I Don't Know What This Says...

... but it looks tasty.

Thompson Cites Sowell

So he must read Sowell. How can we not be in Presidential love with this guy?

Helen Kirwin-Taylor Backpedals on 20/20

If you're a long time reader of this blog, you might remember this post about Helen Kirwin-Taylor's "Sorry, But My Children Bore Me to Death." Tonight Kirwin-Taylor appeared on 20/20 to talk about that article and about the cultural taboo of expressing dissatisfaction with raising children. Only she didn't talk about the article she actually wrote; she talked about some fictitious article about how activities for very young children are not intellectually stimulating.

Here is ABC's write-up. Here is Kirwin-Taylor's "Sorry, But My Children Bore Me to Death." Here's how ABC characterizes that article:

Now a stay-at-home mom, Kirwin-Taylor admitted that she was bored stiff when taking her kids to birthday parties, to play dates and to school plays, and her article caused shock waves on both sides of the Atlantic.

But that's not all the actual article said. There was also this:

My children have got used to my disappearing to the gym when they're doing their prep (how boring to learn something you never wanted to learn in the first place).

They know better than to expect me to sit through a cricket match, and they've completely given up on expecting me to spend school holidays taking them to museums or enjoying the latest cinema block-boster alongside them. (I spent two hours texting friends throughout a screening of Pirates Of The Caribbean the other day).

And this:

They stopped asking me to take them to the park (how tedious) years ago. But now when I try to entertain them and say: 'Why don't we get out the Monopoly board?' they simply look at me woefully and sigh: 'Don't bother, Mum, you'll just get bored.'

How right they are.

Her article wasn't about the tedium of small children's activities, it was about all activities involving children of all ages, including homework, movies, museums, board games, outings to the park, and athletic events.

As one would expect, reactions to the article were overwhelmingly negative. From ABC:

Kirwin-Taylor is quick to respond to these negative comments. "I think a lot of women read it as I was interfering and that their lives are meaningless," she said. Kirwin-Taylor adds that she sees more mothers like herself losing the freedom to express themselves in a more child-centered world.

Hmmm. The freedom to express themselves? Yes, perhaps one should be involved in meaningful activities aside from one's children. What was it that Kirwin-Taylor had in mind? From her original article:

I confess that I was probably ogling the merchandise at Harvey Nichols or having my highlights done instead.

And:

At this point in the conversation, my mind drifts to thoughts of my own lunch and which shoes I plan to wear with what skirt.

Ah yes, self-expression through endless shopping and beauty treatments.

ABC, of course, called Kirwin-Taylor out on her backpedaling and asked about the specifics of the original article. Just kidding. Stossel wasn't on tonight, so no such luck.

"Solving" Illegal Immigration Through Amnesty

Solving the illegal immigration problem by legalizing illegal immigrants is a little like solving a crime wave by legalizing robbery.

UPDATE: Quality roundup here.

Speed Post

A moment with both hands free! Where to begin...

Cruising around on Lileks' site, I stopped to read about his mother's death. Made me cry. (A very very hard thing to do.)

Holy cow! Fred Thompson is going to run. Fantastic. A politician who plainly states his views. (Is that even allowed under the politician's code?)

I've heard that there is a fantastic article about the recent French election with historical context at Townhall.com, but I'm waiting to receive a link in my email.

Time to type runs short...

My kid is still obscenely cute. Of course, I'm his mother, so no surprise that I think so.