From my side of the pond

Blasts heard at foreign embassies in Syria
DAMASCUS, Syria - Gunmen apparently blew up a car outside the U.S. Embassy and exchanged fire with Syrian guards in a bold attack inside Damascus' diplomatic neighborhood Tuesday, a witness said.
It was not immediately clear if there were casualties. A U.S. Marine guard who answered the phone at the Embassy would not provide any information. In Washington, the State Department said it had no immediate information and was looking into news reports of the attack.


So apprantly they hit the embassy (why am I not surpriseed)
One death is confirmed (a syrian gaurd). No word yet on any other causlties.
I know little more than what I am getting off CNN right this second (yes, CNN.) Som how I am not surprised by this. Its's not the first time Damascus has been attacked this year. These are more of a "scare tactic" attack. Very small and really only meant to jump start our hearts minds and guts. I'll update more when I hear more.


Update: There were four men who had attempted to invade the embassy when the gun fire began

Wow! It's been 5 years, 5 freaking years. And as everyone keeps saying, it really does seem like it just happens. It seems like just this morning I was in the car going to school and my mom turned to me and said "A plane just crashed into the world trade center" At first I figured "So, planes tend to crash" (Boy that really helps my fear) I can still see the look on my teachers faces as they tuned into the tv. My math teacher never looked away from his.
I still remember going to the mall and seeing kiosks selling "we will never forget" pins. And on the bridge of the Ronald Reagan free way I can still remember the brightly colored American flag place there just after the attacks. I had never seen a grown man cry and then I saw several. I broke up with my boyfriend the night before yet it all seemed so trivial by the end of the next day.
I still feel the hands of the people in the prayer circles at church and school and remember being choked up when my church showed clips.
I know I didn't know anyone and I wont pretend it affected me badly. But still, it was (and is) my country.
Though it's been 5 years and his approval rating has dropped down nearly 60 points, I still have respect for our president (though it has wavered, especially right before the start of the Iraq war) Though I may not support all the things he does I do feel much safer under his administration.Tomorrow we will all be back to normal like we where the last 4 anniversaries. 9/11 will become a mere mention in speeches made by or against other politicians but we will for the most part forget until the next anniversary rolls around.


Dedicated to William X Wren (the retired fire fighter who risked his life on September 11th to save others. I wrote about in my "heros" speech for class. I never knew him but I sure wish I did)

Rescuers race to free at least 65 trapped miners in Mexico
What is this the year of the mine accidents? I swear every year this millennium has some sorta theme to it. Last years theme was "natural disasters" (which actually carried on a little to this year)

Landslide death toll estimated at 1,800
It's not over yet folks. Mother Nature still has work to do! (the good news is when ever someone predicts a number in the thousands it's normally a lot less)

Bin Laden Vows Never to Be Captured Alive
Oh don't worry about a thing, Mr. Laden. I guarantee you won't be captured alive.

Martha Stewart explains reality TV flop
We know longer feel threatend by her now that she is out of the slammer?

Iraqi Political Parties Run Into Obstacles
They only ran into obstacles? Someone must like them.

Drought returns to East Africa
I don't see how its breaking news every time something bad happens in East Africa.

$365 million jackpot winner still unknown
Alright, it was me. I was gonna keep it a secret, but I guess I might as well admit it. So now can I have the money now?

Elderly Prisoner Loses Bid for Clemency
AP - 1 hour, 57 minutes ago
SAN FRANCISCO - The U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal Monday from a 76-year-old convicted killer who argued that he was too old and feeble to be executed. The ruling cleared the way for Clarence Ray Allen -- legally blind, nearly deaf and in a wheelchair -- to be executed by injection early Tuesday for a triple murder he ordered from behind bars to silence witnesses to another killing.



I don't care how old he is, he killed four people. But we clearly left him in the slammer to long if he gets to this point. Also if you think about it this is kind of a mercy killing. I mean the guy is old and sick. (I'll write more on this later)

This "war on christmas" is getting stupid. Who really cares what you call Christmas. It's just a holiday. How come every year we need to have annoying whiners on both sides of the political spectrum (yes this includes you too Mr. O'Rielly) complaing argueing about what to or not to call "this holiday." This Holiday we speak of is Christmas lets leave it at that. It isn't offensive to anyone it is just a name. But department stores are getting politically correct (as usual) with the whole "Happy Holidays" thing. This problem isn't with the word "Holidays" itself (it's actually a good idea as it incorprates all the holidays in one line instead of writing out "Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah..." it's a good time saver) The problem is the stores that try to stay away from "Christmas" and only sell Christmas stuff (I'm looking at you Target) If you are trying to include everyone then sell more than just trees and nativity mangers and plastic santas. Otherwise you are not being incorperating all holidays (and no a small shelve full of Manorahs does not count as "Channukah stuff")
If all your store sells is Christmas junk then say "Merry Christmas" if not say "Happy Holidays" as for people and advertisers I really don't care what they "wish me" if they say "Merry Christmas" that's great if they say "Happy Holidays" even better.
Everyone knows what Christmas is and it's not really a religious holiday anymore (It's a pagan holiday and actually some believe Jesus was born in the spring)it's more commercialized than anything else. Also it's a federal holiday. So stop getting so offended and enjoy your day off of work!

Yes on prop 74-Changes ability to recieve tenure from 2 years to 5 years. Why is this good? This way we can get rid of bad teachers and keep good teachers. This prop helps our children. 74 does not punish hard working teachers it just rewards them later. Make the process harder, get rid of bad teachers. Vote yes on prop 74.

Yes on 75-Prop 75 protects union members from having to make political contributions without there permission. Make contributions volentary vote yes on 75!

No on 76-Prop 76 would cut school funding by $4 billion and would give the governor to much power over the state budget. As far as I've heard the school budgets are pretty low. Prop 76 gives them even less money and allows the governor to take from them when he decides there is an emergancy. Vote no on prop 76.

Yes on 77- Gives the peoople the final say on redistriction...not legislatures.