Certificates

I wouldn't label myself a "birther." I have no informed opinion on whether or not President Obama was actually born in Hawaii, or elsewhere. I don't think much about it. In fact, if push came to shove, I would say, yes, I think he was born there. However, I think it more than reasonable to request the official document considering "born in the United States" is a requirement for the job. Frankly, I'm surprised you don't have to produce that to get on the ballot. I can't just go to the state department and have them take my word, or produce alternate documents, and get a passport. I need a copy of my birth certificate. So demanding to see one from the highest government official, who is required to have it, seems reasonable to me.

The new Governor of Hawaii announced that he would retrieve it and produce it to show all who disbelieve to be crazy... until he announced that in fact, he couldn't find it, and even if he did, couldn't produce it without the consent of the individual. Whoops.

To quote a political blog, Ace of Spades, "If you act secretively, it is not crazy to imagine you have secrets." So, why doesn't Obama and/or the White House produce it? Is it to keep the aura of kookiness above the so-called birthers? To quote the same Ace of Spades, "this is what annoys me in the media coverage of this: They demand that Republicans swear on a stack of Bibles to affirm facts they have no knowledge of [it being false] while steadfastly refusing to ask the guy actually concealing the records which would end the controversy why, The Hell, he is continuing to conceal them... I, personally, am sick to death of hearing media sycophants demand that John Boehner affirm that Obama was born in Hawaii while not asking that Obama do the same." Good point.

So I heard one good hypothesis today. Maybe there is something politically embarrassing on it. I don't think Obama is a Muslim, but maybe the certificate says he is. Although raised a Christian, maybe his father filled it out and when it came to religion wrote, "Muslim." Maybe, it something else.

Weird. I just don't get it. We've been told you are crazy if someone believes in the conspiracy theory, but why. Because we say so!

All District Band

Katie has been taking the flute as part of her music requirement. Sunday afternoon was the all-district Band concert. I've narrowed 2 1/2 hours down for you into 5 minutes and 17 seconds. You can thank me later, even though you missed the Cheesecake.

Lutsen

As promised, a video from Lutsen. Once again, it was taken with the iPhone, so it will be easier to view in a larger format, CLICK HERE

Up North

We traveled up North for the first time - hitting Duluth for a night and then two nights at Lutsen Mountain for some downhill. Although we know now where NOT to stay, that is a story for another time. Sking/snowboarding video also to follow. Meanwhile, here are a couple of pictures (click any picture to enlarge).

Duluth Lakewalk:





Skiing with Lake Superior below:


Our Condo's View:


Splitrock Lighthouse along the Northshore:

Baker XC

The girls take cross country skiing as part of their gym class. We took a couple of hours to rent skis and tour Baker National Park. This is also the first video shot with my new iPhone (click the button with arrows next to the "Vimeo" logo to expand the picture).

Baker XC 2011 from Bill Moore on Vimeo.

Lafayette Dance

On Super Bowl weekend, the girls and I attended the Father/Daughter Dance at the Lafayette Club on Lake Minnetonka. With a full band and a buffet dinner, it was quite an affair.

Katie was mostly content dancing with herself and friends. Emily made it clear that she wanted me out on the dance floor. Although cute, it was likely that she wanted me to pick her up and swing her around.

Free Draw

Katie has an assignment regarding the Galapogos Islands. Part of the project included drawing a pictures. This is the picture she drew. No tracing involved. Both Alison and I were very impressed.

Mom away, Kids shall play

One of Alison's Christmas presents was a "girl's weekend" away in Las Vegas. She went this weekend, and is apparently have good fun. We've made due here by doing some things that aren't necessarily her cup of tea.



Saturday, we sent snowboarding/skiing in the morning, and attended the Minnesota Timberwolves game.



The Wolves complied and actually played a pretty good game, which is a rarity around here.

Sunday, we visited SkyZone, a trampoline jumping center. It was sure fun, but I was pretty beat in the first eight minutes.

Oh Ricky

The Golden Globes are boring. Even the attendees tends to get drunk at it, as they pretend to like the annoying reporters from international bureaus. It's a full week since Ricky Gervais made the ceremony modestly interesting by roasting the attendees' Hollywood brethren. It was funny. Not Tonight Show giggles funny, but really funny. He made fun of Angelina Jolie, Johnny Deep, Robert Downey Jr., Mel Gibson, Bruce Willis & Demi Moore, Charlie Sheen, Tim Allen and such. The fact that we are more than a week removed from the events, and the "Hollywood elite" are still fuming from it is both astounding and revealing. "I thought he was mean," says comedy producer/director Judd Apatow on Saturday. Had the jokes been about George Bush, Sarah Palin, her kids, Bill O'Reilly, Glen Beck, Catholic Priests, Rupert Murdoch or Wall Street CEOs, they would have been rolling in the aisles. Apparently it's o.k. to be mean spirited about others (especially if they are on the "other side"), but down right RUDE if you dare say it about actors!

Baby it's cold outside

My car dash on the way to work. Yes that's negative 33.