People might point to this day as the beginning of the impeachment trial, but it's been on the agenda since the President was elected, from what I understand. So it's sort of a thing we've all been waiting for, and of course given the 53-47 status of the US Senate, we generally knew where this was heading to all along. Apparently, during this process in the House of Representatives last month, there was a great deal of clamoring and overriding and complaining, and now that we're in the US Senate, that process is completely reversed, just the opposite, and just as predicted. It's completely partisan. You think of a trial jury and you think you have impartial people involved, but time and again, we had the vote at 53-47. Over and over again. Completely along partisan lines, just as it was in the House.
So it's all the same. But there are two new discoveries that have captured our imagination as a nation! Yes, there were in fact two things we learned through today's proceedings, two big stories that are super intriguing.
Firstly, there's milk. Apparently, the only thing that these Senators can consume during their session here is water and milk. And this begs all sorts of questions. You're saying they can't have tea? No coffee? No coke? A tiny bit of research indicates that this goes back to a Senator's request back in 1966 - he wanted a glass of milk, and asked for permission, and got a page boy to grab a glass of milk for lunch. I'm hoping the dairy industry really capitalizes (pun intended) on this big promotion. When you want to make big decisions, go grab a glass of milk! I'd love to see which Senators get a glass of milk now, a complete list. Does that list also fall along partisan lines? Forget the other aspects of this session. These are the real questions here.
Rumor has it that Senators Ted Cruz, Tom Cotton, and Richard Burr have had allegedly gotten glasses of milk on the Senate floor. The Senators have to provide their own milk, so this is one thing not covered by tax payers. But fortunately, there's a place where it can be kept cold there.
It is somewhat telling that this is one of the more interesting parts of this proceedings. I think there's a guy up there going on and on about something... but hey, did you hear which Senator has been spotted with a glass of milk?
The second thing was the word "pettifogging." It's a new word for most of the nation, but somewhere just past midnight, the Chief Justice admonished certain people there for treating the US Senate Chamber with some dialogue that is beneath the dignity of this spot. Which we'll ignore the obvious joke there for a moment as we continue: he cited an example of a word that was considered going "too far" in 1905, and that word was "pettifogging." He told those there that we shouldn't worry about aspiring to that level, but to at least show a bit more respect. And instantly, all of us were looking up the word pettifogging.
It means, "placing undue emphasis on petty details."
Anyway, this thing went on until almost 2am. It would have ended about five minutes sooner if not for a stray Senator that wasn't there for the last vote. Fortunately, that one Senator from New Mexico came back just before 2am to place his vote. He must have felt sheepish. He was probably going out to get some milk.
In the end, we have the same thing that happened in December, at least from my layman's perspective: House Democrats push through impeachment proceedings despite the complaints and lack of witnesses from Republicans. And now in the Senate, you just reverse that.
The upside of this is that soon it will be over with, and we can all start getting along splendidly, just in time for the national election.
ANYWAY, that's the national news. I probably shouldn't have gone there, but it was the big story nationally of the day. The big story locally was that Madison got a 97 on her area test that she studied for, and in fact it was as easy as pi.
She had Live to Give again today, although there were only two kids that could make it after school. They were brainstorming ideas for February, and discussing the upcoming change in teachers that oversee that club. Madison was studying China still, which is great timing of course. Chinese New Year is rapidly approaching. They were studying religions in China, which of course didn't really include Christianity, although Madison is familiar with the struggles of the Christian church there.
We had taekwondo tonight, which meant Daddy was looking at baseball cards with another dad or two. But we were looking out at the kids sparring too, and they're doing well. They're doing so well that Madison got a stripe towards her next belt, which of course is upcoming in March. She's certainly already gotten enough hours towards that belt, given that she's been doing this since October or so. She had a good time, and is getting pretty sharp.
On the way home, we stopped by for some taquitos, although Daddy is still fasting that particular food. Madison had a few because why not? Daddy had some mushroom soup when we got home, delicious as always, and Madison was busy studying math. She's looking to find the volume in all sorts of random shapes, so we've moved on to 3D shapes now.
It's cold outside, and it ought to be cold. It's winter, and that's the sort of thing that tends to happen. It doesn't mean that we have to like it so much, but it does make those big thick blankets feel great when you dive beneath them at bedtime. We were reading tonight, just a little bit and of course praying for our nation, and praying for Nana and Ba-Ba. It's supposed to be cold down there too.
Anyway, so tonight Daddy stayed up watching the Senators in action. The above picture is a captured image Daddy took while watching. With all 100 Senators there, you could identify who was where, pretty much. With so many roll calls for votes, you see them stand up one at a time, and can pick out the ones you recognize. Daddy knows a lot of them, and it's fascinating to see such a diverse group all together like this. We're used to see them making speeches, running for President, debating, or posturing on television. It's a roster of 100, and it's this team that's supposed to work together, all connected to all the Senators of the past in this historic chamber. Once upon a time, Daddy got to be a Congressperson, and debate a bill in the House of Representatives chamber in Atlanta's capital. Seeing these folks in action, this reminded me of the dream job I wanted once upon a time, even if it were just a state representative. But I'm good where I'm at right now, writing and making an impact with lots of kids. And speaking of which, I've got to do that tomorrow and it's late. So with that said, I'm going to stop pettifogging and get a glass of milk, and then get some sleep.
So it's all the same. But there are two new discoveries that have captured our imagination as a nation! Yes, there were in fact two things we learned through today's proceedings, two big stories that are super intriguing.
Firstly, there's milk. Apparently, the only thing that these Senators can consume during their session here is water and milk. And this begs all sorts of questions. You're saying they can't have tea? No coffee? No coke? A tiny bit of research indicates that this goes back to a Senator's request back in 1966 - he wanted a glass of milk, and asked for permission, and got a page boy to grab a glass of milk for lunch. I'm hoping the dairy industry really capitalizes (pun intended) on this big promotion. When you want to make big decisions, go grab a glass of milk! I'd love to see which Senators get a glass of milk now, a complete list. Does that list also fall along partisan lines? Forget the other aspects of this session. These are the real questions here.
Rumor has it that Senators Ted Cruz, Tom Cotton, and Richard Burr have had allegedly gotten glasses of milk on the Senate floor. The Senators have to provide their own milk, so this is one thing not covered by tax payers. But fortunately, there's a place where it can be kept cold there.
It is somewhat telling that this is one of the more interesting parts of this proceedings. I think there's a guy up there going on and on about something... but hey, did you hear which Senator has been spotted with a glass of milk?
The second thing was the word "pettifogging." It's a new word for most of the nation, but somewhere just past midnight, the Chief Justice admonished certain people there for treating the US Senate Chamber with some dialogue that is beneath the dignity of this spot. Which we'll ignore the obvious joke there for a moment as we continue: he cited an example of a word that was considered going "too far" in 1905, and that word was "pettifogging." He told those there that we shouldn't worry about aspiring to that level, but to at least show a bit more respect. And instantly, all of us were looking up the word pettifogging.
It means, "placing undue emphasis on petty details."
Anyway, this thing went on until almost 2am. It would have ended about five minutes sooner if not for a stray Senator that wasn't there for the last vote. Fortunately, that one Senator from New Mexico came back just before 2am to place his vote. He must have felt sheepish. He was probably going out to get some milk.
In the end, we have the same thing that happened in December, at least from my layman's perspective: House Democrats push through impeachment proceedings despite the complaints and lack of witnesses from Republicans. And now in the Senate, you just reverse that.
The upside of this is that soon it will be over with, and we can all start getting along splendidly, just in time for the national election.
ANYWAY, that's the national news. I probably shouldn't have gone there, but it was the big story nationally of the day. The big story locally was that Madison got a 97 on her area test that she studied for, and in fact it was as easy as pi.
She had Live to Give again today, although there were only two kids that could make it after school. They were brainstorming ideas for February, and discussing the upcoming change in teachers that oversee that club. Madison was studying China still, which is great timing of course. Chinese New Year is rapidly approaching. They were studying religions in China, which of course didn't really include Christianity, although Madison is familiar with the struggles of the Christian church there.
We had taekwondo tonight, which meant Daddy was looking at baseball cards with another dad or two. But we were looking out at the kids sparring too, and they're doing well. They're doing so well that Madison got a stripe towards her next belt, which of course is upcoming in March. She's certainly already gotten enough hours towards that belt, given that she's been doing this since October or so. She had a good time, and is getting pretty sharp.
On the way home, we stopped by for some taquitos, although Daddy is still fasting that particular food. Madison had a few because why not? Daddy had some mushroom soup when we got home, delicious as always, and Madison was busy studying math. She's looking to find the volume in all sorts of random shapes, so we've moved on to 3D shapes now.
It's cold outside, and it ought to be cold. It's winter, and that's the sort of thing that tends to happen. It doesn't mean that we have to like it so much, but it does make those big thick blankets feel great when you dive beneath them at bedtime. We were reading tonight, just a little bit and of course praying for our nation, and praying for Nana and Ba-Ba. It's supposed to be cold down there too.
Anyway, so tonight Daddy stayed up watching the Senators in action. The above picture is a captured image Daddy took while watching. With all 100 Senators there, you could identify who was where, pretty much. With so many roll calls for votes, you see them stand up one at a time, and can pick out the ones you recognize. Daddy knows a lot of them, and it's fascinating to see such a diverse group all together like this. We're used to see them making speeches, running for President, debating, or posturing on television. It's a roster of 100, and it's this team that's supposed to work together, all connected to all the Senators of the past in this historic chamber. Once upon a time, Daddy got to be a Congressperson, and debate a bill in the House of Representatives chamber in Atlanta's capital. Seeing these folks in action, this reminded me of the dream job I wanted once upon a time, even if it were just a state representative. But I'm good where I'm at right now, writing and making an impact with lots of kids. And speaking of which, I've got to do that tomorrow and it's late. So with that said, I'm going to stop pettifogging and get a glass of milk, and then get some sleep.
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