Ben stein commentary

I know only a couple of people read my blog, but I got this from someone and thought it was very intresting and true. If you would like to use it please feel free.



The following was written by Ben Stein and read by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.

My confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees. It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a cr è che, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away .

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat. Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to. In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham 's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her "How could God let something like this happen?" (regarding Katrina ) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, "I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?"

In light of recent events...terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found recently) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK. Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem ( Dr. Spock 's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves. Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with "WE REAP WHAT WE SOW."

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says . Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e- mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace. Are you laughing?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it. Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in. My Best Regards .
Honestly and respectfully,

Ben Stein

Been a long time

Its been awhile since I wrote.
Since Samantha came into our lives we have been extremly busy trying to get a routine going. She slept through the night for the first little while and then for the past couple of weeks she was up all night and I was averaging 3 hours a night. The last couple of days she has slept through the night. Her room is now done and she will be moving to her room on Sunday. Yesterday she rolled over for the first time.

Nathanial is a bundle of energy, very into Thomas the Tank and everything is Choo Choo. He has started saying new words, he says grandma, Zaidy, Howie, Sock,Sit and Cheese. He started DayCare two weeks ago and came home sick and spread it around the house so we are all getting better from that. He loves to dance and say hello to everyone.

Jeff and I are starting to get the house ready for our nanny who arrives in March as I am going back to work after the March Break. I have also decided to go back to school in Spetember and get my degree in Child and Youth Work which will move me up in the pay scale..which will be very good, it will also add to the degrees and diplomas on the wall.

I am also venturing into my own buisness, details to follow soon.

In a nut shell the last two months have been summed up.

Done

Well, I am almost 6 days overdue and quite ready for this baby to come into the world. AS of right now, there is no indication that it will be coming soon. I am goign to the Dr on Friday and hopefully something will be done because i am now hurting. I am done....I have not complained at all throughout this pregnancy or through Nathanials but as of now I am done...I want this baby out!!!!!

I was sure that I would be early as everyone said you usually are with your second. Well not me. I am hoping by the end of this weekend I will have a new baby to hold. If not I will be sreaming from frustration.

Getting close

Only a few more days until my due date. Who knows if I will be on time. Some say with a second your early...I don't feel it. There is a lot of movement going on and pains but nothing that feels like labour is going to happen anytime soon.
I have cleaned the house, washed all the babies clothes, got the car seat, swing and breast pump ready. Bags are packed, mine, Nathanials and Baby G and I still think I am forgetting something.
I am due in 5 days. I can't believe that its coming up so fast. I believe that I will deliver later..just because I was late with Nathanial...only by a couple of days. As long as the baby is healthy and has all their fingers and toes then I will be happy whenever it comes.

Been a while

Well its been a while and who knows who really reads my blog anyways, but I thought I would update it now. This summer has been a busy one, working, keeping Nathanial busy and getting ready for number 2. With one week left I am feeling great and have set up the room, updated totsite, and packed the bags. I haven't had that burst of energy where you start cleaning everything, bur have had organizational spurts.
Nathanial is signed for 2 classes on the weekends with daddy and will be starting daycare 2 days a week come December or Jan. We have also started the process of looking for a nanny as I am planning to go back to work after the March break and it will be easier to have someone here with the kids and helping around the house than running to do everything myself. I have tossed the idea of a nanny and have said many times I don't want one but when you have two kids and have to look at daycare and such, its so much cheaper and easier to have one. Since my hours at work are not long, I thinkg that things may work out and Jeff and I may even have a date night once and a while.
Anyways I am going to rest and will hopefully find time to write again.

Being Adopted

The other week I was at a birthday party and someone asked me what it felt like having my own child coming from an adopted family. I thought that was a good question as I never thought about it before. I met my biological mother 8 years ago and have maintained a relationship with her and her family.

Having a child who is your flesh and blood and you can see yourself in him and think oh my he is mine, I think to myself what a selfless act my biological mom did giving me up. I couldn't see myself doing that.

I think it will have an effect on me as my family grows and they may have questions regarding it.

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Thoughts on having a child

Well May is almost ending which means Nathanial is almost one. Where has the time gone.
He is walking, saying some words, crawling like a machine and getting into everything. He is so cute and the love of my life. Everyone says when you have a kid you will realize what love really means and how it feels to loves someone so much. I can totally see that with how I feel about my son. I have cried at times realizing that he is growing up..many times I don't want him to because I like him small. I look at some of the kids in the neighborhood or at the school I work at and I am thinking oh my goodness one day he will be that age.
I am not wishing his life away, If I could I would keep him small forever.

I don't really know what I am trying to say but it feels like this year has gone by so fast and everyone says each year they get older it goes by faster and slows down in the teen years. Sometimes I wonder if it could be the other way around.:)

my 80's heart throb

• Your 80s Heartthrob Is

  John Stamos

  Who's" Your 80's Heartthrob?

a mish mash of thoughts

I don't know what to type as a title for this blog as it will probably end up with a whole mish mash of thought and feelings.

As April comes to a close I have hit 21 weeks of my pregnancy, I feel very fat and I know I am a lot bigger than I was with Nathanial at this time.

Nathanial is growing up so much, he is climbing stairs, noticing everything around him the animals and such. He is saying a little more and is turning into a little person. I can't believe it. He is starting to stand on his own even if its for a few seconds.

Work is ok, Still don't like how the program is run and have major issues on the lables of children.

I wish I wasn't so tired all the time and had more energy.

Tomorrow we go for our last major ultrasound..even though my doctor does one everytime I visit so we can see.

I am debating wanting to know if the baby is a boy or a girl. I am torn about this subject. I want to know for the obvious reasons: decorating the room, names, clothing etc. I also know there are not a lot of surprises in life and I kind of want to have this as a major surprise. Jeff wants to know before the baby is born.

I guess thats all for now, short and sweet

Girl or Boy

When your pregnant everyone wants to know, when the baby is due and if you know if its a girl or boy. If you don't know they ask what do you want? Lately my answer has been another boy. The reason for this is that the new baby and Nathanial will be close in age I thought it would be nice for him to have a brother, they would grow up pretty close in age.

Of course I don't care if its a girl, but thinking about when shes older, the PMS, the moods and teenage girls and their moms. I know how I was, and with my luck I would have a stubborn and very independent girl like I was. But, then theirs the dolls, the games and dress up that you can't really do with a boy. I would like a girl so that Jeff can be afraid of her meeting boys, dating and worrying about how she leaves the house.


All I want is a happy healthy baby and whatever I get I will be happy with.
Since Jeff would like more than 2 and I would like 3 I am thinking that the next one will be spaced a little...let the baby of the family be a girl. Older brothers to protect her and she can mellow the boys:)

Ultra Sound

Today I went to have my 13 week ultra sound done. I had to get the ultra sound, blood test and then see my DR. Well when I was having the ultra sound done, besides wanting to pee so badly I was amazed at what I saw. Nathanial was not a baby who moved so much but this one, was doing the 20 minute workout. Turning around, flipping upside down, letting us see their legs and arms. It was really amazing. Its also amazing to think that in a few months that baby will not be able to do all that I will start feeling all that movement.

Nathanial was great throughout the appointments, my friend Amanda came with me and kept him busy, he was quite happy eating his chicken nuggets, sliced apples and looking at himself in the mirror.

Food Meme

1. What's your #1 comfort food? Chicken Soup with Matza Balls or Pizza

2. If you were on a deserted island, what one food would you want to have with you? Veggies and Dip or Chip and dip

3. What is/are your signature dishes? (What dishes are you 'known' for?) Quishes, Lasagna, Roast Chicken, Gazpachio, Desserts

4. It's Friday night, you don't know what to cook. Don't cook on Friday nights we are either at my parents or my inlaws for dinner.

5. What's your biggest weakness when it comes to food? depends where I am, I love food, most food

6. What food can you absolutely not eat? Liver - yuck

7. You need a drink. You grab a- water

8. What's the most decadent dish you've had? don't know

9. What's your favorite type of food? Thai and Italian

10. Favorite dish? Pad Thai, Pizza

11. If your partner could take you to any restaurant you wanted, which one would it be? Satay on the Road because we both love the food there.

12. Are you a soup or salad person? Both, love both

13. Buffet, take-out or sit-down restaurant? Sit Down for the most part.

14. What's the most impressive dinner you've ever made? I have made a few dinner parties where I have made roast Chicken, Salad, Grilled Veggies and made a few desserts,

15. Do you consider yourself a good cook? Not the greatest but no one has complained about my cooking.

16. Do you know what vichyssoise is? yup, love it.

17. Who's your favorite TV cook?

18. Can you name at least three TV cooking personalities? Jamie Oliver, Rachel Ray (she seems to be the flavour of the month) Chef Ramsey from Hells Kitchen.

19. Homemade or homemade from a box? Homemade

20. Name 3 or more other foodies you are going to tag. Everyone I know has been tagged

Back to work

Well in 2 days I start back to work and I am not looking forward to it. I think it would be different if I liked the job I am going back to, but how can you like a job when you share a classroom with a teacher who doesn't understand how to work with the kids? He makes my job harder and worst of all doesn't understand pregnancy at all. Last year, he complained to the principal about me going to Dr appointments on my lunch hour or right after work or even when I had morning sickness. He is not an easy person to work with and most other people in the school stay away from him. I of course am stuck for 5 hours in the same classroom with him. I just have to remember its for 4 months.

Thankfully my mom is taking Nathanial for 4 days a week and Jeff on Fridays. My mom lives right across from where I work so thankfully Nathanial is close by.

I am not looking forward to Monday but have to remember its for one week, and then March Break begins. Then back for 2 weeks and off for the first week of April. I have 25 sick days and 4 holy days to take and I plan on taking most of them.

Back from London

After are whirlwind visit to England and visiting all the family I came back to find that my great Aunt had passed away. She was 96 years young. She was an amazing woman, she walked everywhere, tap danced, read and spoke 4 languages. She was sitting in her chair reading when she passed away. She was married for 63 years to my great uncle Jack. She had 4 kids, 12 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.

London

Well we have been in London for 4 days know and I love it, I love being around my family and having my son meet all his cousins. Thursday we relaxed after the long journey the night before and saw all my cousins. On Friday we went down to central london and walked for about 4 hours and saw Buckingham Palace,Westmister Abby, Picadilly Circus, London Eye,Parliment buildings, Soho, Oxford Street and more. Friday night the family got together for dinner. It was so nice to be with the family. Saturday Nathanial and I spent the days with our cousins Clare and Ollie. In the evening we went for dinner in Covent gardens with my uncle and aunt.
We have been busy and enjoying our time,
See you all back home.

Funny crank caller prank

This is so funny


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Nathanial said his first words

Nathanial said his first words this weekend...they were MAMA.....yeah for me. We were sitting at the table and he reached out at me and went MAMA. who knows if he reallys knows if thats what he meant but all weekend hes been going on MAMAMAMAMA. When he sees me he looks and says MAMA. Even if its not meant to be the real deal yet its still really nice.

Been Tagged by Dina

4 places I have worked:

1. Regesh
2. Steelesview Summer Camp
3. Children's Aid Society
4. Heart and Stroke Foundation

4 movies I could watch over and over again
1. Pretty Woman
2. Notting Hill
3. Lady Jane
4. Nathanials home videos and Pirates of the Carribean

4 of my Favorite TV shows

1. General Hospital
2. Greys Anatomy
3. Amazing Race
4. Deal or No Deal

honorable mention
Desperate Housewives
Apprentice
Survivor
OC
CSI

4 places I have been on vacation
1. Mexico
2. Jamaica
3. England
4. California


4 of my favorite foods

1. Pizza
2. Thai
3. Italian
4. Tacos

4 things I like to do in my spare time

what spare time?

4 people to tag

all have been tagged

To wait or not to wait

I discovered last week that I am pregnant again..due in September, so at the time of writing this I am 6 weeks pregnant. There is such a debate about telling before the 3 months. My belief is to tell, Why hold in such good news, if g-d forbid something will happen the people who you told would be the people that would support you through it as well.

For me people would know before the 3 months because I have to go back to work and I have to give one month notice of my intent to go back because my Mat leave is over in May. I also told the mommy's in my mommy group because we do playgroups twice a week and once I go back to work I will not be able too join and thought it fair to tell them ahead of time.

So for me the debate of waiting the 3 months is not so hard, I didn't wait with Nathanial and I didn't wait for this one. I told my closest friends because they are the ones who I turn to for everything and that is important to me.

Meme

This was taken from Christines site as she Memed me.


Two Names You Go By:

1. Danielle
2. Beanie -childhood nickname since birth


Two Things You Are Wearing Right Now:

1. Breast Cancer t-shirt
2. pink pj bottoms


Things You Want in a Relationship:

1. Respect
2. honesty/trust

Two of Your Favourite Things to do:

1. Cuddling with Nathanial and Jeff
2. Going out with friends

Two Things You Want Very Badly At The Moment:

1. Money
2. My house organized and cleaned out

Two pets you had/have:
1. Cats

Two things you did last night:

1. Laundry
2. Take care of my sick husband

Two People that live in your house:
1. Husband Jeff
2. Son Nathanial

Two things you ate today:

1. Soft boiled eggs and toast
2. sheppards pie and salad

Two people you Last Talked To:

1. Jeff
2.Mom

Two Things You're doing tomorrow:
1. If weather is good meet friends for lunch
2. Go out with mom

Two longest car rides:

1. Toronto to Salt St Marie
2. From Toronto to Boston

Two Favourite Holidays:
1. Passover
2. Rosh Hashana

Two Favourite beverages:
1. daquaries
2. juice

My little boy is sick

On wednesay Nathanial came down with a fever and started to throw up his cereal in the morning. He slept most of the day and just wanted to be in mommys arms. My usually upbeat little boy had been hit by something. Thursday he had the same thing but the fever had gone down and the throwing up had stopped. We went to the doctor who did a urine test and told us to give him advil and to come in the next day. On Friday we went in and we found out he has an infection. He is on antibiotics and has to be on them for 10 days. My little guy is so tired and so listless. It is so hard to see, my usually upbeat little boy just wants to lie down and sleep. At least the major poop has stopped.
We also realized today on top of him being ill, he is teething..

It is so hard to see him this way and feel so helpless. I have cried many times seeing him like this, as they say its harder on us then on him. You just realize the love so much and wish it could be you feeling this way instead.

first blog of the new year

Well as 2007 begins I can't believe the changes that have occured in the past 7 years. Many good, some bad, some friendships mended and some ended. I re met my husband, bought a house, got married, had a baby...etc. As I look back at old New Year resolutions I see that most of the time I don't keep the. This year I decided not to make any. I have some goals I would like to reach and some changes to make, but all in all I am happy with how my life has turned out. I can't worry about my weight, especially in my field of work, I would like to loose about 10-15 pounds to be at my healthy weight but need to be careful about showing this around the girls that I work with. Many of the girls have eating disorders and most picked it up from society and their mothers. I want to loose weight and will in time. I would like to start my own buisness so I do not have to go back to work. I would like to concieve another child as I don't want Nathanial to be an only child. I was and I always wanted a brother or sister. I would like to do some home improvements and get rid of many things that are cluttering our house. Those are my 2007 goals, some may be met and others not, but hopefully I will try to meet some.