I want simply to learn about the world and to live freely. Laura Dekker

Laura Dekker

Laura Dekker, the 14 year old dutch girl who was determined to sail solo around the world but was prevented from doing so by a Dutch court that put her under child care supervision, is missing as of this weekend. Laura was born on her parents yacht as they sailed around the world. I admire this girl-her strength and perseverence. it is believed she fled to new Zealand where she has dual citizenship....

Kill the cowardly health care bill that has no expansion of medicare or any public option

It is simply a windfall for insurance companies and I am surprised there is not revolution going on in this country....here are some thought by Darcy Burner.....

The first rule of medicine is, "Do no harm." The post-Joe Lieberman version of the Senate health care bill fails that basic criterion. Unless Democratic leadership steps up to fix this misguided proposal, our only recourse will be to kill it.

The fundamental failing of the newest Senate proposal is that it requires individuals to purchase health insurance, but does nothing to rein in what insurance companies charge. There is nothing to stop spiraling health costs from eating up an ever-increasing percentage of our national productivity.

The House bill has two major cost-control mechanisms: the public option and the 85% medical-loss ratio requirement. The Senate bill is on track to have neither, and nothing new to replace them. The Senate bill is a recipe for national disaster. If it's that bill or nothing, I prefer nothing.

Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol (1843/2009)

This year's 3D animated version of Dicken's A Christmas Carol is superb....true to the literature but also cleverly inventive and entertaining and moving. Capturing the cold poverty of a mid 19th century England and the magical and terrifying mysticism that coexists.....my favorite figure is the Ghost of Christmas Past, a gentle flaming figure who just radiates love. The whole film is fascinating and the 3D effects had Audrey sick of my saying 'that's so neat!".....

Brzezinski comments on Afgan War 'morality'

Who are we to seriously be preaching [such] a crusade?" he asked. "We have a financial sector that is voraciously greedy and exploitative, to put it mildly. We have a Congress which is not immune to special interests. And we have an electoral system that is based largely on private donations which precipitate expectations of rewards. The notion of us going to the Afghans and preaching purity is comical... I think we should just quit that stuff."

This man, who called Bush's presidency 'catastrophic leadership" is just brilliantly acute.

Susan Boyle

Susan Boyle deserves every beautiful thing that has happened to her since April. Her new CD is wonderful-her voice beautiful and emotionally on the mark. She has had to endure unbelievable pressures and insults along the way and still she rises and endures. i just love this woman and her inner strength. You have to hear her version of Madonna's "You'll See" which is so much better than Madonna's dull unexpressive voice could convey. She does a superb job of the Rolling Stone's song, Wild Horses, and does a slow version of the Monkee's Daydream Believer, which is a song I never cared for , but by slowing it down and a unique warmth, she add a fresh meaning to it. She also adds several hymns to the album as well and her strong personality and inner strength come through on this album. Really excellent.... and what next Susan? Show this shallow world your next brave move.

Claude Debussy, 1893

How much has to be explored and discarded before reaching the naked flesh of feeling.