I've been thinking and that's scary. The world around me and in my home has gotten my brain going and I can't make it stop. And of course, these thoughts are Fragmented. So in an attempt to quiet my brain, I'm participating in Friday Fragments over at Half Past Kissin' Time. So here we go...Let's start with my kiddos. I mentioned earlier this week that my son has been throwing "grown-up" phrases into his lingo. Things are now "cool" or "awesome".  And my daughter has started to pick up on that. She now has categories for things. They aren't just pretty, now. They might be cool or pretty cool. You might think that pretty cool would  mean a little bit cool but actually it is a hybrid meaning pretty and cool. And she is very definitive about these terms. I pity the person (usually me) that calls a cool dress pretty or visa versa.She also added a new "word" to her vocabulary this morning. "Abouting". I told her that it was time for school and she said that she was "abouting" to come. I said "abouting"? She said "yes" (with an eye roll). "I am abouting to be ready". So there you go. I'm sure that you all will be throwing that one into conversation immediately. Just think of me as your own "Word-A-Day" calendar.The news has been full of things that have both inspired me and disappointed me. First off, like everyone else in the TV viewing world, I watched with baited breath as each of the Chilean miners rose to the surface. For me, this was a reminder that miracles really do happen and that when people work together, amazing things can happen. As happy as that made me. I worry for these men as they enter the media circus. I hope that the strength and fortitude that they demonstrated underground will sustain them above ground.I was also inspired by Joel Burns, a Fort Worth councilman who spoke so passionately about the devastating effects of bullying, especially bullying of gay and lesbian teens. He speaks from personal experience and with such passion that it is impossible to watch him with a dry eye. Just as people can work together to save those Chilean miners, we can work together to stop the savagery that is bullying. Bullying can only happen if bystanders allow it. Or as Edmund Burke said with much more beauty and eloquence, "the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing".  You can check out Joel Burns and his moving speech here. Just don't watch it without tissue.Many schools have started Respect projects and pledges. My son participated in one just last week. May I encourage you to check into your children's school and if they don't have such a program, start one. Bullying is not a rite of passage and we can change the way children treat each other. I was the victim of bullying for many years and it despite the famous phrase, words hurt MUCH more than sticks and stones and the scars last longer. My dear friend Unknown Mami spoke to this very subject on her I Comment Therefore I Am post this past Monday. Trust me when I tell you that she always says things better than I so I'll leave you to her. :-)In the vein of treating others with respect (and I promise my Soap-box will be returned to its dusty position VERY soon), two well known political humorists (one from each side of the aisle) are promoting a return to sanity in discourse.Last Sunday on one of my favorite Sunday morning indulgences, the TV magazine, CBS Sunday Morning, Ben Stein called for a Pledge to Not Give in to Hate. Best known for his droning voice calling after the eternally absent Ferris Bueller, Mr. Stein is well known conservative mainstay and humorist. In his commentary piece last Sunday the 18th, he issued his Declaration of Conscience. I highly recommend you checking out the entire piece here but below is the pledge and I am saying now that I am taking this pledge:

"This is a big country. It is a great country, filled with opportunities. It is the magnet for those all over the world who want a better life. And while we face grim challenges from many directions, we make this pledge:"We became a great nation because we are an open, loving nation. Most of us believe in a loving God. Whether we are believers or atheists, we believe in the rights of all. We welcome all who respect the rights of every other American. We welcome and respect all who want the same opportunities and legal protections for all Americans."We are a busy people, we Americans - rebuilding our economy, defending ourselves, educating our children. We are far too busy to hate. We will not preach hate, sell hate, try to get elected by hate. We will follow our forefathers' example and only stoop to hate those who try to kill us. For those within our borders, unless they preach hate, our motto is always "Love thy neighbor." We can and we will disagree about almost everything, but we will not do it in a spirit of hatred based on religion or race or sexual orientation or wealth or poverty."If our enemies want to live by hate, that is their loss. But we are not going to imitate their hatred. We live by love of our fellow man, and they will not stop us."

So yay for you, Ben Stein!And from Sunday morning to late night, Jon Stewart is hosting a rally in nine days on the Washington mall to celebrate those amongst us who may not always agree but who believe in respectful dialogue. There is a great website supporting the rally but I would love to share just a bit of what he has to say:

,,, We’re looking for the people who think shouting is annoying, counterproductive, and terrible for your throat; who feel that the loudest voices shouldn’t be the only ones that get heard; and who believe that the only time it’s appropriate to draw a Hitler mustache on someone is when that person is actually Hitler. Or Charlie Chaplin in certain roles.Are you one of those people? Excellent. Then we’d like you to join us in Washington, DC on October 30 — a date of no significance whatsoever — at the Daily Show’s “Rally to Restore Sanity.” Ours is a rally for the people who’ve been too busy to go to rallies, who actually have lives and families and jobs (or are looking for jobs) — not so much the Silent Majority as the Busy Majority. If we had to sum up the political view of our participants in a single sentence… we couldn’t. That’s sort of the point.Think of our event as Woodstock, but with the nudity and drugs replaced by respectful disagreement; the Million Man March, only a lot smaller, and a bit less of a sausage fest; or the Gathering of the Juggalos, but instead of throwing our feces at Tila Tequila, we’ll be actively *not* throwing our feces at Tila Tequila. Join us in the shadow of the Washington Monument. And bring your indoor voice. Or don’t. If you’d rather stay home, go to work, or drive your kids to soccer practice… Actually, please come anyway. Ask the sitter if she can stay a few extra hours, just this once. We’ll make it worth your while.

Jon is known for addressing the news of the world with humor and charm and as you can see from above, that remains the case. Being sane, I cannot afford to attend this event but I will be rallying from home!So that was a long one and clearly I am fragmented. For other Friday Fragments that may not be so fragmented, check out Mrs. 4444 and her great meme.

Happy Friday, everyone!