No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

A week or so ago, I wrote about Staniel Cay, a vacation spot in the Exumas.  I had been reluctant to share this “secret” spot with anybody because of my fear that it is on its way to becoming less secluded, less private, and, frankly, less affordable.

I’d read, though, that a kind and giving person would not keep something so wonderful to herself;  doing so would be selfish.  So I wrote about it.

Wouldn’t you know, I opened Vanity Fair yesterday to find a picture of the very same place (although my picture was better if I do say so myself) and a write-up about the many pleasures it affords? 

While I wish the wonderful people who own and operate Staniel Cay Yacht Club much success, I am also crossing my fingers that the regular readers of Vanity Fair will opt for something more overtly luxurious. 

That very issue of Vanity Fair also features an article about Kate Middleton, Prince William’s girlfriend.  All sorts of people have lined up to say that she is lovely, she is common, she is sophisticated, she is inappropriate, she is this, she is that.  Whatever.  She snagged a future king;  she’s no slouch. 

On a completely unrelated note, and in case you were wondering, 9th grade English class + impending laryngitis = mayhem.

I’ve Got A Bridge To Sell You

Is it too much to ask that Americans not act as dumb as the rest of the world thinks we are? 

My son isn’t allowed to watch any television channel that features commercials.  Why?  Because I’m an uptight hippie freak mom?  Hardly.  He’s not allowed to watch commercial television because when he does, he calls me in every four minutes to tell me that “if I act now, I can purchase this knife set that cuts steel and tomatoes!  But I have to hurry!  Time is running out!”  He’s currently very enthusiastic about magic chamois cloths that are 2″ x 2″ and will dry my entire house after a torrential downpour.  How do I explain to a six year old that people can just say whatever they want on TV to achieve their ends, even if what they say isn’t true? Meanwhile, back at the ranch, however, we are working double time to try to teach him that the most important thing he can do is tell the truth.

At the risk of sounding paranoid, question everything.  From both sides.

Factcheck.org - the Annenberg Foundation’s political fact checking site.
snopes.com - urban legends, political rumors, contemporary mythology and hoaxes
fightthesmears.com - Obama’s “smear-fighting” site
Politifact.com - Congressional Quarterly/St. Petersburg Times fact checking site



And if you click through in the next 30 seconds, you’ll get some extra truthiness at no additional charge!

Does This Mean I Don’t Have To Write Anything Else Today?

True confessions:  it took me an hour and a half to figure out what ROFL means. 



Which does not mean, hear me now and believe me yesterday, that I am not grateful to get an award.  Even if I’m not clever enough to understand why, I am clever enough to know to say, “Awesome!  Thanks!” to
Nutmeg and to Chicky Chicky Baby and Oh, The Joys - whom I forgot earlier because I’m easily distracted by shiny things like awards and I wasn’t paying careful enough attention.  Sorry ’bout that.

I get it now.  Rolling On the Floor Laughing! 

Awesome.

Thanks.