Alasandra's Reading List ~ July

1. A Darker Place by Jack Higgins - A Russian Author is blackmailed into pretending to defect to England and infiltrating Ferguson's' Group.
2. Death Run by Jack Higgins - my book review here.
3. East of Desolation by Jack Higgins - Joe Martin's life seems to be going great until Pilot Jack Kelso's supposed widow and some insurance executives show up wanting him to fly them to the site where Jack Kelso crashed. The only problem is he knows they are lying but he can't tell anyone because he has a secret of his own.
4. Mind Over Matter by Nora Roberts - A. J. Fields owns and runs a successful theatrical agency, David Brady is a hard nosed documentary producer for Public TV. Neither want a permanent relationship until they do. If you want a simply Harlequin Romance type book it is fine. It's not in the same field as her other books. NOTE: I read this on the Bilo Reader which I can't stand. Will not be checking any more ebooks out from the library. The book will not formant on the Kindle Fire unless you have an Internet Connection. 
5. Cold Harbour by Jack Higgins - When Craig Osbourne discovers that Brigadier Dougal Munro betrayed Genevieve Trevaunce to the Nazis he enlist the aid of Martin Hare to attempt a daring rescue.
6. The Bormann Testament by Jack Higgins - Paul Chavasse is sent to retrieve Bormann's memoirs. Unfortunately the Nazi underground gets them first. 
7. Drink with the Devil by Jack Higgins - Michael Ryan and his niece Kathryn Ryan (Protestant paramilitaries) engage the help of the mysterious Martin Keogh (Sean Dillon, acting under orders from Jack Barry) to steal gold bouillon. When things go wrong on the crossing everyone but Michael Ryan assumes the gold has been lost at sea. Now Dillon who is working for Brigadier Ferguson must stop the gold from being recovered and financing an Irish Civil War.
8. Flight of Eagles by Jack Higgins - The story of Max Kelso (The Black Barron - Nazi Germany) and his twin Harry Kelso (RAF). 
9.  The Litigators by John Grisham - David Zinc walks out on his well paying job at a top law firm and winds up at Finley & Figg. Figg's plans to jump on the tort band wagon land the firm in hot water. With Finley out of action due to a heart attack and Figg on a bender David is left on his own to try to salvage the mess and restore the firm to solvency. 
10.  Theodore Boone: the abduction by John Grisham - read the review here.
11. Calico Joe by John Grisham - Very surprised I am not a sports fan, but I enjoyed the book, when I saw what the book was about I really didn't expect too.
12. First Strike by Jack Higgins - Brilliant,  Terrorist kidnap the President of the United States (along with Jade and Rich) in order to get the codes to the nuclear missiles. John Chance has to unmask a United States General's role in the plot as well as lead an SAS team into the White House in order to save them.
13. The Pet Psychic Cat Talk The Secrets of Communicating with Your Cat by Sonya Fitzpatrick - heartwarming stories of how she helped lost cats return home one after 3 months. 
14. The Animal Connection A Guide to Intuitive Communication With Your Pet by Judy Meyer - Clear concise instructions for talking with your pet. 
15. Eye of The Storm by Jack Higgins - Sean Dillon is a gun for hire and this time he has been hired to take out the Prime Minister. Can  Professor Martin Brosnan and Ferguson, with help from Liam Devlin stop him in time.  An old favorite. 
16. A Game for Heroes by Jack Higgins - English operative Owen Morgan returns to the Channel Island he called home as a youth and the woman he loves (Simone). The island is in the hand of the Germans and Owen and his men are caught and will be executed once the Governor arrives. But with help from the new man in Simone's life and a series of unforeseen events they just might survive. 
17. Straight From The Horses Mouth How to Talk to Animals and Get Answers by Amelia Kinkade - this book made me CRY.        
18. Who Moved My Mouse? A Self-Help Book for Cats (Who Don't Need Any Help) by Dena Harris - cute light read.                                                                                                                                                                          

Mitt Romney the Pig with Lipstick

Not sure exactly how the Religious Right Wingnuts like Gina Miller and the Tea Baggers got stuck with Mitt Romney as the GOP candidate. I suspect it is because the GOP Party Leaders know that these loonies will vote for anyone, even a pig with lipstick, as long as it's not President Barack Obama so they attempted to choose a candidate that moderate independent voters might go for. 

However, since the horrendous John "Quisling" Roberts Supreme Court decision to uphold the clearly unconstitutional "Obamacare" monster, I have decided to go ahead and vote for the Republican nominee, no matter who he is, even the liberal Mitt Romney. - Top Romney advisor all in for Obamacare implementation by Gina Miller

These people are too funny and let's not forget the PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT is based on similar legislation that Mitt Romney championed and signed into law when he was Governor of Massachusetts.

Now many of these so called Christians have been attacking President Barack Obama claiming he is a Muslim (he isn't) or that the Pastor of the Christian Church he attended wasn't up to snuff, but they seem willing to turn a blind eye to the fact that Mitt Romney is a Mormon.

Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Nauvoo, Illinois, recorded 12 July 1843, relating to the new and everlasting covenant, including the eternity of the marriage covenant, and also the plurality of wives (see History of the Church, 5:501–7). Although the revelation was recorded in 1843, it is evident from the historical records that the doctrines and principles involved in this revelation had been known by the Prophet since 1831. - Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of the Latter Day Saints, a sort of addendum book to the Book of Mormon

Perhaps they should take a gander at the Book Of Mormon  and the Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of the Latter Day Saints before casting their vote. Since even though ones religious beliefs aren't suppose to be an issue it really seems to matter a lot to these people, at least as long as President Obama's religion was the one being discussed.

Then we have the Defense of Marriage Act which these people are up in arms about. I really wish I knew how they think someone else's marriage harms theirs. With all their phoney outraged you would think it was Christians that were being denied the right to marry.

The war we are in for marriage and morality—a war not of our making or choosing—is raging all across our nation.  We now have this man Barack Obama (or whatever his name is) leading a full-frontal assault on the institution of marriage.  He has loaded his administration with radical homosexual activists; he has spit on the federal Defense of Marriage Act; he has declared his insane belief that people of the same sex should be allowed to “marry;” he has led the charge to homosexualize our military, and now under his Pentagon, we see perverse, false “pride” being shoved in the faces of our troops and the face our entire nation, from the highest level of government.

We also see mega-corporations bowing at the altar of sodomy.  Just this week, Kraft Foods decided to post on its Facebook page a Photoshopped image of an Oreo cookie with rainbow colored frosting filling.  The caption with the image said, “Proudly support love!”  This is the degenerate thinking of the Left.  Proudly support love?  Sodomy is not love, and it is certainly nothing of which to be proud!  This move by Kraft has sparked outrage by conservatives and Christians who are calling for boycotts against Kraft.  Now that is a tough boycott.  Kraft Foods is gigantic, and its brands are myriad.  It would be good if Kraft saw a nosedive in sales of Oreo cookies, though. - Fierce Battle for Marriage Rages in Illinois by Gina Miller

Do they really expect Mitt Romney to be their savior? I mean they do realize that Mitt Romney's  Great - Grandfather went to Mexico so he could continue practicing polygamy. 

Romney's family came from England, converted to Mormonism, came to America and quickly turned to plural marriage which led them to an unexpected exile and exodus to Mexico and then just as abruptly, they fled back to the USA to avoid a revolution

Mitt Romney's great-grandfather fled with his three wives to Mexico so they could continue their polygamist lifestyle with a multitude of other Mormon polygamists and settled there, cutting land deals with Mexican president, Porfirio Diaz using funds that came from The Mormon Church. President Diaz was happy to have the Mormon settlers there as a buffer against the Apache Indians. (pg.51).- Romney Family Files: Fled to Mexico Due to a Polygamy Ban Making Them 'The First Displaced Persons of the 20th Century'

And this should really give the birthers pause.

Mitt Romney's father, George S. Romney was born in Mexico in the Colonia Dublan colony in 1907. It's not surprising that a Birther-type discussion was raised about George Romney either. (pg. 53 'The Story Of George Romney.") 

As his parents had retained their American citizenship, experts on constitutional law believe his birth in Mexico is no bar to George Romney becoming a candidate for President regardless of the U.S. Constitution's clause: "No person except a natural-born citizen, or a citizen of the United States at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible for the office of President." No court has interpreted this clause but children born abroad or at sea have been considered "natural-born" citizens for passports and other privileges.  - Romney Family Files: Fled to Mexico Due to a Polygamy Ban Making Them 'The First Displaced Persons of the 20th Century'

So George S. Romney (Mitt's Father) is what Mexican - American?  Interestingly enough the American Government helped these felons out when they returned to the United States after fleeing a revolution in Mexico.

I've included this point about Utah's banning polygamy because it appears to be a purely political move even if many Mormons opposed polygamy and as the 2,300 Mormon polygamist refugees fled Mexico, leaving many of their belongings behind, it was the U.S. Government that helped bail them out of their dire situation. (pg. 60) 

They had just twenty-five dollars, two suitcases and three bedrolls. Many families were installed in vacant tenements and several hundred were quartered in huge empty lumber sheds on Magoffin Avenue which the Long Lumber Company made available. The U.S. Army supplied rations and loaned tents from Fort Bliss. Mayor C. E. Kelly and city officials joined Church leaders in finding homes and jobs for the refugees.  Congress voted $100,000 for their transportation and relief.

 

If you calculate $100,000 for inflation from 1912, the figure turns into over $2.2 million in 2011. That's a lot of government money to people who were basically felons in the eyes of the law. Another fascinating thing happened in 1938. Mexico paid out a huge settlement to those early Mexican colonies because of the revolution. (pg.61) 

The colonists eventually in 1938 received from Mexico $2.65 for each $100 of loss during the revolutionary disorders. Gaskell Romney's losses were so great that he received enough to purchase a comfortable house in Salt Lake City in which he lived his last years.

It's odd that Mexico would repay monies to the Mormon polygamists after so many years, but one can still make the case that the Romney family was even funded in some part by the Mexican government. To get an idea of how vast the Romney family was because of its polygamist past, in 1922, George Romney had roughly 165 first cousins. (pg.68)  - Romney Family Files: Fled to Mexico Due to a Polygamy Ban Making Them 'The First Displaced Persons of the 20th Century'

I encourage you to read the entire article. I am off to buy some Rainbow Oreo Cookies. 

The Pink Goliath Strikes Again

Komen has teamed up with the Meredith Corporation and Kitchen Aid to divert more of your hard earned money from actual cancer research to their greedy hands. 

The Pink Ribbon Lie

The Pink Goliath Falls

What A Crock of BS

Eradicate, Treat, Stop, Prevent Breast Cancer just don't Cure it

 

For those of you who wish to donate to charities  fighting breast cancer I urge you to consider these worthy  groups

1. Breast Cancer Action
2. Breast Cancer Fund
3. Planned Parenthood (for those who wish you can specify that the donation only be used for Mammograms and breast exams)

 

 

Alasandra's Reading List ~ June

1. Peter, Paul & Mary Magdalene The Followers of Jesus in History and Legend by Bart D. Ehrman - book review here.
2. Corduroy Mansions by Alexander McCall Smith -my favorite character was the dog Freddie de la Hay. 
3. The Judas Gate by Jack Higgins - A wealthy Irishman is lending aid to  Al Qaeda and Sean Dillon, Billy Salter, Harry Miller and Daniel Holley set out to stop him.
4. Confessional by Jack Higgins - When the KGB plant an operative in Ireland under deep cover, the British and Irish have to work together to stop him from assassinating the Pope. After centuries of mistrust only one man who has the trust of both sides can save the day Liam Devlin.
5. Angel of Death by Jack Higgins - "January 30th" seems to know everything Brigadier Charles Ferguson, Sean Dillon and Hannah Bernstein are up too. Tasked with protecting Senator Patrick Keogh's life while he visits Ireland for "Peace Talks" unveiling the identity of "January 30th" is of the utmost importance. But the clues lead to a highly placed member of the government, a respected scholar and a famous actress. Can even Dillon clean up this mess without embarrassing the government?
6. A Devil is Waiting by Jack Higgins - Introduces Sara Gideon the newest member of the PM Private Army. When Sara is kidnapped by Ali Selim, Daniel Holley goes to war to get her back unharmed.
7. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins - When the Districts start revolting President Snow's solution is to have another Hunger Game with former tributes. Katniss and Peeta find them themselves back in the ring. But this time Katniss is determined to save Peeta's life. Strangely enough several of the other tributes also seem to be working to save Peeta and Katniss even at the cost of sacrificing themselves. When the force field goes down Katniss is rescued by Haymitch and the revolutionaries. Unfortunately Peeta was captured by the government and District 12 has been destroyed. Gale got Prim and Katniss' Mother out in time.
8. Day of Judgement by Jake Higgins - When Father Sean Conlin's in captured the Vatican and President Kennedy send an unlikely group into East Germany to rescue him.  
9. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins - Finnick, Bette, and Katniss were rescued from the games and taken to District 13, where the rebel leaders plan to use Katniss as they "Mockingjay". Realizing that Peeta is being tortured to break her Katniss is unable to function, a desperate plot is hatched to rescue Peeta. Peeta's rescue is a huge successes ecept Peeta has been programmed to kill Katniss. While Peeta is undergoing medical care Katniss flees to the front to escape her memories of the love she and Peeta share. When President Coin of District 13 sends Peeta to fight with Katniss' squad she realizes that President Coin wants her dead now that she is no longer needed to stir up the rebellion. When she sees her sister who is part of a medical squad incinerated in front of her eyes she realizes that President Snow was telling the truth about the rebels being behind the bombing and kills President Coin for her duplicity.

America is a Secular Nation

I fear our public education is in even worse shape then I thought after reading the letters to the editor for June 13, in The Sun Herald.

First we have Jeffrey Chastain stating.

The Founders were deeply religious individuals who believed in, and fought for, their right to religious liberty. It was respect for this right, not hatred of Christianity which led to the Constitution as we know it.

The Revolutionary War was over "taxation without representation. It had nothing at all to do with religion or religious liberty. I fervently hope that Mr. Chastain slept through history class and his uninformed drivel  isn't a sample of what public school students are being taught.   

The Founders were also comprised of individuals of many different beliefs Atheist, Deist and Christians were amongst the Founders. They all agreed that the United States of America would be a SECULAR Nation, in order to prevent the bigotry, intolerance and religious conflict that had plagued Europe for centuries. They wanted our laws to be based or reason and facts not religious superstitions and papal edicts. And they wanted to prevent any religion no matter how popular it was or how many adherents it claimed to have from being able to force their religious views and beliefs on others through our laws.

Alice Jones needs to go back and read the actual writings of the Founders of our Nation. Especially Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Paine then she would realize how ridiculous her entire letter was.

Kay Cerisier obviously failed American History and Government

Our founding document is the Declaration of Independence, not the Constitution, 

WRONG!!!!
The Declaration of Independence did not establish US law. The Constitution, a deliberately secular document, did.

Of course since Ms. Cerisier is trying to promote her religious beliefs pesky little things like the truth should be ignored.  

As for the Declaration of Independence mentioning a  Creator, for all she knows the Creator they were referring to was the Flying Spaghetti Monster.  "Creator" is not a uniquely Christian term. Many religions believe in a single creator including Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism.  In fact The Declaration of Independence contains a deistic reference to "the Creator," None of the founding documents mention Jesus Christ at all, not even Cerisier's precious Declaration of Independence.

Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/2012/06/12/4004063/declaration-of-independence-says.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/2012/06/12/4004067/founders-had-respect-for-not-hatred.html#storylink=cpy

Alasandra's Reading List ~ May

1. Turn Coat by Jim Butcher - when Morgan is falsely accused of murder he turns to Harry for help. Unfortunately he brought a skinwalker to town with him.  When the skinwalker kidnaps Thomas Harry not only has to find a way to clear Morgan's name and uncover the traitor in the White Council before the Wardens execute them both he has to find a way to defeat the skinwalker and save Thomas.
2. Changes by Jim Butcher -  Harry finds out he has a daughter (Maggie - named after his Mother) who has been kidnapped by the Red Court of Vampires. He will make a deal with Mab to become the Winter Knight,  in order to save her. He discovers his Grandfather's identity and leads his friends into the battle of their lives.
3. Ghost Story by Jim Butcher - I don't want to give to much away but everyone thinks Harry is dead. His friends are in a pickle and Harry as a spirit is doing his utmost to help them but will it be enough. And is Harry really dead? 
4. Dark & Stormy Knights - a collection of short stories including Even Hand by Jim Butcher.
5. Mean Streets - a collection of short stories including Warrior by Jim Butcher. 
6. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - I enjoyed this book a great deal, I actually got interested in it because of all the criticism of it in The Sun Herald and was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked the book. When Haymitch discovers Peeta's love for Katniss he devises a strategy that allows them both to survive the hunger games. The book ends with them returning home and Katniss being unsure of her feelings for Peeta and long time friend Gale.
7. No Good Deed by M.P. McDonald - I found the plot unbelievable, if my kid had been whisked off to some secret location and accused of being a terrorist I would be moving heave and earth to find out where he was and get him out so the fact that Mark's parents basically were content not to know puzzles me. Never really felt a connection with the characters. This was the first in the series and I probably will not be seeking out the others. (Read on my Kindle Fire)
8.   Naked City edited by Ellen Datlow -A collection of short stories including A Dresden Files Short Story Curses by Jim Butcher

Dorothy Lane Market

I was invited to attend Behind The Paw 2012 and our team building event was attending Dorothy Lane Market Cooking School. It was a great way to make new friends and get to know everyone you can read about it here.

TEAM MEAT won and I will attempt to give you the recipes we created.

Chicken Kebabs
chicken tenders
Herb de Provence
Rosemary
Truffle Salt
garlic
olive oil

Marinate chicken tenders in the other ingredients thread on kebabs like a worm and then grill.

Sliders
ground beef
DLM Grilling and Seasoning Rub
blue cheese
buns brushed with butter and garlic

Mix ground beef and seasoning rub form into patties grill place on bun when done and top with blue cheese.