Samantha Pierce

Today I am thankful for/that: God's provision even of things I hadn't even thought to ask for. The blessing of good friends. Healing. Family. Freedom. Opportunity. Progress. The sacrifices of those who volunteer to protect us from all enemies foreign and domestic. God's peace that passes all understanding. What are you thankful for?

I'm shocked, shocked I tell you. Clock Ticks Down to Super Committee Failure Failure is an option, and one the Super Committee on debt reduction looks increasingly likely to end up with. A last-ditch meeting of lawmakers ended Monday afternoon with no smiles, no comments, but some vivid body language. Even a visit to the White House by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., co-chairwoman of the panel of 12 came and went without comment. Come on now. Who thought this would end any other way. This was designed to fail. It was clear from the beginning that this was just a way to kick the can down the road and kick it down the road again. Cinch up your belt a little tighter folks and count the days until November 2012.

In all of yesterday's excitment I completely forgot that yesterday was Thursday but I am nonetheless thankful. So today I am thankful for/that: A positive outlook for the future. A successful presentation at SU. Happy children. Modern medicine. Friends new and old. Love you guys! What are you thankful for?

This needs to be broadcast far and wide: Get over your bias against people with autism, scientist says “People with autism need opportunities and support more than they need treatment,” he argues. “As a result, my research group and others believe that autism should be described and investigated as a variant within the human species. … They cannot be reduced to an error of nature that should be corrected.”

Check it out: NeuroDiversity Consulting LLC Services . Let me know what you think.

Today I am thankful for/that: Truth. Forgiveness. Peace. Friends. Prayer. What are you thankful for?

Fuh real? President Obama’s Agriculture Department today announced that it will impose a new 15-cent charge on all fresh Christmas trees—the Christmas Tree Tax—to support a new Federal program to improve the image and marketing of Christmas trees. In the Federal Register of November 8, 2011, Acting Administrator of Agricultural Marketing David R. Shipman announced that the Secretary of Agriculture will appoint a Christmas Tree Promotion Board. The purpose of the Board is to run a “program of promotion, research, evaluation, and information designed to strengthen the Christmas tree industry’s position in the marketplace; maintain and expend existing markets for Christmas trees; and to carry out programs, plans, and projects designed to provide maximum benefits to the Christmas tree industry” (7 CFR 1214.46(n)). And the program of “information” is to include efforts to “enhance the image of Christmas trees and the Christmas tree industry in the United States” (7 CFR 1214.10). To pa...

Today I am thankful for/that: A good night's sleep. Hopefully I'll be getting one soon. Happy kids. It's nice when they are not bickering. New friends. The freedom to be me. What are you thankful for?