Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune into. 

There’s no need to embellish Wayne Dyer’s words with thoughts of my own. I just want to have them readily available — a reminder to pay attention to my many blessings.

Turns out, more than 90% of the detainees we’re holding at Guantanemo were not picked up by US soldiers on the battlefield — they were handed over to us by tribal rivals, in exchange for a bounty our own government generously provided. But since then, we’ve been downright stingy with respect to these prisoners’ rights. Many of them have been locked up for years, some tortured, without any attempt to fully ascertain their charges or bring them to justice. 

This morning, the Senate’s debating President Bush’s proposed Terrorist Detainee Bill. Here, words from two senators whose sentiments echo my own:

“We can export freedom across the globe, but at the same time we are cutting it out in our own country. What hypocrisy!” Sen. Patrick Leahy

“Either we are a nation that stands against this cruel and unusual torture and for the rule of law. Or we are not. We cannot have it both ways.” Sen. Russ Feingold

This is not a partisan issue; it’s an American issue. As a nation — as citizens in a democracy — we are better than this! 

Please, I urge you to call your Senators right away. Fight like a Patriot to protect the Constitutional provisions and moral principles on which our country was first founded. Tell your representatives how you feel about The Military Commissions Act of 2006 (S.3929; HR.6054) and insist that they vote for habeas corpus protections with federal court oversight. Let them know that you expect them to take their oath to protect the Constitution seriously, that you’ll not endorse any candidate who deflects his or her responsibility to our governing documents.  

You can reach your Senators toll free at  (866) 808-0065 or find their direct dial information here. If you first want to get more background information, you might start by reading this morning’s New York Times editorial and this commentary in the Washington Post. But do hurry, as the decision’s going to be made one way or the other by the end of this week, perhaps as soon as today.

UPDATE: The final vote was 65 – 34. The legislation PASSED. While I’m stunned at the statement this makes about our country, at least I can feel a very small measure of consolation for having spoken out against this travesty. 

photo credit: Firedoglake.com

I never thought it would happen, but this morning, Paris Hilton’s got me stumped. 

Just a couple of months ago, she told the world that “nobody seems to get” that her dumb blonde act is “iconic,” that she’s simply following in the footsteps of other savvy celebrities. You know: like Princess Diana and Marilyn Monroe. Sure, it was a stretch to think of Paris as a candidate for membership in Mensa, but I did my best to believe her when she said she was faking her ditziness.

But today, I find myself twisting my index finger through my own blonde curls, perplexed about her latest revelations on this topic.  Her contradictory confession?  “I’m not that smart…I forget stuff all the time.”  

I’m puzzled. Could it be possible that Paris Hilton’s IQ is declining at the same meteroric rate that her Q factor is falling? Or was she viewing her genius through those rose colored glasses all along? If you’ve got the 4-1-1, please clue me in, ’cause I’m like, so totally confused!

The power of negotiations is inarguably one of my key strengths. I offer you my new cell phone and contracted service as irrefutable evidence.

First, I convinced my wireless carrier to start my nights and weekends at 6:00 p.m. at no extra charge, and to throw in roaming for free. They also gave me a $100.00 service credit for re-upping my agreement with the company. Then, I got them to give me a 10% discount on my new monthly rate. Next, I persuaded them to ship me this cherry blossom pink, sleek, $279.00 phone for $79.00 — and to also take care of shipping charges, sales tax, and rebates at their end. Of course, I also coaxed them to pay for activating the phone. Finally, to top it all off, I got them to throw in 500 text messages per month at no cost to me — despite the fact that I’ve never texted anyone, ever. It just sounded like fun — toying with the salesperson, that is.* Plus, I’d get to try something new.

Now, can I convince you, my tech-savvy friends, to send me your tips and tricks for text messaging? At long last, I am ready to earn membership in The Thumb Tribe.**

*Of course, gracious and grateful girl that I am, I left a glowing recommendation with his supervisor, praising him for his exceptional customer service.
**Thanks to my friends, Mike and jonstephens, for keying me into this new phrase. I plan to use it ten times today, to make it mine. 

Ahoy there, mateys!

Arrr, lest someone make ye’ walk the ol’ plank or send ye’ ta’ ol’ Davy Jones’ Locker, har’s an online translator site t’ help ye’ get through Talk Like a Pirate Day.  

Here, Dave Barry contributes his two dubloons on the topic of this fledgling, if not far-fetched, holiday: “Every now and then, some visionary individuals come along with a concept that is so original and so revolutionary that your immediate reaction is: ‘Those individuals should be on medication.”’

Aye, me an’ me parrot concur.

Cartoon credit: Miami Herald