Censorship

Today as I checked Yahoo the headline was about banned books - or more specifically books that had been challenged the most to be available in school libraries and which of those books (there was a list of 100) are the most searched on the web.

Here is the link I was looking at - but I have listed the books below that were the most searched on the requested books to be banned list.

"Harry Potter" (Series) (J.K. Rowling)
"To Kill a Mockingbird" (Harper Lee)
"The Color Purple" (Alice Walker)
"The Outsiders" (S.E. Hinton)
"Lord of the Flies" (William Golding)
"Of Mice and Men" (John Steinbeck)
"Goosebumps" (Series) (R.L. Stine)
"How to Eat Fried Worms" (Thomas Rockwell)
"The Catcher in the Rye" (J.D. Salinger)
"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" (Mark Twain)
"The Giver" (Lois Lowry)
"Brave New World" (Aldous Huxley)
"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" (Mark Twain)
"Captain Underpants" (Dav Pilkey)
"The Anarchist Cookbook" (William Powell)
"Carrie" (Stephen King)
"Flowers for Algernon" (Daniel Keyes)
"The Dead Zone" (Stephen King)
"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" (Maya Angelou)
"Go Ask Alice" (anonymous)
"American Psycho" (Bret Easton Ellis)
"The Chocolate War" (Robert Cormier)
"James and the Giant Peach" (Roald Dahl)
"The Pigman" (Paul Zindel)
"A Wrinkle in Time" (Madeleine L'Engle)

Some of these selections make absolutely no sense to me. I am happy to say that I have read 9 of these (well technically 14 if you count every Harry Potter book, 1-6 so far)- although that is by far probably not enough. There are some I would never read - the Stephen King and American Psycho hold no interest to me, but I don't think they should be banned.

A couple of funny observations on the list. I read A Wrinkle in Time in 5th grade. This was in our school ciriculum - I guess I was bombarded with something I shouldn't have been. Also, a family member makes the list, S.E. Henton is a distant cousin of mine.

Some of these books are being protested because they use racial slurs. So what? That was the truth, these things were said during these periods that the books were being written about. By reading this you are not agreeing to what is being written about. By that logic reading a book about the holocost or other atrocity would say you accept that too. To not read and challenge why this was so or what in that era led these injustices to be viewed with caviler attitudes makes you less of a person in my opinion.

Of course I will defend Harry Potter until the day I die as being a wonderful book series (check out my links). It has characters that have been developed with complexities and story lines that are as old as time - good vs. evil. The books have no profanity, no sexuality, but are wonderful stories that can entertain a simple mind like mine. It also points out that good doesn't always win without a loss and that evilness can be in degrees and that sometimes being silent is actually and acquiesence to evil.

But the issue is they are wizards. So what? Have you watched the Wizard of Oz? Do you think the stories of King Arthur should be taught? (there was a wizard in that too). Or what about Lord of the Rings - I think there are some wizards in that as well?

I don't know a single person that if they could wave a wand and have the dinner pots clean themselves wouldn't do it.

Harry Potter is a story for entertainment, an outlet for kids to relish in the joy of reading. It is not a handbook to create an army of occultists.

Now I have to back to my self-cleaning pots and make sure my house elf is going to be preparing dinner....

Amazing Race Update - Episode 2

Spoiler Alert: If you haven't watched Amazing Race and are going to - don't read on!

Had to catch AR through the miracle of the mighty DVR last night on delay. My wonderful mother in law was over for a visit and decided it would be funny to let me know who lost before I started watching it. Good times.

No matter - it was still great to see how they got there. So the cheerleaders were kicked off last night because they couldn't drive and follow directions. Not that it is particularly easy in a foreign country - but it is uncanny how so often it comes down to can you figure out where you are going or not in this show.

I was actually amazed at how people were able to hit the targets with the flaming arrows although it looked like the cheerbabes finally gave up without ever doing it.

I think there are a couple of teams starting to stand out a bit as real contenders. The first is the team of Derek Zoolander and Hansel. I keep waiting for one of them to break out Blue Steel to get someone to help them change a tire or win a challenge. I also think the Dad and Daughter combo will contend to the end. Really getting along so far.

I think robo cob and her trainer will falter somewhere along the way - although it was a bit ironic that Phil asked them if they thought they would be in first after two legs.

I also think this season has the best chance for a scene where the one dating chick (kimberly) just says - "screw it you are the biggest jerk in the world and I hope you die out here in the jungle of botswana". And then I hope rob will do just that. Or at least she just leaves him and hooks up with zoolander and hansel in a drug induced stupor with mongolian midgets.

I love this show...

Public Service Announcement

Since labor day has now pased us by we are fully entering the fall season. This means cooler days and a little more rain (hopefully), shorter nights, and football on the tube - interupted of course by countless political adverstisements. Because of course, fall means - campaign season!

To follow up on my earlier political ranting and ravings I have decided that it might be important to break down the candidates for Texas governor for the layman. So in an effort to help the greater public, and with all apologies to the League of Women Voters, I will now present the Normal Human Party (a political party of 1)Voters Guide to the Texas Gubernatorial Elections.


Rick Perry - Texas Governor

Pros: (1)Knows how to influence others from his position of authority. This trait was clearly demonstrated when he was pulled over by a TX State Trooper and asked to just "get on down the road" - bravado at its finest. Didn't show up so well with school finance.
(2) He used to be a Democrat. So this way he can represent both parties equally.
(3) Has been an excellent ambassador for TX in the Caribbean.
(4) Has some Aggie in him


Cons: (1) Has presided over a TX government which has continuously cut funding to state parks and wildlife - not good times, bad times.
(2) TX continues to struggle with school finance, insurance for children and property tax relief. Not sure anyone else would have fixed it, but Slick Rick for sure hasn't
(3) Has some Aggie in him

Special Mention: Has the best hair for a TX gov. It won't move in a West Texas wind storm and can handle the humidity of the coast. Hair actually hasn't moved since 1986. Also, NHP has enjoyed his presentation of state high school basketball championship trophies.

Carole Strayhorn
Pros: (1) Unwilling to admit the fact that she would have gotten trounced by the sitting governor - decided to run as an independent - where she will get trounced.
(2) If elected, there is a greater than zero chance that if you made a surprise visit to the governor's mansion that you would either get chocolate chip cookies or a freshly baked pie.
(3) Just crazy enough to make life fun for four years

Cons: (1) Wants to run as "Grandma" - potentially confusing hundreds of young voters thinking that their actual grandma somehow made it on the ballot.
(2) If elected, there is a greater than zero chance that if you made a surprise visit to the governor's mansion that it would be filled with the scent of that oil of olay "old lady" powder (you know you know what NHP is saying) and you would get your cheeks squeezed.

Special Mention: Sons both work for president Bush - either a pro or con depending on how you lean and since NHP is impartial it is just a special mention.

Chris Bell
Pros: ?????
Cons: ?????

Special Mention: Has any one told him that he is running for governor? I can't believe the democrats have wasted their money on this effort. Has about as much chance of winning as a snowball has of surviving outside my office building today.

As a side note - I drove by the Tarrant County Democratic Headquarters the other day by chance. Let me just say the location of the building and how it looks wouldn't strike fear in the hearts of many republicans. I guess on the bright side maybe they are making an effort to save money.

Kinky Friedman

Pros: (1) Campaign motto: "How Hard Could it Be?" - rings truer than many wish to believe.
(2) Already introduces himself as "Governor" when making campaign stops.
(3) He backs teachers and I tend to believe him.
(4) Greater than zero chance that there would be a Wille Nelson concert on the front steps of the governor mansion. Already a confirmed concert by Jimmy Buffet in austin as a fund raiser. very good times.

Cons: (1) Has a fund raising t-shirt that says, "May the God of your choosing Bless You" - not up NHP's alley, but it does get points for creativity.
(2) Probably would not get anything accomplished just because of spite from all the other republicans and democrats who are pissed off that Kinky Friedman actually was the governor of texas.
(3) TX will be considered the Minnesota of the south.

Special Mention: Would be the first Jewish governor in TX. Also first sitting governor likely to get arrested for open container violations and possession of controlled substances.

Well there you have it folks. A scientific breakdown of this years candidates for Texas Governor. NHP predictions for how this will play out:

Perry - 35% of vote
Friedman - 29% of vote
Bell - 25% of vote
Strayhorn - 11% of vote.

Texas Politics - gotta love it!

Studio 60

Did anyone see Studio 60 on the sunset strip last night? It is the new show that is supposed to be a behind the scenes look at a Saturday night live type show. It has Matthew Perry, Amanda Peet and Bradley Whitford. (by the way, instead of saying "that is the greatest thing since sliced bread", i think the new phrase has to be "greatest thing since the dvr". I mean hasn't the dvr replaced sliced bread in greatness from an invention standpoint? I think this should be a new law.)

Anyway I am usually not into that many drama shows or serials. I usually leave those for the better half. Shows like Grey's Anatomy, the Unit, CSI. I stick with sports and reality for the most part.

But I haven't had a show hold my attention like that pilot episode in a long time. The beginning was riveting and the way the story was told and unfolded was great. Nice tension, good humor - a nice mix all around. I hope it can maintain that start because at then end of the show I was left wanting more. It had done its job.

For the time being it will be bumping off some old sesame street and backyardigans from the dvr listing.

It has to be good to keep my attention and not go off of some sappy love triangle tangent (which the groundwork was already laid out for - I am sure this will be a story line but hopefully not overpowering). For example Friends I was out after year 1 - it was same story second verse. Grey's Anatomy - out. Who cares if she picks McDreamy, and by the way his current wife is hotter than stick girl. Desperate Housewives - out. Story got too crazy after year one. So Studio 60 may not hold up over time...but the beginning was sure good.

Amazing Race is still priority number 1 for me this fall season...but if episode 2 is as good as the pilot Studio 60 may be right on its heels.

Amazing begining

A new season of the Amazing Race is here! Horray! Last year I got sucked into the amazing race so I made a point to be there Sunday night (on dvr of course) after the kids were asleep.

Can't say that any team stood out to me from the first episode to root for, but one will probably emerge.

I do have to say that the twist of emliminating one team after just a check in point was a shock - and I was a bit sad to see it was the muslim team. It would have been interesting to see how they handled the challenges and interactions with the other teams.

So I figured that would be the end of it, but sure enough at the pit stop they sent another team home.

Great start to a great show.

Suri Sightings

I didn't know Suri Cruise had gotten around this much already. Check it out...

Suri around town

Almost the best time of the year

Each person probably has their own ideas about when the best time of the year is. For many it may be the holidays or maybe it is springtime when everything is coming back to life.

For me the best time of the year is right now...sept and oct. It helps that september in texas is the first month when you usually get to feel the relief from the long summer. The mornings start to get cool and crisp and you know before long you will be out of the 100 degree days for good. I think october is the best month weather wise in texas, and now that I live in DFW, it is also the time for the fair which means corn dogs, cotton candy, funnel cakes and other artery cloggers that are just too good to pass up.

But the real reason I love this time of year - sports!

Yep, the end of baseball season which means pennant races and the playoffs on the horizon. As well as the beginning of football season which is to me the most enjoyable event to watch now. Baseball playoffs will always be a stop down for me, but in recent years I have gotten more and more turned off because they start and end so late at night. It almost killed me watching the astros last season trying to stay up with them.

So football has kind of taken its place in the stop down for me. Most big games are saturday or sunday afternoon. I think one reason is that there is just one game a week for a team instead of 6 or 7 like in baseball. So it is easier to say, i am going to schedule this game watching into my afternoon, rather than trying to fit in all the baseball games of the playoffs.

Another reason that I like football so much is because of fantasy football. I know this may be geeky, but to me it is a lot of fun. If I had money riding on all the leagues I am in I would be a degenerate gambler. The internet has made it so easy to keep up with this stuff. I remember when I played in college we were all calculating our scores from the box scores in the paper on monday morning. Now the internet and all its free services do that for you.

I also have the ability to feel like the general manager. For example in one of the leagues I am in I picked up Reggie Bush of the saints. Just like the actual Texans should have done last april. At least now I feel somewhat vindicated.

It is fun to play in leagues because in a way is keeps me connected to my family and friends who are either far away or I just don't see that often. For instance this year I am in one league with my brother and his friends (a couple of whom I could do without - but it is the price you pay), my brother-in-law and his buddies at work, and my memphis friend and his extended family.

SO if I seem to be walking with a bit more bounce in my step you will know that I am just excited for the best time of the year, and it is just around the corner.