I gawk at people I hear talking now and again, many of them are conspiracy theorists.  Theorist is a bit of a fancy name for such folk; a simpler name would be nuts for members of this group of believers.  Just what things are we asked to believe these days that are so laughable?  Let's take a look at the things I hear or read about that make me laugh and think of the dispensers of such nonsense as nut jobs:

• Elvis is alive - Honestly, I still hear this from people.
• Elvis paintings on velvet are works of art -  This is even more difficult to believe than "Elvis is alive."
• People are being abducted by aliens -  Uh huh!  No proof in how many years?
• Some man in Nigeria wants to share millions of dollars with some of us -  If you believe this, you deserve to lose whatever you send in response to such e-mails.
• Vampires really exist - Yep.  And that foolish tale is told by those who watch too much TV or read with a full stomach less than an hour after eating.
• Buying a lottery ticket is the best way to become rich - To those who believe this, contact me and for a dollar I will cast a lucky spell on the dollar you plan to spend on a lottery ticket.  I'll be rich before you!
• NASA astronauts never really made it to the moon - Someone believing this needs to be avoided; they are dangerous.
• The Holocost never happened - Another dangerous simpleton we should strive to avoid.
• Diet sodas help you lose weight - Well!  Just look around at the people who drink diet sodas ---  does it appear to work?
• Government is here to help us - Again, look around and tell us what you see.
• Certain retail stores truthfully advertise their "lowest prices ever" - People believing this are dreamers about to be taken by reamers.
• Your political party (either one) is best for us in the long run - People believing this are dreamers about to be taken by reamers.
• We can just be friends - Believe that and you'll be single for the rest of your life.

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The key to being thankful is contentedness. 

Contentedness need not be permanent, but being content with what we have makes us thankful for the moment.  When one is thankful, one need not strive for greater things.  One need not feel envy of others, and one need not struggle to better one's station in life.  to be truly thankful, one must be content.

Contented thankfulness is contrary to growth and advancement, for if one is content, there is no desire to better a situation. 

So, for this day, this special day of thanksgiving, be content with what you have.  Be happy with the people and things and situations in your life today.  Tomorrow you can strive for more, but for today; be content, be thankful.

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Amazing!  What a deal for a child molester, click here, a mere slap on the wrist. 

This goes to my theory that we are too soft on crimes that affect children.  That man was in a position of trust, a position that should have been one of honor.  He disgraced the profession and he spited his god.  He taught in a Christian school, no less.  And this man was given two years with 1 year nine months suspended!  The two years were too short and most of that gets suspended. 

This story is amazing and the sentence is unacceptable to civilized humans who do not molest children.  Can the Commonwealth file an appeal and get this man resentenced?  That man should be put away for a long time, a decade at least. 

Wonder if the school will forgive him and hire him back for next year's term?  He'll be eligible in February.  It wouldn't surprise me.

Amazing!

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Books are doors into other worlds, doors that do what no other media can do, transport us into the fiery depths of our imaginations.  Books teach; books soothe; books are lifetime friends.

Brandon Washington has written and illustrated a book that introduces those doors to children.  In this case, the book is also a teacher.  It helps parents teach a healthy nightly routine that may help the child make that transition from awake to pleasant dreams a smooth one.

Children learn through routine, and the parents who use routine find that their children are more tolerable at night when it is bed time.  They are able to get their children to follow the course to the bed with little or no resistance if the child has a routine to follow.  The story in this beautifully written and illustrated book, "Nite! Nite!" does just that, it teaches a routine to follow at bed time that will make the entire evolution a peaceful and a fun one.  To quote the author, "This book can help your child learn about a routine before going to sleep.  It can be incorporated into your nightly routine.

Take a look at this book and let it be your child's guide to a pleasant trip to dreamland, a pleasant time for parents, and a teacher of routines that may serve the child into adulthood, the setting of a night time routine to get to sleep.  Perhaps those of us who consider ourselves adults and have trouble sleeping could learn from this book as well!

This book is available at Amazon, just look for

Nite Nite

You and your child will Love reading and acting out this book, guaranteed!

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We just returned from a wonderful cruise to the Caribbean, 7 glorious days of luxury and rest and relaxation, and I recommend it to all. Our stateroom was small but comfortable, with a nice balcony overlooking the starboard side of the ship. We never had that when I was in the Navy.

There were many things for us to do without ever leaving the ship, fine restaurants, shops, a casino, movies, shows, a gym, and a nicely set up spa to treat ourselves with massage, sauna, steam room, a thermal suite, and many other features. The atrium was a fabulous place to get a drink, enjoy coffee and sweet rolls, or just to pass the time people watching. I used it because it was the best place to pick up the ship’s WI-FI.

The atrium was the center of activity, surrounded by shops, restaurants, clubs and even a cigar bar, where I spent a bit of time with some fine cigars. One could get used to living in such an environment, if only my checkbook could handle it for a longer period of time than merely a week.

Yes, there were also the port visits, in our case St. Maarten, St. Thomas, Grand Turk and an island owned by the cruise ship line. Much of the activities ashore, for us, centered on shopping and taking in the local color. My camera went with me almost everywhere.

As you can see, the shopping areas were a lot like Virginia Beach with the gift and souvenir shops, and restaurants, but with narrower streets and mostly foot traffic. Still, it was fun.

For more photos of the trip we took, and there are many photos, so you’ll not want to look at every one of them, take a look at the following link:

Cruise Photos

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Join me in celebrating a day of relaxation!

It is comfortable, rainy and lazy here at the Whitehill abode, the rainy part is outdoors, which is good. 

This is a day to catch up on some writing; watching backed up, recorded TV shows; reading more than usual, and even enjoying a cigar or two under the front porch overhang.  This is living, almost like a two-day taste of retirement, mini-retirement, so to speak.  A few more weekends like this and I will know how to handle myself when I retire full-time in a decade or two.

Not sure what the weather fairy will bring us tomorrow, and I am not sure the weather experts are too certain either, but whatever it is, I hope to take full advantage.  This is the time of year I love when it comes to saving money, also.  It is too cool for air conditioning, and too warm for heating.  Looking forward to more days like this, open windows and smaller utility bills. 

What a day!

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Your man lost fair and square.

It is a part of our Constitutional Republic that power changes hands, and that is the beauty of our system, that it is done peacefully.  It is also very American to get behind whomever is elected and help him to become the best President possible. 

The immature rancor against President-Elect Obama is irrational and un-American.  The man got the most votes from the people and will get the most electoral votes.  According to our Constitution that makes him a winner of the highest American office.  Instead of fighting him tooth and nail, how about doing all we can to ensure that his presidency is a fruitful, productive and successful term. 

Get over it, guys.  It's time for us to move on and to get on with our lives -- under a brand new, exciting, changeful administration.

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Republicans killed themselves by trying to be less conservative, much less conservative.  They paid the price for that lack of conservatism last night in the final count. 

And now we have a new president promising a new era.  If all those who voted yesterday, for whichever party, whichever candidate, would keep some of that energy and enthusiasm, we can rebuild our economy, our nation.  We will become a more peaceful nation, a more thoughtful nation.  We will concentrate on those things we need to do to make us stronger, better and more successful.  What are the chances, folks?

Let's start with the children.  The foundation of our nation's problems stem from improper care and education of our children.  Let's work on that as a start.

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It seemed everyone in my neighborhood was in line starting before six this morning.  When I got to the Stuart Polling Precinct in Norfolk right around that time, the line was already out the door, around two corners of the school and almost halfway up te block.  And it was raining steadily. 

It was good to see all those voters out; I don't care who they voted for since my candidate, Bob Barr, has little chance to win -- still, he is the best man on the ticket.  Thank goodness for my I-Pod and my raincoat.  Both made the line-up bearable, even fun.  Oh, and my Stetson rainhat was an essential to that comfort.

No matter who you choose to vote for, if you are registered, get out and vote.  You still have until seven this evening to get into a voting line.  Get out there; everyone else seems to be.

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There was an interesting and timely article about polls here at Hamptonroads.com/Pilotonline.com, "How Much Credence Should You Give a Political Poll?"  On-line polls are, of course, totally unreliable, and the scientific polls are not perfect.  Does anyone remember Dewey vs. Truman in 1948?

Polls are fun, though.  I rarely tell the truth when phoned to answer poll questions.  Doesn't matter if it is political or not; I lie.  The caller is breaching my privacy and spoiling my leisure time, so the falsehoods are merely told by me to balance the scales.  On polls I have requested or volunteer to participate in, I am truthful, polls such as on-line polls and Harris Poll.  Those are ones I choose to participate in.  But call me at home, Mr. Pollster, and you'll get lies, lies and more lies.  Ms. Pollster, you are fresh meat for my falsity outlet; ask away your questions and you'll get answers from me, consistent and sincere-sounding answers, but false. 

The same goes for people at the door who want to conduct an informal poll, particularly those sent by candidates.  I lie.  You were not invited, and it is not your business who gets my vote.  I lie. 

Is this dishonest of me?  Of course it is, but lying makes me feel as if I am a part of the American Political System.

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