Today, I learned that according to the historian and sociologist, James W. Loewen, the Fifteenth President of the United States was gay. The following is an exact quote from his final lecture in EVERYTHING YOU’VE BEEN TAUGHT IS WRONG, Fact, Fiction and Lies in American History….

James Buchanan, our only unmarried President was homosexual. In fact, he wasn’t very far in the closet. For many years in Washington, while he was serving as a Democrat in the U.S. Senate, he lived with William Rufus King the Democratic Senator from Alabama. The two men were inseparable, in fact, folks referred to them as “The Siamese Twins�.

In 1844, King was appointed minister to France, so he’s going to leave Buchanan, and he writes to Buchanan “I am selfish enough to hope that you will not be able to procure an associate who will cause you to feel no regret at our separation. And after King left, Buchanan wrote to a close friend about his social life, “I am now solitary and alone, having no companion in the house with me. I have gone a-wooing to several gentlemen, but have not succeeded with any of them.

Buchanan was in fact engaged to Miss Coleman, who was the daughter of a wealthy iron maker, probably the richest single family in Lancaster. He was engaged to her for several weeks in the late summer and autumn of 1819. However, he showed so little interest in her that rumor mongers in Lancaster suggested he was only in love with her because of her money. And, she broke off the engagement eventually because as a friend of hers put it, “Mr. Buchanan did not treat her with that affection that she expected from the man she would marry�.

According to Loewen, Buchanan was not a successful President—and he was pro-slavery, but I thought it was interesting that we have already had a gay President.

I am currently listening to a Portable Professor series on U.S. History called Everything You’ve Been Taught Is Wrong-Fact, Fiction and Lies in American History, which is taught by James W. Loewen. It is a fascinating and enlightening series. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in American History.

During Dr. Loewen’s first lecture this statement caught my attention, while he was discussing who ran the government in the South after the Civil War…

"Whites did not take control at the end of reconstruction; instead a certain group of whites took control, white racist Democrats. We have to remember that the Democratic Party was the party of overt white supremacy throughout the 19th century and into the 1920s. They took control using KKK tactics; in fact it was, of course, the original Ku Klux Klan. "

I don’t discuss political issues often because they are complex and controversial. The more I read about how the political parties developed, the more I become confused about what they really stand for today.

When I read the “issues list� during political campaigns it seems that they are based more on popular opinion polls rather than what might really be addressed if the candidate is voted into office.

I also find that I have some opinions that match those of both major candidates. I’m never sure about how I want to vote. I am a registered Republican, simply because my parents were Republicans at the time that I registered to vote. However, we often vote for Democrats.

I am wondering if anyone would be willing to suggest some simple, clear cut reading material that might help me understand what it really means to be either a Democrat or a Republican in the year 2005—and what it means to be a Liberal or a Conservative. I am under the impression that Democrats are usually Liberals and that Republicans are usually Conservatives.

I realize that there are other political parties with interesting ideas, but I’d rather not throw my vote away during the next election.

If you have recommendations please comment below or on my post here....
http://jessikahjarta.blogspot.com/2005/08/party-curious.html

This is James Maner—he looks like he could be my brother. He serves in the Army and he flies helicopters over Iraq every day. He told me that it is over 100 degrees there almost every day. He moved into a new trailer yesterday. He is serving a second tour in Iraq, which began in April and he won’t get to go home until November. He spent nine months there before, and then he was able to go home for eight months. Now he is back in the desert. He seems to be a little lonely. He seems to be feeling disconnected from his family. He is from Texas, but was stationed in Washington before being sent to Balad, Iraq.

He loves his family, the band Metallica, flying, sports, comedy clubs, reading and movies. He seems to be a really nice guy and he is a pretty good writer.

James is the first friend that I have made who is serving in Iraq. Talking to him made the war more real to me. It made me think about the fact that soldiers from the states are a half a day ahead of their family’s schedules at home. It made me think about the fact that some of them might be worried about losing their beloved partners to someone else while they are gone. It made me think about the fact that most of them aren’t getting laid and that they probably miss having a normal sex life.

It made me think about the fact that American families are being sacrificed in order to fight this war. It made me think about how life altering war is for everyone involved and for the people who love them.

I know a married, young mother named Michele. Her son Matthew is two-years-old--and he hasn’t seen his daddy in a long time because his daddy is a marine who is serving in Felusia, Iraq. She is living in North Carolina at a military base, which is far away from the rest of her family in Southeastern Pennsylvania. She hopes that her husband returns from Felusia in one piece.

Michele is my husband’s niece--she has been feeling lonely. Little Matthew keeps asking his mommy, “Where my daddy?� He talks to his daddy on the phone a couple of times per week. He tells his daddy that he wants to hug him when he comes home. This weekend, Michele’s younger sister is flying down to the base to spend a few weeks with them. I am hoping that big Mat will be okay, and that he returns to his family again, soon.

I want to thank all of the soldiers currently serving in the military for the personal sacrifices that they are making. I want to thank anyone who has served in the military for the personal sacrifices that they made. Soldiers are extraordinary.

Make a soldier smile--please send emails, letters or care packages to Iraq.

I’ve noticed that other bloggers have contests on their sites, so I thought that it might be fun to have one here..http://jessikahjarta.blogspot.com/

I’m not a humorist, in fact, Good Humor ice cream instantly melts when I touch it. I don’t think I’ve ever intentionally tried to write something funny. I like to write about things from my life or current events. Sometimes I write erotica or about cotton candy sort of nonsense that comes to mind, but I don’t sit down and think, “How do I make this funny?� I guess I just don’t think playfully, which means I am boring and way too serious. Although, I do like launching toilet paper down grocery store isles. I usually have a receiver.

When I’m not playing the role of mommy, I like to be a little silly. I've been known to dance, sing or kiss in public places. While I was growing up, I loved to make my friends laugh. But lately, I’m just way too serious. Readers, please help me giggle. In fact, all (ten) of my readers could use a laugh.

Email me your original, short humor essay within the next two weeks. If yours is the most amusing tale, it will be posted on my site, and you shall be declared the most clever and comical of them all--and you will be adorned with a t-shirt designed by me. And, if you want, I will provide a link back to your site (if you have one). However, if you want to remain anonymous, I will post with your pen name and still send you the t-shirt (after you tell me your size and where the hell to send it.)

*It would be cool if you had a photo taken of yourself wearing the shirt, so I could post it on my site. However, that is up to the quipster…

1) I hate the fact that my mom recently died of leukemia--I hate the fact that life has to end.

2) I hate the fact that there are people who earn money by being dishonest or by manufacturing things that can be harmful or deadly to people, animals or the environment.

3) I hate that the environment is being irreversibly damaged and that the human race will probably destroy our planet due to selfishness, greed and laziness.

4) I hate pedophiles, child abusers and rapists.

5) I hate that there are homeless people.

6) I hate that there are people who are starving or without clean water.

7) I hate that there are children living in orphanages.

8) I hate war—and fights, grudges, pettiness, nastiness and arguments.

9) I hate that healthcare is extremely expensive--I hate that everyone doesn’t have health insurance and that health insurance companies make medical decisions for people when it should be the doctors who make the decisions.

10) I hate wondering if professionals are being honest or if they are just trying to sell something.

11) I hate people who lack empathy—and who don’t really listen to other people.

12) I hate people who judge other people for who they love.

13) I hate addictions to destructive, unhealthy things.

14) I hate when strangers say things like, “Wanna see my cock baby?�

15) I hate that all mothers cannot afford to stay home and raise their own children until they begin elementary school.

16) I hate posers. (People who pretend to be someone else to fit in or get laid.)

17) I hate people who are deceitful, insincere, rude, users, tacky, jealous, loud, obnoxious, arrogant or lewd.

18) I hate it when people have body odor or rarely get a haircut or shower or shave.

19) I hate it when people yell when it is unnecessary, especially if it is directed at children.

20) I hate it when people don’t have common courtesy, like calling if they will be late.

21) I hate it when people scream and wave their arms at you in traffic when you are waiting behind 50 more cars in front of you or when people feel the need to drive 50 mph to the next stop light which is 50 ft away.

22) I hate it when people who say they love you don’t behave like they love you.

23) I hate people who believe that their ideas, religion or lifestyle are the only correct way of thinking.

24) I hate when people won’t make friends with people who are different from themselves.

25) I hate feeling anxious.

26) I hate screen names like wellhung1 and hotassbitch.

27) I hate it when people condemn another culture that they don’t really understand or because it is different.

28) I hate clutter, trash or mess of any kind.

29) I hate pop-up ads and bots and finding marketing even on the ceiling in my dentist’s office.

30) I hate it when people won’t show real emotions or dance around issues instead of saying what they mean.

31) I hate when my kids are sick--or when I am sick.

32) I hate touching raw meat or eating meat off of the bone.

33) I hate cramps—or pain of any kind.

34) I hate that child birth hurts so much.

35) I hate computer scams and hackers.

36) I hate that some people meet me online and decide to Google me or do a background check on my utterly boring life (with my pen name) and then ask me if I am the same person that committed some ridiculous crime or if I am famous.

37) I hate when people won’t do simple home maintenance.

38) I hate terrorists/bullies.

39) I hate when you ask someone to do something and they say, OK, and then they never do it.

40) I hate it when people waste time busting on a politician for personal flaws rather than actually discussing real issues or doing something about them.

41) I hate that the entertainment industry earns so much money--movie stars make millions for acting while people that save lives, build our homes or teach/care for our children every day make much less or even live paycheck to paycheck.

42) I hate it when rappers use words like anus, pimps or hos or brag about their guns, drugs or jail time.

43) I hate it when you fall in love with a friend and then find out that they are mean or dangerously crazy.

44) I hate that I lack faith and spirituality because I don’t really believe in God, even though I want to believe that Jesus loves me, yes I know, for the Bible tells me so.

45) I hate that sex, which is the most wonderfully sensuous experience in life, can make you sick or kill you.

46) I hate that eating too much can make you fat.

47) I hate when people hate each other.

48) I hate when people can’t laugh at themselves.

49) I hate when I don’t understand something or someone.

50) I hate feeling hatred.

A few days ago, news programs covered the story about Paula Abdul’s severe bacterial thumbnail infection http://zapgerms.blogspot.com/2004/06/paula-abduls-infection-highlights.html, which she acquired from being poked by dirty tools at a nail salon. She spent time screaming in pain in a hospital bed, and consequently had to have her thumbnail surgically removed.

Now she is calling on California state lawmakers to approve a bill to impose cleaner safety standards on the manicure business. I think that it is important for all states to pass a law that requires state inspections of all salons that provide manicure and pedicure services.

I paid special attention to this story since I have a problem with the thumb on my right hand, due to wearing French manicured tips last summer. I believe it is probably a fungal infection under my nail. I purchased anti-fungal nail treatments yesterday because I noticed that it has caused me to gradually lose my nail. The yellowing of my nail is moving lower and lower, which is causing my nail to separate from my skin. I have to keep cutting my nail shorter and shorter, as it continues to destroy my nail. It is becoming painful.

I wrote a journal entry http://jessikahjarta.blogspot.com/2005/04/fake-nails-are-badmmmkay.html a few months ago urging people not to have acrylics or tips of any kind put on their nails. It really bothers me to watch women have tips put on their nails. I see them admiring fingernails that they think are sexy, while oblivious to the fact that they can do nasty damage to the nails that nature gave them—and make them sick. Moisture gets trapped under the fake nails causing fungus to grow, which not only destroys your nails, but is painful and ugly.

Paula’s story has made me concerned about my regular manicure and pedicure. Until now, I sat in the comfortable leather chairs believing that having my natural nails pampered was safe—I was wrong. Through watching this story I learned that the pedicure tubs that are found in most salons carry germs that are hard or even impossible to kill even with disinfectants. There are places behind these whirlpool foot baths that cannot be reached by cleaning fluids. This is the area in which the bacteria, germs, hair, skin cells and debris becomes clogged.

Another area of concern is that the tools that they use on your skin and nails need to be disinfected for at least ten minutes to be sanitary. I have observed the same tools being used from one customer to the next.

Also, new nail files should be used for each customer. However, I have noticed that the files they use on me are visibly worn.

I’m going to start doing my own manicures and pedicures, instead of going to the salon once a week. If I want a massage, I’ll go to the spa instead.

See Poked, Not Pretty here..
http://jessikahjarta.blogspot.com/2005/07/poked-not-pretty.html

S’ mores are yummy, sticky, sweet, warm, melt-in-your-mouth desserts. I love that they are an almost instant gratification delicious, gooey mess -- They only take five minutes to prepare. They are US regional summer treats, which can be made around a campfire, over a grill or in the kitchen. They are perfect confections to make with family and friends during a Fourth of July picnic.

All children should have swimming lessons. It is usually a 40 minute commitment each morning. There are four levels, each lasting four weeks. Swimming lessons at public pools reinforce vital information about pool safety, and teach lifesaving and fun skills. Children appreciate learning to be strong, graceful swimmers and to feel confident and safe in the water. Kids that develop a love for swimming may want to join the swim team and eventually be interested in becoming a lifeguard.

Drowning Fact Sheet

Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths to children ages 14 and under. A temporary lapse in supervision is a common factor in most drowning and near-drowning. Child drowning can happen in a matter of seconds--in the time it takes to answer the phone. There is often no splashing to warn of trouble. Children can drown in small quantities of water and are at risk in their own homes from wading pools, bathtubs, buckets, diaper pails, and toilets as well as swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs.

Deaths and Injuries

A swimming pool is 14 times more likely than a motor vehicle to be involved in the death of a child age 4 and under.
Each year, approximately 1,150 children ages 14 and under drown; more than half are preschoolers (ages 0-4).
Each year, an estimated 5,000 children ages 14 and under are hospitalized due to near-drowning.
Of children surviving near-drowning, 5-20 percent suffer severe and permanent disability.

Read swimming pool safety tips here...
http://jessikahjarta.blogspot.com/2005/06/healthy-swimming.html

If you don’t have a digital camera, I recommend investing in one and finding Philly’s originality, truthfulness and excellence of artistry...

http://jessikahjarta.blogspot.com/2005/06/finding-phillys-pulchritude.html

Living in a sister suburb, next door to the city of brotherly love is a source of pride for me. I love my neighborhood and I adore the city of Philadelphia.

I have noticed that if I visit chat rooms and mention that I live in the Philadelphia region, people often exclaim, “You live in Filthadelphia?!�

(I'd like to know what your reponse to that insult might be. I usually just keep my mouth shut)

I would guess that many of these people have never visited Philly, but they are under the impression that it is a scary, dirty place. People that have visited Philadelphia know that there is quite a bit of culture and beauty to be found amongst some problem areas. All major cities have areas that could use a makeover.

I believe that a simple way to preserve our city is to start by keeping it clean. I would like to urge Philadelphians and those from the surrounding area to be more responsible about disposing of trash and recycling--let’s not give people an excuse to insult our beloved, fair city. After all, the Declaration of Independence was signed in our city and Betsy Ross sewed the first American Flag here.

Read the rest of the article and see
recycling information here...
http://jessikahjarta.blogspot.com/2005/06/preserving-philadelphia-pride.html

http://jessikahjarta.blogspot.com/2005/06/starving-for-affectionperfection.html