CarolynCanville's Blog

Something struck me, as I reported on the election from the Harris County Democratic Watch Party, Tuesday night.   I don't recall seeing children at this kind of event, in elections past.  At least, not  young children.  Yet here they were, amidst all the commotion as the returns were coming in, and the crowds were erupting in cheers..and tears.

One mother, with her 3 year old daughter in her arms, told me why she'd brought her toddler to a political watch party.   "It's history", she said, "and she'll remember this night." 

And, regardless of which candidate you backed or which party you call yours, it's true, isn't it?  And what better history lesson for a child than to be there, as it's being made?

So, cast your votes here-- for who has the better TV campaign ads:    Is it Republican Senator John Cornyn, or his Democratic challenger Rick Noriega?

Ok, have you seen any ads by Noriega?    I think I can count on one hand how many times I've seen one, and I don't even remember what it said.  But I don't have enough fingers and toes to count the number of Cornyn ads I've seen-- just this morning.

Clearly, Cornyn has the cash and Noriega doesn't.   TV ads are not cheap. 

My question is:  How much do you think that will affect the vote?...

--More than 125,000 Harris County voters have, so far.  Wow.  If you were among them, how was your experience?

...  How long did you wait?  Did the lines seem to flow smoothly?  I'm planning on early-voting, this week.  Shall I bring plenty of  non-political reading material to occupy my time while I wait?   

It seems sadness is all around us.. Everywhere, the news is grim.  Ike has knocked us to our knees, and so many are suffering.   Wall Street is in the gutter.  So are our investments.  It's enough to make you want to scream.

So I wonder.. what are you doing to distract yourself from so much depressing, distressing news?   What do you do, when you need to fuh-GED-uh-boudit?

Even after all these years of reporting, stories like the ones I've covered in the past two days still get to me...

Tuesday.. it's a teenage girl accused in connection with the death of her own mother... allegedly telling cops she let her boyfriend into her house to kill her mom, then helped him stuff the body into a suitcase and dump it in the woods.  -- Her own mother?? 

Wednesday, it's a couple charged with murder after a fire in their home that killed two children, including one of their own.... They're accused of torching their home for insurance money...and cops say  the couple had collected half a million dollars in insurance in previous fires at their home.. This was the 5th,.  But this time.. there were children inside..who paid with their lives. -- Setting a house on fire while children are inside??

If these people are guilty...if it's true they did what they're accused of doing... how?  What makes people think...plan... and act out these unspeakable acts against their own families?    Sadly.. these are just the ones I covered...but they're among too many stories, lately, that hurt my heart.     

Your thoughts?...

This has got to be one of the most bizarre ideas I've ever heard of---a beauty contest for nuns??    Been dippin' into the holy wine, Father Rungi?    So, all you parochial school survivors in Fox Blogland--- what are your thoughts on this strange..habit? 

An Italian priest and theologian said Sunday he is organizing an online beauty pageant for nuns to give them more visibility within the Catholic Church and to fight their dour image. The "Miss Sister 2008" contest will start in September on a blog run by the Rev. Antonio Rungi and will give nuns from around the world a chance to showcase their work and their image.

"Nuns are a bit excluded, they are a bit marginalized in ecclesiastical life," Rungi said. Rungi, a theologian and schoolteacher from the Naples, Italy, area, said visitors to his site will have a month to "vote for their favorite nun. Nuns will fill out a profile including information about their life and vocation as well as a photograph.

 "We are not going to parade nuns in bathing suits," Rungi said. "But being ugly is not a requirement for becoming a nun. External beauty is gift from God, and we mustn't hide it."

If you haven't  booked your Christmas travel, and you're planning to fly-- you may be in for an unpleasant surprise.  I just did a story today about all the changes in the airline industry-- and wow..  They're going to hit us hard.  

No more last-minute bookings.  No more "flying by the seat of our pants."  Wanna travel in March?  Book it now!   Prices are sky-rocketing, but that's only half of it.   Starting Sept. 3, airlines are cutting flights.   There will be fewer to choose from, and fewer deals, for sure.  Plus, some airlines are charging us extra for checked bags, and we hear charges for food and drink are next..

So--- are you dropping your air travel plans, or just rolling with the punches hoping this won't last ?

I'm still giggling over this :   Did you know that tomorrow, August 20th, is INTERNATIONAL LEAVE THE SEAT UP DAY?   It's the one day of the year when men get to use the toilet and leave the seat up!    What will they think of next?  Obviously, this international occasion was created by... men, right?

So, guys-- be honest.   Do you celebrate this occasion every day?

You wouldn't know it by the way we drive. 

We can't control the price at the pump.   But we can control our speed, and experts keep telling us-- that's one of the best ways to control how much of that precious gas we use.

If you drive 65 or faster-- it's costing you.  How much?  20-cents a gallon more for every 5mph over 60.   I'm no math expert-- but isn't that an extra buck a gallon if you're doing 85...like a lot of us do?

$5 a gallon gas?

So..have you noticed many drivers slowing down?   Are you less of a lead-foot? Or are you irritated when other drivers drive 55 and hold you up?  (C'mon-- admit it!)  

QUESTION:  Know why doctors call us "patients?"   ANSWER:  They're expecting us to have "patience" when we are stuck in their WAITING rooms, for an hour or more,  flipping through outdated magazines poisoned with other people's germs. 

Ah, the joy of the waiting room...

They should call them "waiting.....and waiting......AND WAITING rooms."  

Each time I find myself  sandwiched in between other impatient patients, like me, ticking off the valuable minutes until "the doctor can see you now",  I can't help but wonder.... Why?  Why do we bother to make appointments if we're just going to be sentenced to sit?...  And wait.  And wait.  And wait.   Only to get led into an exam room to sit and wait some more.   

I know these doctors are very busy.   But most of us also have busy schedules which make it difficult to get away for a doctor's appointment in the middle of the day.   So, I don't know about you, but I find myself putting off those annual exams, just because I don't have time to..... wait... and wait... and wait....

I'm waiting to hear your  thoughts on this!

"IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE?" --We've all heard that expression.  And we hope there is one nearby, if we ever find ourselves in a medical emergency.

Today, you could ask a similar question with air travel:  "IS THERE AN ARMED PROFESSIONAL IN THE HOUSE?"  In a hijacking, wouldn't you hope so?  I know I would.

That's why it's hard to understand why two major airlines would force a federal agent-- who is authorized to carry his gun at all times, on duty or off--  to *check* his firearm, if he's flying for free on a so-called "Buddy Pass."

But American and Southwest Airlines do.  And yet-- they will allow that same agent to fly with his firearm if he *pays* for his ticket!  -- The difference is dollars and cents.  But imagine the cost if the unthinkable should ever happen again.

When it did happen, American Airlines lost two planes.  And thousands of innocent Americans lost their lives.

The other airlines don't have this policy.  They welcome trained, armed professionals-- FBI, DEA, ATF, and other federal agents-- any time they have the chance, whether they're traveling on official business or not. --Especially with reports of an air marshal shortage. --  TSA says it welcomes all the help it can get.

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who chairs the House Subcommittee which deals directly with airline security, says the Committee will be investigating.  In her words:

"I would be concerned as to whether a revenue concern is the basis to determine whether professional law enforcement officers are allowed to carry their weapons."

Flying free on an airline's "Buddy Pass" is a privilege, no doubt.  But how about the added protection of having an armed, trained professional agent onboard the plane-- at no cost?

What do you think?

Ok, here we go again-- I'm sure you've seen the promos on a competing network.  Barbara Walters is getting ready to air her annual special, "The 10 Most Fascinating People."  And lucky for us,  Barbara's been good enough to leak all but #1:

Academy Award Winner JENNIFER HUDSON of "Dream Girls" and "American Idol" fame, Emmy Award Winner KATHERIN HEIGL of  "Grey's Anatomy",  Soccer superstar DAVID BECKHAM and wife VICTORIA aka "POSH SPICE", Former President BILL CLINTON, pop singer JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE,  MySpace media moguls TOM ANDERSON and CHRIS DeWOLFE, and disgraced (and/or disgraceful) radio shock jock  DON IMUS.

So-- your turn!

1.  Can you guess who Barbara's #1 pick will be?  

2.  Who is  YOUR pick for #1?

OH-- BY THE WAY-- since I'm  inadvertently promoting Barbara's special, why not also  promote my  first  WEB CHAT this WEDNESDAY,   Dec. 5th,  from 12:30pm-1:30pm?   I'd love it if  you'd all join me!   

She's one of the most influential forces in America.    She can turn a book into a bestseller.

Can she turn a Senator into a President?

Oprah is backing Barack Obama.  And she's getting out there to get out the vote.  The charismatic talk show queen will soon be joining the Democratic Senator from Illinois on the campaign trail.   So far, it's still Hillary Clinton leading the presidential primary pack.

Can "the Oprah Factor"  turn the tides?

What do you think?...

So.. Matt Damon has been named the "sexiest man alive."   Um... really? Guess no one asked for my vote.  How about you, girls?   Think he's really the .. FOX-iest?

I'm still going with his buddies  George Clooney and Brad Pitt--  who've held the top spot twice-- along with Taye Diggs and Mark Consuelos, who've never had the title, go figure!

So, girls........ let's get your picks for FOX-iest Man Alive!  How 'bout it?...