Really incredibly beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

Well, Alex Jones is not really on my radar I guess, sorry for my ignorance and thanks for the quick tutorial, all.

I had never seen this particular advertising/fundraising. It seems fairly unobjectionable to me, although I have never heard of "National ProLife Alliance."

I also am unfamiliar with Alex Jones, and am not sure what being part of his crowd would mean or how Sen. Paul might be doing that?

Also, which of your two antecedents enhances the weaknesses? Jones, I assume?

Responsible people should not, but do all the time because, like far too many of us, they believe that contraception works perfectly or that sexual intercourse is a healthy expression of the ego.

I was arguing that, if they have made a mistake and understand that, understand that they screwed up but that they can try to make it better if they work hard, then they might be mature enough for marriage. (Think of sin/repentence/second chances here.)

Well, if the couple is too irresponsible and immature to understand the proper use of the sexual powers -- in other words, if they don't understand that sex is sacred and transmits life, and that by engaging in sex outside marriage they harmed their offspring deeply -- then they may be too immature for marriage. But I believe that marriage can strengthen and encourage people to grow and become better than they were. Choosing to do the best for others is love -- especially if it means making sacrifices of our own. Good parents learn that.

Well, I doubt this will endear him to you any more, but I simply loved the fact that Rand Paul spoke in person to the March for Life in January. No other Senator was there, except if you count Rick Santorum which I don't. He rocked. He has lots of willingness to buck conventional wisdom -- like speaking at Howard University and taking unscreened questions. He's still pretty bold -- don't count him out yet, Fred -- but do continue to hold his feet to the fire and demand the best from him!

There can be extenuating circumstances, but I think it is a good and responsible thing for parents to be married.

Don't you, Foxman?

Are you saying that before you were born you were a woman? Or that my sons were once me? I think you might need to take a biology class... or perhaps I am missing sarcasm?

I thought it was just a demeaning stereotype that all libertarians really care about is drug legalization, but I guess it is true...

When he appeared at "historically black" Howard University a couple of weeks ago, Rand said he certainly believed that the criminal penalties and mandatory sentencing laws for drug possession need to be revisited, so maybe you can like him still a little?

Gah! I put those snow jackets in the attic and they are not coming back out, I tell you!!!

But I do remember one May when I was a small person, probably about '77 or '78 -- one afternoon the lilacs were in bloom and I was scampering about in shorts, and the next day was a snowday. Let that day not be this day... It could be too cruel to the apple growers here in the Hudson Valley especially...

Slightly off response here: I have not read an Eisenhower bio but recently completed The Presidents Club which discuss all the presidents and their relationships with each other, starting with Truman/Hoover and on to the present. Very interesting dynamic between Truman and Eisenhower, also Ike and Nixon.

Lilac season here at Toad Hall is just starting, but the frost expected tonight will doubtless crimp their style. Sadly, our wisteria also started blooming today, but will probably freeze tonight.

I live about 1 hour south of Fred, but in a cold pocket.

Papa Toad and I will be celebrating 17 years of wedded bliss this month, and I carried lilacs and white roses at our wedding.

Pay-per-view Rico-fundraiser?

I once was about to board a plane in Japan to come home for my brother's wedding, when I felt a strong and unavoidable feeling of doom. I just knew that plane was going to crash. Considering that my parents had bought me the ticket and that if I missed my brother's wedding I might as well consider myself dead, I got on the plane. Looks like I was wrong...

In spite of my girlhood love of horses, I don't really do the track. I'd be happy to meet up after a day at the track, like for drinks or dinner or something, though. 

Fred? Anyone else in the beautiful CapitalLand?

I absolutely love spending my time with the tadpoles, but I don't believe every mother should make my choices. Not at all! My sister-in-law is the bread-winner in her family, and a lovelier household and family you could never hope to see. My own mother worked as a nurse for many of my childhood years -- from about the time I was ten on up. It certainly helped curb childish selfishness in my siblings and me -- we understood that clean laundry was a gift we could provide ourselves and that dinner was a meal everyone assisted in preparing.

I do believe that far too many people relinquish responsibility for raising their children properly, but I don't believe that being critical of that problem is the same as telling moms not to work.

If I do come off as a cheerleader for stay-at-home, it is because too often the tenor of conversations about parenting is focused on the drudgery and tediousness, and less on the joys and rewards.