Dora, Are You Crazy?

What kid doesn't like "Dora the Explorer"? I know that my little ones do. Heck, when she starts speaking spanish I have to admit that I perk up. I can't say that I always pay attention, so there may be more of what I am about to explain embedded in every episode.

She has this one titled Dora and the Crystal Kingdom. I think that is what it is called. She has to go around performing tasks and earning crystals of different colors. Early in the show she has to help a knight.

She finds a knight on the pinnacle of a mound of boulders. There is a dragon that is hovering over the knight, and the two are fighting.

Dora, "The knight is waving his sword at the dragon. The dragon is afraid. We have to stop them from fighting."

Sounds like that is an admirable goal. Help them get along. At first you might think that the knight might have done something to the dragon, and he wants revenge. Stolen an egg or something.

Dora, "Dragons only fight when they are afraid."

So the only reason the dragon is fighting with the knight is because the knight frightens it. Hum. So Dora gives the knight instruction.

Dora, "Put down your sword and the dragon will stop fighting."

I kind of have a problem with what this segment is teaching. You see this dragon, flying, doing so in order to facilitate a fight with this knight. The dragon is able, at any time, to fly away from the knight. Just turn and fly away. No More Conflict. The knight doesn't have a chain around the neck of the dragon. He has no magic force that keeps the dragon close. I have yet to figure out why the huge, fire breathing flying green dragon is afraid of a puny, land bound, horseless, knight with a very short sword. Who has the upper hand here? Who is instigating this fight?

For some reason it is necessary for Dora to take the side of the dragon. Heck, if the dragon is so scared, why doesn't it just fly away. If it doesn't want to fight, leave. I think that this dragon likes harassing knights , or is hungry. But that would mean that the human, that man, is not the reason for the problem, and we can't have that. Maybe Dora doesn't see a family crouched down on the other side of the rocks. Perhaps the knight is protecting the family, his family, from this blood thirsty beast.

Ok, Ok. I know it is subtle. But why not tell the dragon to fly away. "Hey dragon, if you don't want to fight, fly away." Over and done. And yes, I suppose that the knight could walk (or run, doesn't matter) away, but he is not assured that the dragon won't follow, swooping at him the whole way.

PLAIN AND SIMPLE, IT IS THE DRAGON'S FAULT, (or at least it is his to solve).

Stop blaming humans. We are not always the problem!!!

El Toro Negro

Girl Scout "Camp Out"

My eight year old girl is a girl scout, or a brownie, a daisy, bluebird, or something of the sort. When their troop, or bunch, or flock or what ever, has a camp out, it is an ordeal, and I have the photos to prove it.

This time they had the camp out at our place.

I have to insert that I have been helping out with the boy scout troop that my sons are members of for several years. I have been on numerous camp outs and been to week long scout camp the last three years. I was involved with scouts and camping during my youth. This weekend opened my eyes to a side of camping that I did not know existed. I was blown away to say the least. You men that see this will know exactly what I am talking about.

I think the count was 29 girls between the ages of 5 and 10, and 16 moms.

I lost count of the trailer loads of "equipment" that I hauled out to the site.

My 15 and 12 year old help as many moms as they could get to, but some moms did great on their own.

It doesn't get any better than mother daughter putting up a tent. Well, maybe a manicure and then a nice lunch together.

Some of the moms.

The Girls, at least some of them.

The camp.

My 15 year old. I think he is thinking, "been here, done this".

Camp fire.

Definitely the BEST for last. What a cool picture. Put this one in your scrap books, moms.

El Toro Negro

Say it like ya mean It

Stand back and be quiet, I'm gettin on my soapbox, even if it is random and incoherent.

To borrow a phrase form my childhood, I am sick and tired of the Republicans we have sent to Washington. To put it simply, I am tired of playing nice. Below is a video of Virginia Foxx. At least she has the BALLS to say it like it is. Like I feel. Like MILLIONS of others across this country feel.

We are not talking about a single program that the Gov't wants to stars. We are talking over a hundred new Gov't agencies. We are talking about spending a trillion dollars, not to fix health care. Not to improve heath care. Not to save lives. It is designed to ENSLAVE us. ENSLAVE you.

Why do we keep trying the same thing over and over expecting a different result? Whey do we send the same "conservatives" to "represent" us even though they are they same as those we fear? I just want to scream.

I want true patriots. I want people that will declare a set of values and act according to them, even if it means voting against something because of principle that would otherwise send money to their district. I want someone that will not author a bill that stifles free speech before an election. I want someone that won't declare a bill to be unconstitutional and then sign the thing into law. When did this bailout start?

I want someone that will actually cut a Gov't agency because we can't afford it. I want someone who will cut Gov't agencies because they aren't the business the government should be in. I want someone who will demand a balanced budget. I want someone who will vote for term limits.

I am tired of playing nice. I am tired of trying to have a big tent. I am tired of trying not to offend those on the other side of the isle. I want someone that believes in something. I want someone that believes in this country. I want someone that believes in the American people. Believes in us enough to say that we don't need the Gov't to do everything for us. I want someone that understands the proper role of government. I want someone that believes in the Constitution, in states rights. I want someone that loves. Loves God, their wife and family, their friends and others. Give me a George Washington. Hell, give me a man of half the stature of GW.

I want someone who will pledge their Life, their Fortune and their Sacred Honor to the preservation of this Nation, as it was founded.

OK. I'm going to stop writing and go out side and scream.

El Toro Negro