Jonathan D. Blundell

The BBC reported today on a group from Colorado, Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep. The group organizes photographers to take very artistic and tasteful pictures of families and infant children either terminally ill or recently passed.
The founders say it is a huge aid in helping families cope with the loss of their child.
“In a heartbeat ~ a life is stilled, a dream dies, and Heaven becomes amazingly real.” ~ Dawn Siegrist Waltman

For Parents experiencing an infant loss, (as early as 20 weeks gestation) we can provide you with these heirloom memories of your precious baby. At your request, we will have a professional photographer come to your hospital location for a private and sensitive photography session. You will be provided with a DVD of your baby set to a meaningful melody and the CD file of all photographs taken that you can personally reproduce up to a 5X7 size. (please note: Each photographers offer varies location to location. Check listing photographer for what he/she can provide.)
NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. There are no fees for this service.

Please send your tax deductible donation to:
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep
1153 Bergen Parkway#M103
Evergreen, CO 80439-9501

A new BBC poll says that Americans trust the American government, more than the media that covers it.

On average 61% said they trusted the media, compared to 52% who believed their government’s explanations.
The poll also highlights growing use of internet news sources, including blogs, especially among young people.
Results varied across the range of countries surveyed. Trust in journalists was highest in Nigeria (88%, with 34% trusting the government), Indonesia (86% v 71%), India (82% v 66%) and Egypt (74%; government question not asked).
Only in three countries did governments score higher than the media. In the US, 67% said they trusted the government compared with 59% prepared to put their trust in the media.

From Kinky’s campaign:

Ever wonder why the average Texan’s electric bill has gone up nearly 80% under Governor Perry? Or why the state’s largest power company is also the state’s second-largest lobbyist? Texas has some of the highest energy costs—not to mention the dirtiest air—in the country because we have some of the dirtiest government in the country. Simple as that.
For over a year now, Kinky Friedman has been offering a different way. Last month, just as his historic ballot access petition really got rolling, he solidified his feelings into one phrase: “Clean Energy/Clean Government.” Willie Nelson liked it so much he made Kinky a radio commercial. Now that the ballot drive is nearing completion, it’s more important than ever to keep that commercial on the air and remind Texans what we’re fighting for.
As the summer goes on, you’ll be hearing more and more about energy. Americans’ wallets are hurting and the career politicians have run out of good ideas. In D.C., all they can propose are paper solutions like a $100 check to make up for $3/gallon gas. Here at home the only solution they have to rolling blackouts in April (April!) is fast-tracking seven new pollution-belching power plants—instead of taking advantage of God-given, non-polluting energy sources like wind and solar and biomass.
As long as our elected officials ignore the chance to innovate, Texans will never be truly independent. As soon as we elect someone with the courage to lead Texas into the future, we will. Click on the link below to donate to Kinky and help bring Clean Energy/Clean Government back to the Lone Star State.

https://www.kinkyfriedman.com/contribute/index.html?ref=1001

Bono will be in Dallas Friday. Hide your checkbooks and put out your decoys.

From the Onion:

From the Houston Chronicle:

Where’s Louisiana? Don’t ask a young American
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Despite the wall-to-wall coverage of the damage from Hurricane Katrina, nearly one-third of young Americans recently polled couldn’t locate Louisiana on a map and nearly half were unable to identify Mississippi.
Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 fared even worse with foreign locations: six in 10 couldn’t find Iraq, according to a Roper poll conducted for National Geographic.