According to this editorial, “A study published in The Economic Journal during the summer of 2008 found that voters preferred extreme political positions to moderate ones. It demonstrates a level of commitment and conviction.”

We get bent out of shape about extremist religions, but we like extremist politics? They’re both dangerous.

It does seem that politics have become more polarized. Of course, it also seems that having an extreme position shows a level commitment to craziness.

Of course, I’m a raging liberal, so I’m probably extremist myself. Extremely anti-right, anti-Fox, anti-Bill O’Reilly, anti-Limbaugh.

To the health care / budget / deficit extremists: I’m all for fiscal responsibility, but I don’t think the Republicans or the Democrats actually know what that means. And I’m not sure the tea party fanatics do, either.

Veronica learned two new words this week: car and dog.

One of her new favorite activities is watching her daddy vacuum the floor.

Another is holding on to her mommy’s hands so she has better balance, then doing a very quick walk/run through the whole house. And back again. And then to the other side again. With a stop by the bathroom to prove she knows how to open and close doors.

This week, I discovered I am not the only one who has been piling up tax information (OK, so mine is neatly organized in a folder) in anticipation of filing 2009 taxes. Multiple people in my office were discussing whether they should file their taxes this weekend. It made me happy.

Someone posted on facebook that the government is stupid for taxing “successful” people, defined in the ensuing discussion as people who make more than $125,000 or $250,000 per year. Also discussed was big business’s power to create jobs and how we should lower business taxes to create jobs.

Question 1: whom should we tax, the people who make $250,000 a year or the people who work at Walmart and make $18,000 a year?

Question 2: why is it so cool that big business creates jobs that pay $18,000 a year so the public has to subsidize those jobs with state aid, foodstamps, etc.?

Corollary to question 1: Do you really think that people who make $250,000 a year are paying taxes on all that income, anyway? Seriously?

I say tax the hell out of big business everywhere. The race to the bottom where states vie for the promise of jobs is self-defeating.

Also, I want to be a business, so that when I file my taxes, I get to deduct all my living expenses and then just pay taxes on the net.

I thought all these things, but resisted starting a flame war. Facebook really is not good for me sometimes.

Flame war #2 could have occurred today, but I exited the discussion. I will simply say that after working in the industry for almost five years, I damn well know what I’m talking about. Yes, I’m easily tweaked. And I’m obviously always correct about everything, too. Except football. I know nothing about football. I leave that to the experts.

OK, I admit, I went back a day later and continued the discussion. But I tried not to flame, but rather to explain facts, facts, facts.

Does caffeine turn zombies human again?

Husband always gives me crap for using my phone’s camera because the pictures are not high quality. Here is a prime example of the efficiency of using a camera phone versus a real camera.

Phone camera

1. Take picture.

2. Post to web.

Real camera

1. Find camera.

2. Take picture.

3. Search for connector cable to get picture off camera.

4. Realize husband has connector cable.

5. Search husband’s desk for cable.

6. Try to find available USB spot for cable on computer.

7. Try to find available USB spot on monitor.

8. Swear when I hit my head on my monitor while looking for available spot.

9. Unplug other USB item in order to free up USB spot.

10. Import pictures into iPhoto.

11. Grumble about how slow iPhoto / my computer is.

12. Spend 10 minutes looking through and editing possible pictures.

13. Post pictures to web.

This is why I use a camera phone.

I’m pretty happy with the earrings I made this evening, so I think I’m ready to start on a pair for someone else. Got more beads at Joann fabrics tonight. I’m now very well supplied. And I need to make a lot of earrings for myself to justify my costs.

What a weekend. Sabbath we braved the clouds and went to Pioneer Park to swing and visit the ducks. It was sunny when we said, we should go to the park. By the time we packed the diaper bag, got V ready and got our shoes on, the sun had gone away. But we went anyway. And it was fun.

Sunday, made the trek to Tri-Cities for Target, Costco and Children’s Place. I cannot leave said stores without buying an outfit for V, so she came home with some new fashions.

Today, we took a walk in the sunshine. V walked too, holding Ted and my hands. That was her activity of the day: walking everywhere holding our hands.

This afternoon, I went to MF to the bead shop for supplies. I’m still having a hard time visualizing my finished earring when I look at the beads. Got some spacers and a few gemstones, but when I tried to put one together this evening, it doesn’t look right. So I made a couple of very simple earrings just to practice.

I feel like I need to take other classes to understand the wire working itself, now, but maybe I just need to watch someone else. Ladies’ beading night sometime soon, anyone? And does anyone want to go in on an online order for some basics?

Took a class here this evening. And made these lovelies.

Took Veronica to her 1-year pediatrician visit today.

The big news of the day: her head size is now smaller than 99% of other babies at her age. Seriously, she is in the 1st percentile for head circumference. Since she’s actually above average on her babbling, number of words, and superhero skills (she can after, use her blades, claws, fangs to obliterate her foes and she has leap/climb on her dial as well), the doctor says that’s OK.

She’s in the 64th percentile for length at 29.5 inches.

Her weight has increased less than a pound since her 9-month visit to 18 pounds, 10 ounces, the 13th percentile. Doctor said that her weight is still fine, but I stocked up on whole milk yogurt, cheese and whole milk at the store tonight so that we can get her some good, fatty brain food that will also give her a little extra padding. All that crawling and cruising has turned her chubby thighs and arms into slender muscle.

Finally, Dr. Wren said she’s working on four teeth: molars. That explains the extra teething crankiness.

In other Veronica news, she’s spending more time “walking” with help. She still lasts only about three steps on her own before the inevitable crash. Her cheek is still sporting an ugly bruise from her crash into her drum on Sunday.

A facebook friend and fellow Leaf – drooler posted this. And I’m drooling now not only over the Leaf but over its $7,500 tax credit. Have I mentioned that I’m getting excited about doing our taxes for the 2009?

Another facebook friend pointed out that we have been alive for parts of five decades. Think on that for a moment. I feel older and more wise knowing I’ve been around for that long.

The spouse beat me to it, so you’ll have to check out pictures on his page.

Today, Veronica tried peanut butter for the first time (yes, Minnesota-imported Real peanut butter) with her birthday breakfast pancake. She went to Lita’s for daycare; had a visit from mama and dada at lunch; had visitors this evening (Nanny and Lee Myers brought her an awesome book that she can walk all over: Little Feet Love); and went to the Patisserie for birthday gelato (complete with candle) with Grandma Vicki and Grandpa Jarnes.

The whole birthday celebration was tiring though; she conked out right away when we came home. Here’s hoping she sleeps better tonight and pops the new tooth (or teeth) soon. I am getting more sleep than I was a year ago, but at 3 a.m. it doesn’t feel that way.

To celebrate Veronica’s birthday, I had coffee this morning. With caffeine. See previous statement about 3 a.m. wake-ups.

More birthday celebrating and pictures to come this weekend, when Grandpa Swinyar (aka Grampa Geezer) arrives.