and go for a leisurely swim with your friends, until you all hear the PE teacher unlock the gym door. After which you run into the bathroom and climb out that same window you climbed into, falling into a bush which also served as a hiding place while another teacher rounded the building looking for you. (And you're in nothing but a swim suit).

Sorry, had a brief flashback for a moment.

I know you're asking something, Camille, because you're a curious girl, an analytical girl, a girl who can't be fooled. Remember when you found the magazine in my house with Zac Efron on the cover? I was all, "it's for a client!" And you were all, "uh huh, Liz, a client," Truth is, your gut instinct was right. I had just watched Hairspray and wanted to know more about the lead dude. Ok, ok, ok, for about a week, I was crushin'! And the thing is, you KNEW I was crushin'!

So it doesn't surprise me that right now the question in your mind is, "Um Liz . . . why did you get me a screaming lady CD when I was 3 days old?" Well, girlfriend, I got you that CD for the same reason I made that baby quilt with the colors. You know, the colors! The dark browns and the dark blues and the dark greens. Did I mention that Alanis wrote that CD during the dark times in her life? You may not be a quilter, but I know you can see the pattern here. Why I got you that particular CD and made that particular quilt, I'll never know, but I do know that they were a reflection of my inside before you came and brought me joy. Your bright blue eyes were born during a disappointing time in my life. You quite literally lit up my world. So thanks for that, Sweetheart, I'll never forget it.

Point is, Camille, you're smart, you're fun, you're gorgeous, and you're 12. So there will be moments of comedy and moments of discomfort. Both are in your hands to control. But regardless of whichever moment you are experiencing at whatever time in your life, like Alanis, I know you'll come out the other end just fine. (and I know you'll achieve your dreams).

Happy Birthday Sweetheart.

Love
Auntie Liz

p.s. Huge hugs from Uncle Tevita.

High School Musical, The M Version

( Titles rated M (Mature) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, and/or strong language.)

The title and the rating describe some of the lovely responses to a post this weekend. A post someone wrote explaining why she supports Obama. Nothing like a few violent comments to jump start a fabulous weekend! So fun! So exciting! So sexy! (So scary! So makes ya wanna hide! So sad that my future children may have to encounter people like this!)

Let me give you a synopsis of the discussion:

Someone: I won't vote for Obama b/c he's a democrat and I'm pro-life

Someone else: Me too. Let's face it, pro-choice = pro-abortion

Me: The reason abortion occurs are more complex then we can imagine. Let's promote adoption with compassion and non-judgment so that women who are terminating pregnancies as a form of birth control will feel there are other options. Changing a law won't change the amount of abortions there are in the country.

Someone else 2: Wow, so did everyone learn from all of this? Now we KNOW that we should all be just like Liz; pro choice, non-judgmental, merciful, and compassionate to no end. and to think that I was conservative...what was I thinking?!! Liz, you're being closed minded! You can't be bothered with anything that is contrary to what you believe!! It's a waste of time trying to talk to someone who thinks of themselves as a "principled, merciful woman!!!"

Me: huh? (me thinking: how do i call the police and tell them I'll need a restraining order on this anonymous psycho?)

Someone else 3: Liz, You're ignoring the council of the Prophets and Apostles!!!

Me: huh? (me thinking: seriously, huh??)

The discussion was actually a bit more layered and a tad more accosting, but that was the gist of it. (There was a side issue that I inadvertently started, although I did not post a final response about it, turns out my surrounding thought process was accurate). But does anyone get the irony here? As Tevita said, "comments like that (someone else 2) are the stuff bombers are made of." So glad this person doesn't have my address.

While a real "hot button" issue with some folks, this is my stance on policy: Pro-Life or Pro-choice, I really don't care. Because I think neither will decrease birth control abortions. And neither will make the decision any easier. The only way to decrease unwanted pregnancies and abortions is through education and support. Those politicians who say they want to overturn roe v wade are only saying it to pander to their base. Those same politicians actually want to throw it out of federal law and let the states decide for themselves. Um . . . if they are adamant that abortion is murder, then . . . why would they want to have states to decide for themselves?? Interesting. I must be missing something.

People on both sides of the political aisle know that the issue is too complex for anyone to wrap their mind around. Hence the need for pro-choice. Instead of leaving it at that, we get the pandering and the pandering and the pandering. Oh, and then the psychos and the psychos and the psychos. By the way, I don't think that everyone who votes based on a pro-life platform is psycho. Just those who are scary. And threatening. And calling me names! (They are total butt heads!)

The Inspirational and Ever Inspired

Ted Sorenson

Head Speech Writer and Advisor to John F. Kennedy

Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at 03:20 PM

In my more than 50 years of national conventions, this is one of the most important. Our 8 year national nightmare of mendacity, mediocrity and economic misery—with millions of Americans losing their jobs, their savings, their homes and their hopes—will soon end with the election of Barack Obama.

I have long dreamed that our party would produce another president matching John F. Kennedy's intellect and integrity, his capacity to inspire justice at home and peace around the world—and this week my dream is coming true. Once in a lifetime, said the poet, hope and history meet in one extraordinary man and movement—I thank the good Lord that I've lived long enough to meet and help such men twice in my lifetime, John Kennedy and Barack Obama.

Kennedy at 43 proved that age matters in the White House. His energy, appeal to other young world leaders, calm under pressure and openness to new thinking, well served our nation. Denounced as a candidate for lacking executive experience, he displayed sound judgment in leading a successful nationwide campaign, choosing a top-notch team, negotiating with difficult leaders, and out-organizing and out-thinking his adversaries—just as he would as president, particularly when, with prudence and courage, he induced the Soviets to withdraw their nuclear missiles from Cuba without the U.S. firing a shot; and the world gave thanks that the more experienced Richard Nixon had lost that close election.

In 1960, Kennedy, like Obama today, facing a Republican tied to a failed past, looked to a future of new ideas and opportunities. As president, he did not send the Marine Corps to preserve America's oil supplies, he sent the Peace Corps to preserve America's global standing. Confronting a Soviet military advantage in space, he made all Americans proud by literally reaching for the moon.

Today, we need new leadership. We have lost our way, lost the respect of our allies, lost the confidence of our investors and consumers. Are we to be the first generation of Americans to leave to our children a country in worse condition than we received it?

In short: this year, my friends, the fates will try us; erase all trace of fear and bias; we have the man we need at last to embrace the future, not the past, and to dispel eight years of pain and shame. Barack Obama is his name! Call the roll!